Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between referring to the activity of attending a service and the physical building. The phrase in chiesa is used to talk about attending a service, while nella chiesa is used to refer specifically to being inside the physical structure of the building.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Tuscany and central Italy, the term pieve is used to designate an ancient rural church.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing that someone is currently inside a church or attending a service, the preposition in is used without an article, as seen in in chiesa. Similarly, when saying someone is going to church for religious purposes, use the preposition in rather than a, forming the phrase andare in chiesa.
How do you pronounce it?
chiesa is pronounced /ˈkjɛ.za/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word chiesa traces its lineage back to the Greek word ἐκκλησία, which originally meant a public assembly of citizens rather than a religious building.
- Entering a chiesa in Italy often involves a silent social contract where visitors must cover their shoulders and knees to show respect.
- The word chiesa can refer to the building, the local congregation or the entire global institution of the Catholic Church.
Examples in context
- La chiesa è lì.The church is there.This sentence is useful for locating a chiesa.Tatoeba #10696757 by Guybrush88, translation #10696141 by tokzyk
- Tom è in chiesa.Tom is in church.This sentence shows how to use chiesa when someone is currently in church.Tatoeba #11876574 by Guybrush88, translation #2273216 by CK
- Non va in chiesa.He doesn't go to church.This sentence demonstrates the use of chiesa when discussing the habit of going to church.Tatoeba #4875953 by Guybrush88, translation #3096303 by Hybrid
- La chiesa è aperta per la messa mattutina.The church is open for the morning mass.
- La Basilica di San Pietro è uno dei luoghi di culto più importanti per i cattolici.St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most important places of worship for Catholics.
- Ci incontriamo davanti alla chiesetta per le celebrazioni del Natale.Let's meet in front of the small church for the Christmas celebrations.
- Il duomo di Milano è un esempio di magnifica architettura gotica.Milan Cathedral is an example of magnificent Gothic architecture.
- La pieve medievale si erge tra i vigneti del Chianti.The medieval rural church stands among the vineyards of Chianti.
- 685 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are walking through a small Italian village.
- MartinaQuella chiesa è bellissima.That church is beautiful.
- LorenzoSì, è molto antica.Yes, it is very old.
- MartinaEntriamo a visitare la chiesa?Shall we go inside the church to visit?
- LorenzoCertamente, andiamo.Certainly, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “church” translations and entries chiesa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chiesa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
