A1 Expression خنثی

come si dice?

how do you say?

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).
🤔 + 🇮🇹 = 🗣️ 'Come si dice?'

Explanation at your level:

This is a basic survival phrase. You use it to ask for the name of something in Italian. It is very simple: 'Come' (How) + 'si dice' (is it said). You can use it at the market, in class, or with friends. It helps you learn new words every day.
At this level, you use the phrase to fill gaps in your conversation. When you forget a word, you say 'come si dice' to keep the listener's attention. You also learn to add 'in italiano' or 'in inglese' to be more specific about what you are asking.
You now understand the grammar behind the phrase: the 'si impersonale'. You realize that 'si dice' means 'people say' or 'it is said'. You can use this pattern to form other questions like 'come si fa?' (how is it done?) or 'dove si compra?' (where is it bought?).
You use 'come si dice' with more nuance, recognizing its role as a pragmatic marker. You might use it to introduce a metaphor or a piece of slang, signaling that you are aware the term you are about to use is specific or unusual in the current context.
You analyze the phrase within the broader context of Italian sociolinguistics. You understand how 'come si dice' functions as a hesitation disfluency that maintains social cohesion. You can distinguish between its use as a genuine inquiry and its use as a rhetorical device in sophisticated oratory.
At this level of mastery, you appreciate the phrase as a manifestation of the 'si' construction's versatility in Romance morphosyntax. You can discuss the diachronic shift from Latin's synthetic passive to this analytic impersonal form and how it shapes the speaker's conceptualization of linguistic agency and collective knowledge.

معنی

Asking for a word.

🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

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.

معنی

Asking for a word.

🎯

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!'

خودت رو بسنج

Fill in the missing word to ask how to say 'water'.

Come ___ dice 'water'?

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: si

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?

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Come si dice 'bread'?

Italian uses 'come' (how) and the impersonal 'si dice'.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Scusa, ___ 'book' in italiano? B: Si dice 'libro'.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: come si dice

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.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Come si dice questo?

You use 'come si dice questo' to ask for the name of an object you are pointing at.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

سوالات متداول

6 سوال

No, 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.

عبارات مرتبط

🔗

come si chiama?

similar

What is it called?

🔗

come si scrive?

builds on

How do you spell/write it?

🔗

come si pronuncia?

builds on

How do you pronounce it?

🔗

come si dice in inglese?

specialized form

How do you say it in English?

🔗

cosa significa?

contrast

What does it mean?

کجا استفاده کنیم

🍝

At the Restaurant

Learner: Scusi, come si dice 'napkin'?

Waiter: Si dice 'tovagliolo'.

neutral
🏫

In the Classroom

Student: Professore, come si dice 'homework'?

Teacher: Si dice 'compiti'.

neutral
🍎

At the Market

Tourist: Come si dice questo in italiano?

Vendor: Questa è una melanzana!

informal
🍷

On a Date

Person A: Sei molto... come si dice... affascinante.

Person B: Grazie! Che complimento!

informal
🏥

At the Doctor

Patient: Ho un dolore qui... come si dice... alla caviglia.

Doctor: Ho capito, vediamo subito.

formal
🗺️

Asking for Directions

Traveler: Cerco il... come si dice... 'bridge'?

Local: Ah, il ponte! È dritto di là.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Come' as 'How' and 'Dice' as 'Dice' (the cubes). Imagine asking 'How do the Dice say it?' to remember the phrase.

Visual Association

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.

Word Web

direparolalinguaitalianochiamarescriverepronunciaretradurre

چالش

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.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Cómo se dice?

Only the spelling of the reflexive pronoun (se vs si) changes.

French moderate

Comment dit-on ?

French uses a subject pronoun 'on' while Italian uses a reflexive 'si'.

German moderate

Wie sagt man?

German requires the subject 'man' which is not reflexive.

Japanese low

...は日本語で何と言いますか？

Japanese uses 'what' (nani) instead of 'how' (come).

Arabic partial

كيف تقول؟ (Kayfa taqul?)

Arabic uses a direct 'you' rather than an impersonal reflexive.

Chinese partial

...用中文怎么说？ (yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?)

Chinese places the 'how say' at the end of the phrase.

Korean low

...을/를 한국어로 뭐라고 해요? (mworago haeyo?)

Korean focuses on 'what' the thing is called rather than 'how' it is said.

Portuguese high

Como se diz?

Virtually no difference in logic or structure.

Easily Confused

come si dice? در مقابل Come dici?

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.

come si dice? در مقابل Come si chiama?

Used interchangeably by beginners, but 'chiama' is for names.

Use 'dice' for the word itself, 'chiama' for the name of the object/person.

سوالات متداول (6)

No, 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.

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