A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "What does that mean" in Italian
Ask for clarification in Italian with 'Cosa significa?' – the polite way to say 'What does that mean?'.
Cosa significa?
KOH-sah seeg-NEE-fee-kahneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you hear a word or phrase you don't understand, or when someone says something that's unclear. It's a direct but polite way to ask for an explanation.
Alternatives
- Che vuol dire?Slightly more common in everyday speech, especially in informal settings.
- Cosa vuol dire?Another very common and slightly more informal alternative.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'significa' with 'signify'
While similar, 'significa' is the direct Italian verb for 'means', not a direct cognate for 'signify' in all contexts.
Incorrect stress on 'significa'
The stress is on the 'NEE' syllable: see-GNEE-fee-kah, not see-nee-FEE-kah.
A small cultural note
Italians appreciate when you try to understand, so don't hesitate to use this phrase. Asking for clarification shows engagement.
Frequently asked
How do I ask what something means in Italian?
The most common way is 'Cosa significa?'. You can also use 'Che vuol dire?' which is very similar.
Is 'Cosa significa?' formal or informal?
It's a neutral phrase that works in most situations. For very formal settings, you might consider adding 'Scusi' before it.
What if I don't understand a whole sentence?
You can still use 'Cosa significa?' to ask what a specific word or the whole idea means. Alternatively, you could say 'Non ho capito' (I didn't understand).
How do you ask what a word means in Italian?
To ask what a word means, you can say "Cosa significa questa parola?" which translates to "What does this word mean?".
What does 'che' mean in Italian?
'Che' is a very common Italian word that can mean 'what', 'that', or 'which', depending on the context.
What does 'piacere' mean in Italian?
'Piacere' means 'to like' or 'to please', and is often used in phrases like 'mi piace' (I like it).
