Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"Who?" in Italian: chi?
chi?
Who in Italian is chi? (kee). Chi è? means who is it / who is he-she? Con chi? asks with whom. Chi also works as a relative pronoun: la persona chi… is wrong—use che there; keep chi for questions and free relatives like chi vuole.
Doorbell
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How to pronounce chi?
Say it
kee
/ki/
Chi is kee, a single short syllable. Soft ch like k before i. No extra vowel.
"Who?" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| chi? | who? Question word. | Question word. |
| chi è? | who is it / who is he-she? Identification. | Identification. |
| con chi? | with whom? Company. | Company. |
| di chi? | whose? / of whom? Possession / relation. | Possession / relation. |
How to use chi? in real life
- 1Doorbell
Chi è? Sto arrivando.
Who is it? I'm coming.
Chi è.
- 2Plans
Con chi esci stasera?
Who are you going out with tonight?
Con chi.
- 3Photo
Chi è quella ragazza nella foto?
Who is that girl in the photo?
Chi è.
Mistakes English speakers make with chi?
Incorrect: Who è alla porta?
Correct: Chi è alla porta?
Use chi.
Incorrect: La donna chi parla…
Correct: La donna che parla…
Relative clauses take che, not chi.
Good to know
Phone and door answers start with pronto? or chi parla? / chi è?. Di chi è? asks whose something is. Short and sharp, chi is one of the first question words kids master.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Figuring out a group dinner invite
ChatPal
Chi viene a cena da Marco?
Who's coming to dinner at Marco's?
You
Non so. Chi ha scritto sul gruppo?
I don't know. Who wrote in the group?
ChatPal
Chi è in dubbio può dire dopo.
Whoever is unsure can say later.
You
Ok. Io chiedo a Sara chi porta il dolce.
Ok. I'll ask Sara who is bringing dessert.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Who?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Who?" in Italian
Who is it?
Chi è?
With whom?
Con chi?
Whose?
Di chi? / Di chi è…?
Chi vs che?
Chi for who-questions; che for that/which in many relatives.
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
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- 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.
