Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential 'survival phrase' used to ask for the name of an object or the translation of a word in Italian.
- Means: 'How do you say...?' or 'How is it said?'
- Used in: Language learning, shopping, and when you forget a specific word.
- Don't confuse: 'Come dici?' which means 'What did you say?' (asking someone to repeat).
Erklärung auf deinem Niveau:
Bedeutung
Asking for a word.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Italians are very helpful with language learners. Asking 'come si dice' is seen as a sign of respect for the culture. In many parts of Italy, people speak a local dialect. If you ask 'come si dice', they might give you the Italian word and then the dialect version. The phrase is often accompanied by the 'hand purse' gesture if the speaker is struggling to remember a word. It is perfectly polite to interrupt yourself with 'come si dice' if you forget a word. It shows you care about using the right term.
The Point-and-Say
If you don't know the English word either, just point at the object and say 'Come si dice questo?'. It works every time!
Don't forget the 'si'
Without 'si', the phrase 'Come dice?' sounds like you are asking 'What is he/she saying?' about a third person.
The Point-and-Say
If you don't know the English word either, just point at the object and say 'Come si dice questo?'. It works every time!
Don't forget the 'si'
Without 'si', the phrase 'Come dice?' sounds like you are asking 'What is he/she saying?' about a third person.
Be ready for a lesson
When you ask this, Italians might give you three different words for the same thing. Just nod and say 'Grazie!'
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to ask how to say 'water'.
Come ___ dice 'water'?
The impersonal 'si' is required for this expression.
Which is the correct way to ask for a translation?
How do you say 'bread' in Italian?
Italian uses 'come' (how) and the impersonal 'si dice'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Scusa, ___ 'book' in italiano? B: Si dice 'libro'.
The context shows someone asking for a translation.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a bakery and don't know the name of a cake.
You use 'come si dice questo' to ask for the name of an object you are pointing at.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenCome ___ dice 'water'?
The impersonal 'si' is required for this expression.
How do you say 'bread' in Italian?
Italian uses 'come' (how) and the impersonal 'si dice'.
A: Scusa, ___ 'book' in italiano? B: Si dice 'libro'.
The context shows someone asking for a translation.
You are at a bakery and don't know the name of a cake.
You use 'come si dice questo' to ask for the name of an object you are pointing at.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
6 FragenNo, for people's names use 'Come ti chiami?' (informal) or 'Come si chiama?' (formal).
Use 'Come si dice' for single words or the general concept. Use 'Come si dicono' only if you are specifically asking about a list of plural items.
Yes, it is perfectly neutral and polite for all situations.
Say 'Come si scrive?' right after they tell you the word.
You can say 'Come si chiama questo?' and people will understand you perfectly.
Only if it's not obvious. If you are in Italy, it's usually assumed.
Verwandte Redewendungen
come si chiama?
similarWhat is it called?
come si scrive?
builds onHow do you spell/write it?
come si pronuncia?
builds onHow do you pronounce it?
come si dice in inglese?
specialized formHow do you say it in English?
cosa significa?
contrastWhat does it mean?
Wo du es verwendest
At the Restaurant
Learner: Scusi, come si dice 'napkin'?
Waiter: Si dice 'tovagliolo'.
In the Classroom
Student: Professore, come si dice 'homework'?
Teacher: Si dice 'compiti'.
At the Market
Tourist: Come si dice questo in italiano?
Vendor: Questa è una melanzana!
On a Date
Person A: Sei molto... come si dice... affascinante.
Person B: Grazie! Che complimento!
At the Doctor
Patient: Ho un dolore qui... come si dice... alla caviglia.
Doctor: Ho capito, vediamo subito.
Asking for Directions
Traveler: Cerco il... come si dice... 'bridge'?
Local: Ah, il ponte! È dritto di là.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'Come' as 'How' and 'Dice' as 'Dice' (the cubes). Imagine asking 'How do the Dice say it?' to remember the phrase.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a giant floating question mark over a pizza. You point at the pizza and ask 'Come si dice?' to a friendly Italian chef who is holding a dictionary.
Rhyme
Se la parola non ti viene in mente, 'Come si dice?' dice la gente!
Story
You are at a busy Roman market. You see a strange purple fruit. You don't know the name. You catch the eye of the vendor, point at the fruit, and say 'Come si dice?'. He smiles and says 'Fico d'India!'. You've just used your first survival phrase.
In Other Languages
In Spanish, it's almost identical: '¿Cómo se dice?'. In French, it's 'Comment dit-on ?'. All Romance languages use a similar reflexive or impersonal structure.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Go to an Italian grocery store (or a website) and find 5 items you don't know the name of. Ask 'Come si dice [item]?' for each one.
Review this phrase today, in 3 days, and in 1 week. It's so common you'll likely hear it every time you listen to Italian.
Aussprache
The 'o' is closed, like in 'home' but shorter.
A sharp 's' followed by a long 'ee' sound.
The 'c' is soft, like the 'ch' in 'cheese'.
Formalitätsspektrum
Mi scusi, saprebbe dirmi come si dice 'pen' in italiano? (Asking for a word)
Come si dice 'pen' in italiano? (Asking for a word)
Ehi, come si dice 'pen'? (Asking for a word)
Ma come si dice 'pen' in itagliano? (Asking for a word)
Derived from the Latin 'Quomodo dicitur', which used the passive form of 'dicere' (to say). Over time, Italian replaced the synthetic passive with the reflexive 'si' construction.
Wusstest du?
The 'si' in this phrase is one of the most versatile words in Italian, capable of turning almost any verb into an impersonal action.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Italians are very helpful with language learners. Asking 'come si dice' is seen as a sign of respect for the culture.
“If you ask a waiter 'Come si dice 'spoon'?', they might bring you one and say 'Cucchiaio!' with a smile.”
In many parts of Italy, people speak a local dialect. If you ask 'come si dice', they might give you the Italian word and then the dialect version.
“In Naples, they might say 'In italiano è 'ragazzo', ma noi diciamo 'guaglione'.'”
The phrase is often accompanied by the 'hand purse' gesture if the speaker is struggling to remember a word.
“A speaker might say 'È un... come si dice...' while bunching their fingers together.”
It is perfectly polite to interrupt yourself with 'come si dice' if you forget a word. It shows you care about using the right term.
“Using it in a speech or presentation is acceptable as a natural hesitation.”
Gesprächseinstiege
Scusa, come si dice 'coffee' in italiano?
Come si dice 'I love you' nella tua lingua?
Non ricordo come si dice 'sunset'. Mi aiuti?
Häufige Fehler
Come tu dici 'apple'?
Come si dice 'apple'?
L1 Interference
Come si dice il tuo nome?
Come ti chiami?
L1 Interference
Come si dicono 'apple'?
Come si dice 'apple'?
L1 Interference
Cosa si dice 'apple'?
Come si dice 'apple'?
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
¿Cómo se dice?
Only the spelling of the reflexive pronoun (se vs si) changes.
Comment dit-on ?
French uses a subject pronoun 'on' while Italian uses a reflexive 'si'.
Wie sagt man?
German requires the subject 'man' which is not reflexive.
...は日本語で何と言いますか？
Japanese uses 'what' (nani) instead of 'how' (come).
كيف تقول؟ (Kayfa taqul?)
Arabic uses a direct 'you' rather than an impersonal reflexive.
...用中文怎么说？ (yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?)
Chinese places the 'how say' at the end of the phrase.
...을/를 한국어로 뭐라고 해요? (mworago haeyo?)
Korean focuses on 'what' the thing is called rather than 'how' it is said.
Como se diz?
Virtually no difference in logic or structure.
Spotted in the Real World
“Come si dice... 'I am looking for the Augustan Mausoleum'?”
Liz is walking through Rome, practicing her Italian with a dictionary.
“Come si dice 'tortellini'?”
Dev is learning to make pasta in Modena.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners think it means 'How do you say [word]?', but it actually means 'What did you say?'
If you want a translation, you MUST include the 'si'. Without 'si', you are asking the person what they just uttered.
Used interchangeably by beginners, but 'chiama' is for names.
Use 'dice' for the word itself, 'chiama' for the name of the object/person.
Häufig gestellte Fragen (6)
No, for people's names use 'Come ti chiami?' (informal) or 'Come si chiama?' (formal).
common mistakesUse 'Come si dice' for single words or the general concept. Use 'Come si dicono' only if you are specifically asking about a list of plural items.
grammar mechanicsYes, it is perfectly neutral and polite for all situations.
practical tipsSay 'Come si scrive?' right after they tell you the word.
usage contextsYou can say 'Come si chiama questo?' and people will understand you perfectly.
practical tipsOnly if it's not obvious. If you are in Italy, it's usually assumed.
usage contexts
