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
KWEL-lohneutral
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.
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'.
