vada come vada
The English phrase "it is what it is" can be translated into Italian as vada come vada or è così.
Meaning: this thing has its own nature (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Italian |
|---|
| vada come vada |
| è così |
These phrases are used to express that a situation has its own nature. Vada come vada is an idiomatic way to express resignation toward an unpredictable outcome, while è così is used to state a static, unchangeable fact.
Which one should you use?
Use è così to describe a situation that is currently a fixed reality (it's just the way it is). Use vada come vada to express a sense of resignation toward an unpredictable outcome, focusing on accepting whatever happens in the future.
Did you know?
- The phrase è così can be delivered with a shrug of the shoulders and a slight tilt of the head to signal a cultural concept of 'inevitability'.
- The verb in vada come vada comes from the same root as the English word 'go', but it is conjugated in a way that implies a wish or a concession.
- The word è shares a distant ancestral root with the English word 'is', tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁ésti.
Examples in context
- Non possiamo farci nulla, vada come vada.We can't do anything about it, it is what it is.
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are discussing a project that did not go as planned.
- ChiaraIl risultato non è quello che volevamo.The result is not what we wanted.
- MatteoSì, ma vada come vada, abbiamo fatto il massimo.Yes, but it is what it is, we did our best.
- ChiaraHai ragione, Matteo.You are right, Matteo.
- MatteoOra pensiamo a cosa fare dopo.Now let's think about what to do next.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “it is what it is” translations and entries vada come vada, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries come, così, vada come vada, è, CC BY-SA 4.0.
