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essere a buon mercato
/esˈseː.re a ˌbwɔn merˈkaː.to/
to be cheap
Questo ristorante è a buon mercato.
This restaurant is cheap.
informal
to be inexpensive or low in price
Ho comprato questo vestito perché era a buon mercato.
I bought this dress because it was cheap.
I mercati all'aperto sono sempre a buon mercato.
Open-air markets are always cheap.
Used to describe goods, services, or prices that are affordable or cost little. Often implies good value for money.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'buon mercato' alone
The phrase 'a buon mercato' must be used with a verb like 'essere' or 'costare' to function correctly. 'Buon mercato' alone can sound unnatural unless it's part of a larger context.
Gold Rule
Use with price-related verbs
Always pair 'a buon mercato' with verbs like 'essere', 'costare', 'vendere', or 'comprare' to convey the idea of being cheap.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'essere' (to be) with 'buon mercato' (good market), where 'buon' is the masculine form of 'buono' (good) and 'mercato' means market. Historically, 'a buon mercato' referred to goods sold at a fair price in markets.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in everyday speech to describe affordable items or services. Avoid using it in formal contexts where precise pricing terms are required.
Word Breakdown
essere
to be
verba
at
prepositionbuon
good
adjectivemercato
market
nounDizionario Italiano-Inglese