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How to Say ‘Until when can we cancel without a penalty?’ in Italian

Fino a quando si può disdire senza penale?

FEE-noh ah KWAHN-doh see pwaw dee-ZDEE-reh SEN-tsah peh-NAH-leh

[FEE-noh ah KWAHN-doh see pwaw dee-ZDEE-reh SEN-tsah peh-NAH-leh]

🇮🇹 In Italy: It's normal to ask this up front, especially for groups or busy dates. Many Italian restaurants set a firm cancellation cut-off.

Phrase Breakdown

Fino a quando

FEE-noh ah KWAHN-doh

Until when

A fixed expression asking for a deadline. Link 'fino a' smoothly: 'FI-no-a-QUAN-do'.

Example

Fino a quando resti?

Until when are you staying?

Words in this phrase

Fino

[FEE-noh]

until

Used with 'a' to mean 'until' or 'up to'.

Example

Siamo aperti fino a mezzanotte.

We're open until midnight.

[ah]

see you; until

A preposition used in time expressions like farewells, especially in fixed phrases such as A presto.

Example

A presto è un modo cordiale per chiudere un messaggio professionale.

A presto is a friendly way to close a professional message.

quando

[KWAHN-doh]

when

Interrogative word used to ask about time.

Example

E quando sarà il momento giusto?

And when will be the right time?

si può disdire

see pwaw dee-ZDEE-reh

can one cancel

Impersonal 'si' + 'può' + infinitive. It means 'is it possible to cancel'.

Example

Si può disdire domani.

You can cancel tomorrow.

Words in this phrase

[see]

one (impersonal)

Impersonal 'si', meaning people in general.

Example

Qui si mangia bene.

One eats well here.

può

[pwaw]

can

Used to express ability or possibility.

Example

Può venire?

Can you come?

disdire

[dee-ZDEE-reh]

to cancel

To cancel a booking or subscription.

Example

Devo disdire la prenotazione.

I have to cancel the reservation.

senza penale?

SEN-tsah peh-NAH-leh

without a penalty?

'Senza' means without, and 'penale' is a fee or penalty. Stress 'pe-NA-le' and raise your voice at the end for the question.

Example

È gratis, senza penale.

It's free, without a penalty.

Words in this phrase

senza

[SEN-tsah]

without

Preposition meaning 'without'.

Example

Un caffè senza zucchero.

A coffee without sugar.

penale

[peh-NAH-leh]

penalty fee

A charge for breaking terms, e.g. late cancellation.

Example

C'è una penale per la disdetta tardiva.

There's a penalty for late cancellation.

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