Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"What?" in Italian: che cosa? / cosa?
che cosa? / cosa?
What in Italian is che cosa? or cosa? (keh KOH-zah). Both work for what?; cosa is shorter and very common in speech. Keep the question word as che cosa or cosa.
Didn't hear
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How to pronounce che cosa? / cosa?
Say it
keh KOH-zah
/ke ˈkɔ.za/
keh KOH-zah / KOH-zah. Cosa stresses KOH.
"What?" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| che cosa? | what? Full clear question. | Full clear question. |
| cosa? | what? Everyday short form. | Everyday short form. |
| cos'è? | what is it? Identifying something. | Identifying something. |
| di che cosa / di cosa | about what / of what Di che cosa parli? | Di che cosa parli? |
How to use che cosa? / cosa? in real life
- 1Didn't hear
Che cosa hai detto?
What did you say?
Che cosa.
- 2Choosing food
Cosa prendi tu?
What are you having?
Cosa short form.
- 3Pointing at a gadget
Cos'è questo sulla scrivania?
What is this on the desk?
Cos'è.
Mistakes English speakers make with che cosa? / cosa?
Incorrect: What vuoi?
Correct: Cosa vuoi? / Che cosa vuoi?
Use cosa / che cosa, not English what.
Incorrect: Che hai detto? (too clipped for learners)
Correct: Che cosa hai detto? / Cosa hai detto?
Che alone can work colloquially, but che cosa/cosa is clearer.
Good to know
Northern and casual speech lean hard on cosa?; careful speech keeps che cosa?. Either way, Italians ask cosa? constantly in markets, chats, and confused tourist moments.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at a busy counter
ChatPal
Cosa vuoi bere tu?
What do you want to drink?
You
Che cosa consigli, tè o caffè?
What do you recommend, tea or coffee?
ChatPal
Cosa prendi di solito al mattino?
What do you usually get in the morning?
You
Cosa... un cappuccino. E tu, che cosa prendi?
What… a cappuccino. And you, what are you having?
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"What?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What?" in Italian
Is cosa or che cosa better?
Both are correct. Cosa is shorter and common in speech.
How do I say what is it?
Cos'è?
What about quale?
Quale means which, when choosing among options.
Do I need a question mark tone?
Yes—word order often stays similar; intonation marks the question.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
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- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
