Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"What happened?" in Italian: cos'è successo?
cos'è successo?
What happened in Italian is cos'è successo? Use it after a crash of plates, a late arrival, or a shocked face. Keep the apostrophe form.
Broken glass
Oddio—cos'è successo?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cos'è successo?
Say it
koh-ZEH sook-CHES-soh
/koˈzɛ sutˈtʃɛs.so/
Cos'è successo: koh-ZEH sook-CHES-soh. Soft cc like ch in chess.
"What happened?" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| cos'è successo? | what happened? Default. | Default. |
| che è successo? | what happened? Spoken alternate. | Spoken alternate. |
| cos'è successo ieri? | what happened yesterday? Time pin. | Time pin. |
| raccontami cos'è successo | tell me what happened Story ask. | Story ask. |
How to use cos'è successo? in real life
- 1Broken glass
Oddio—cos'è successo?
Oh no—what happened?
Instant concern.
- 2Delayed friend
Sei in ritardo: cos'è successo?
You're late: what happened?
Soft probe.
- 3Group chat
Ho visto la foto—cos'è successo lì?
I saw the photo—what happened there?
Remote ask.
Mistakes English speakers make with cos'è successo?
Incorrect: Cosa è successo successo?
Correct: Cos'è successo?
One successo; prefer the contracted cos'è.
Incorrect: Cos'è successa?
Correct: Cos'è successo?
Successo stays masculine in this set phrase.
Good to know
Cos'è successo? opens storytelling and care. Tone can be curious, worried, or dramatic. After accidents, follow with stai bene? to show you care about the person, not only the plot.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding a friend upset on a bench
ChatPal
Hai gli occhi rossi… cos'è successo?
Your eyes are red… what happened?
You
Cos'è successo? Ho perso il treno.
What happened? I missed the train.
ChatPal
Che peccato. Vuoi un caffè?
What a shame. Want a coffee?
You
Sì, grazie—mi serve.
Yes, thanks—I need it.
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 happened?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What happened?" in Italian
Exact phrase?
Cos'è successo?
Tell me more?
Raccontami cos'è successo.
Yesterday?
Cos'è successo ieri?
Alternate?
Che è successo?
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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