Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| corretto | /korˈrɛt.to/ |
| esatto | /eˈzat.to/ |
Both words describe something that is free from error, but they are used in different contexts. corretto is typically used for things that are proper, accurate or follow established rules, such as grammar or social behavior. esatto is used when emphasizing that something is precise, factually certain or an exact match to a calculation or piece of information.
Which one should you use?
corretto often refers to something being accurate, proper or following established rules. In contrast, esatto is more commonly used to confirm that a specific piece of information or a calculation is precisely right.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both words are adjectives and must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. For corretto, the forms are corretto (masculine singular), corretta (feminine singular), corretti (masculine plural) and corrette (feminine plural). For esatto, the forms are esatto (masculine singular), esatta (feminine singular), esatti (masculine plural) and esatte (feminine plural).
How do you pronounce it?
/korˈrɛt.to/ (3 syllables, stress on the 2nd syllable)
When do people say it?
In casual conversation, Italians often use Esatto! as a standalone exclamation to mean 'Exactly!' or 'That's right!' when agreeing with what someone has said.
Did you know?
- While corretto means 'correct', in the context of coffee, it refers to an 'espresso corretto', which is an espresso 'corrected' with a splash of liquor like grappa or sambuca.
- In Italian, if you describe someone as corretto, you are not just saying they are accurate, but that they are a person of high integrity and moral rectitude.
- The word corretto comes from the Latin correctus, which literally means 'straightened' or 'made straight'.
Examples in context
- Credo che sia esatto.I believe that's correct.This sentence is useful for expressing belief in the accuracy of a statement using esatto.Tatoeba #1688477 by Guybrush88, translation #1687489 by Spamster
- Questo non è corretto.This isn't correct.This sentence is useful for stating that something is not right using corretto.Tatoeba #2018413 by Guybrush88, translation #1871883 by CK
- È corretto dirlo così?Is it correct to say it like this?This sentence is useful for asking about the propriety of a way of speaking using corretto.Tatoeba #2703592 by Guybrush88, translation #456023 by lukaszpp
- La tua risposta è corretta.Your answer is correct.
- La soluzione al problema è esatta.The solution to the problem is correct.
- Hai ragione, la risposta è giusta.You're right, the answer is correct.
- Hai dato un'esatta descrizione della situazione.You gave an accurate description of the situation.
- Il calcolo fatto è corretto.The calculation made is correct.
- Giusto, non c'è bisogno di cambiare niente.Correct, there's no need to change anything.
- Ecco la risposta esatta al quesito.Here's the correct answer to the question.
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are checking a document together.
- MatteoHai controllato se l'indirizzo è corretto?Did you check if the address is correct?
- ChiaraSì, l'ho appena verificato.Yes, I just verified it.
- MatteoPerfetto, allora procediamo con l'invio.Perfect, then let's proceed with the sending.
- ChiaraVa bene, lo faccio subito.Okay, I'll do it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “correct” translations and entries corretto, esatto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries corretto, esatto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
