come si dice
The English phrase "how to say" is come si dice in Italian.
Come si dice…? is the standard way to ask for a translation or a specific term when you do not know the word in Italian. Depending on who you are talking to, you can adjust the phrase for politeness: use Può dirmi come si dice… for "Can you tell me how to say…", Scusi, potrebbe indicarmi come si dice… for "Excuse me, could you show me how to say…", or Sai come si dice… for the informal "Do you know how to say…".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase come si dice literally translates to "how one says it" or "how it is said".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Sicilian dialect, Comu si dice… is used as a variation of come si dice.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are asking how to say multiple words, you should change the verb to the plural form come si dicono. To ask how something was formerly said or how it used to be said, use the imperfect tense come si diceva.
Did you know?
- While come si dice asks for a translation, Italians use the phrase come si chiama to ask for the name of an object or a person.
- The word si is a close relative of the English word 'self', as both stem from the same Proto-Indo-European roots regarding reflexive identity.
- The phrase come si diceva can be used not just for language, but to nostalgically ask how a certain custom or social rule 'used to be' practiced.
Examples in context
- Come si dice XXX in olandese?How to say XXX in Dutch?This sentence is useful for asking how to say a specific term in Dutch using come si dice.Tatoeba #1860947 by Guybrush88, translation #388261 by sysko
- Non so come si dice in italiano.I don't know how to say it in Italian.This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not know how to say something in Italian using come si dice.Tatoeba #2080054 by Guybrush88, translation #8869465 by moxy
- Voglio imparare come si dice questa parola in arabo.I want to learn how to say this word in Arabic.This sentence is useful for stating a desire to learn how to say a word in Arabic using come si dice.Tatoeba #6563187 by Guybrush88, translation #867922 by theegyptian
- Scusi, potrebbe indicarmi come si dice "thank you" in italiano?Excuse me, could you show me how to say "thank you" in Italian?
- Sai come si dice "hello" in italiano?Do you know how to say "hello" in Italian?
- Può dirmi come si dice "I love you" in italiano?Can you tell me how to say "I love you" in Italian?
- Sai come si dice "delicious" in italiano?Do you know how to say "delicious" in Italian?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco is asking Martina for help with an English word.
- FrancescoMartina, come si dice 'cane' in inglese?Martina, how do you say 'cane' in English?
- MartinaSi dice 'dog', Francesco.You say 'dog', Francesco.
- FrancescoGrazie! E come si dice 'gatto'?Thanks! And how do you say 'gatto'?
- MartinaSi dice 'cat'.You say 'cat'.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries come, si, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
