How to Say ‘I can't pay only in cash.’ in Italian
Non posso pagare solo in contanti.
non POHS-soh pah-GAH-reh SOH-loh een kohn-TAHN-tee
[non POHS-soh pah-GAH-reh SOH-loh een kohn-TAHN-tee]
💬 Usage Tip: In Italian, [non] goes before the verb: [non posso], [non ho], [non capisco]. [Solo] often sits right before the part you're limiting, so [solo in contanti] = only in cash.
Phrase Breakdown
Non posso
non POHS-soh
I can't
Used to say that you are unable or not allowed to do something.
Non posso uscire adesso.
I can't go out now.
Words in this phrase
Non
[non]
not
Makes the sentence negative.
Dico «Non» quando non posso accettare quella soluzione.
I say “not” when I cannot accept that solution.
posso
[POHS-soh]
I can
Expresses ability or possibility in the first person.
Se ho la carta, «posso» pagare facilmente.
If I have the card, I “can” pay easily.
pagare
[pah-GAH-reh]
to pay
Verb used for paying money for a service.
Devo «pagare» il taxi prima di scendere.
I have to “pay” the taxi before getting out.
Solo in contanti
SOH-loh een kohn-TAHN-tee
only in cash
Means that cash is the only accepted payment method.
Qui si paga solo in contanti.
Here you pay only in cash.
Words in this phrase
solo
[SOH-loh]
only
Shows restriction to one option.
Accetto «solo» il pagamento con carta.
I accept “only” payment by card.
in
[een]
in
Preposition used here with the payment form.
Vorrei pagare «in» un altro modo.
I would like to pay “in” another way.
contanti
[kohn-TAHN-tee]
cash
Means banknotes and coins, not card payment.
Non porto mai molti «contanti».
I never carry much “cash.”
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