penso di sì
/ˈpɛn.so di ˈsi/
The English phrase "I think so" can be translated into Italian as penso di sì. Wiktionary also lists credo di sì.
Meaning: I think so (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| penso di sì | /ˈpɛn.so di ˈsi/ |
| credo di sì | /ˈkre.do di ˈsi/ (word by word) |
While penso di sì and credo di sì are standard, you can also use the colloquial Secondo me sì to mean "According to me, yes". For a much more formal expression of strong conviction, you might say Sono dell'idea che sia così, which translates to "I'm of the idea that it is so".
Which one should you use?
Penso di sì is slightly more direct and certain, whereas credo di sì carries a nuance of "I believe so".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Veneto region, people often use Mi pare de sì to mean "It seems to me so".
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I don't think so", you can replace sì with no to form credo di no or penso di no.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈpɛn.so di ˈsi/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The verb credo shares the same root as the English word 'credible' and the Latin 'credo', which is the opening word of the Nicene Creed.
- The word sì traces back to the Latin 'sīc', which actually meant 'thus' or 'in this manner' rather than just a simple affirmative.
- In Italian, the word pensiero (thought) is a cognate of the English word 'pensive'.
Examples in context
- Uh… sì, credo di sì.Uh…..yes, I think so.This sentence shows how to use credo di sì.Tatoeba #9348218 by Bethanielle, translation #65345 by shanghainese
- "Sei pronto?" "Penso di sì.""Are you ready?" "I think so."This sentence shows a simple exchange using penso di sì.Tatoeba #3986521 by Guybrush88, translation #3986507 by Hybrid
- "Tom ha paura?" "Sì, penso di sì.""Is Tom afraid?" "Yes, I think so."This sentence demonstrates how to use penso di sì to answer a question about someone's feelings.Tatoeba #9369991 by Guybrush88, translation #6246626 by CK
- Sarà una giornata di sole domani? Person B: Credo di sì.Will it be a sunny day tomorrow? Person B: I think so.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are checking if the pharmacy is still open.
- LorenzoÈ ancora aperta la farmacia?Is the pharmacy still open?
- GiuliaPenso di sì, ma controlliamo.I think so, but let's check.
- LorenzoSei sicura, Giulia?Are you sure, Giulia?
- GiuliaSì, penso di sì.Yes, I think so.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I think so” translations and entries penso di sì, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (credo, di, sì) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries credo, di, sì, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
