Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"What does this mean?" in Italian: Che cosa significa?
Che cosa significa?
What does it mean? in Italian is Che cosa significa? Point at a word or sign: Che cosa significa questa parola? Shorter: Cosa significa?
Reading a menu
Che cosa significa "alfredo" qui?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Che cosa significa?
Say it
keh KOH-zah seen-YEE-fee-kah
/ke ˈkɔ.za siɲˈɲi.fi.ka/
Che is keh. Cosa is KOH-zah. Significa is seen-YEE-fee-kah.
"What does this mean?" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Che cosa significa? | What does it mean? Full form. | Full form. |
| Cosa significa? | What does it mean? Everyday shorter form. | Everyday shorter form. |
| Che cosa significa questa parola? | What does this word mean? With an object. | With an object. |
| Scusa, che cosa significa…? | Sorry, what does … mean? Polite with tu. | Polite with tu. |
How to use Che cosa significa? in real life
- 1Reading a menu
Che cosa significa "alfredo" qui?
What does "alfredo" mean here?
Full Che cosa significa?
- 2Street sign
Scusa, che cosa significa questo cartello?
Sorry, what does this sign mean?
Che cosa significa + object.
- 3Class
Che cosa significa questa frase in inglese?
What does this sentence mean in English?
Full phrase.
Mistakes English speakers make with Che cosa significa?
Incorrect: Che cosa mean?
Correct: Che cosa significa?
Use significa.
Incorrect: Cosa vuol dire always as the only option.
Correct: Che cosa significa?
Cosa vuol dire also works, but this headword is significa.
Good to know
Che cosa significa? unlocks menus, tickets, and slang. Italians often answer with a synonym plus a tiny example. Friends hear scusa, che cosa significa…? all the time from learners.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Decoding a museum label
ChatPal
Hai letto la didascalia?
Did you read the caption?
You
Sì, ma che cosa significa "polittico"?
Yes, but what does "polittico" mean?
ChatPal
Vuol dire un dipinto a più pannelli. Ti è chiaro che cosa significa?
It means a multi-panel painting. Is it clear what it means?
You
Sì. Se vedo un'altra parola, chiedo che cosa significa.
Yes. If I see another word, I'll ask what it means.
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 does this mean?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What does this mean?" in Italian
Cosa significa vs che cosa significa?
Both fine; che cosa is a bit fuller.
Cosa vuol dire?
Same idea; common alternative.
How do you say…?
Different phrase: Come si dice…?
Formal lei?
Same question; add scusi.
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
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