come
/ˈko.me/
The Italian word for 'as' (in the role of) is come. Wiktionary also lists da.
Meaning: In the role of (prep)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| come | /ˈko.me/ |
| da | /da/ /da/ (Tuscany, traditional) |
come is used to express comparisons of equality, such as the English 'as… It is also used to express a role or function. A related form is tanto, which is an adverb meaning 'to such an extent or degree'.
Which one should you use?
While come is the standard way to say 'as' for both comparisons and roles, da is used specifically when referring to a professional or functional role, such as 'working as a teacher'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable: /ˈko.me/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use come to mean 'as' in the sense of 'since' or 'because' (for example, 'As I was tired…'). In those cases, you must use poiché or siccome instead.
Did you know?
- In Italian, come is often used as a standalone question to mean 'how' or 'pardon?', similar to the English 'come again?'
- The word come was inherited from the Late Latin term quōmodo, which literally meant 'in what manner'.
- The use of da to describe a role is linked to its use in designating the purpose of an object, such as occhiali da sole meaning 'glasses for sun' or 'sunglasses'.
Examples in context
- È alto come me?Are you as tall as me?This sentence is useful for asking a question using the comparison 'as… as' with come.Tatoeba #3249223 by Guybrush88, translation #2264659 by _undertoad
- È alto come me.You are as tall as I am.This sentence is useful for making a statement using the comparison 'as… as' with come.Tatoeba #3784236 by valealb, translation #4909 by CK
- È alta come te.She is as tall as you.Tatoeba #6827585 by Guybrush88, translation #313361 by CK
- Non siamo così diversi come pensavo.We are not as different as I thought.
- Si diverte come un bambino.He/she is having fun like a child.
- Hai mangiato come un lupo!You ate like a wolf!
- Sono uscito a fare shopping tipo per quattro ore.I went shopping for, like four hours.
- Ho camminato all'incirca dieci chilometri oggi.I walked approximately ten kilometers today.
- Ci vorranno all'incirca due settimane per la consegna.It will take about two weeks for the delivery.
- 3290 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are at a professional networking event.
- LorenzoLavori come consulente?Do you work as a consultant?
- GiuliaSì, lavoro come architetto.Yes, I work as an architect.
- LorenzoChe bello! Io sono qui come ospite.How nice! I am here as a guest.
- GiuliaPiacere di conoscerti, Lorenzo.Nice to meet you, Lorenzo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “as” translations and entries come, da, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries come, da, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
