A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "That one" in Italian
Use 'quello' to point out a specific item when you're not sure what to call it or want to be general.
quello
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Italian TTS · 0:01
When you need to refer to something without knowing its exact name, or when you want to be deliberately vague. For example, if you see a tool you don't recognize, you might point and say 'quello'.
Alternatives
- codestoThis is very rarely used in modern spoken Italian, mostly in literature or very formal contexts.
- questoUse 'questo' for 'this one', which is closer to you or the item you're holding.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'quello' with 'quello che'
'Quello' alone means 'that one'; 'quello che' means 'that which' or 'what'.
Pronouncing 'qu' like 'kwuh'
The 'qu' sound is a single unit, like in 'quick', not two separate sounds.
A small cultural note
While 'quello' is standard, in some very informal, fast-paced conversations, Italians might use a demonstrative adjective like 'quel' followed by the noun, or even just point and gesture.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
What's the difference between quello and quello che?
'Quello' refers to a specific object, like 'that one over there'. 'Quello che' is a relative pronoun meaning 'that which' or 'what'.
When do I use quello vs questo?
Use 'quello' for something further away from you ('that one') and 'questo' for something closer ('this one').
Is there a feminine form of quello?
Yes, for feminine nouns, you'd use 'quella'. For example, 'quella macchina' means 'that car'.
