cioè
/t͡ʃoˈɛ/
The English phrase 'that is' can be translated into Italian as cioè. Wiktionary also lists cioè a dire.
Meaning: in other words (adv)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| cioè | /t͡ʃoˈɛ/ |
| cioè a dire | /t͡ʃoˈɛ a ˈdi.re/ (word by word) |
In Italian, cioè is an adverb used to mean 'in other words'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word cioè is a contraction of ciò, meaning 'that' or 'this' and è, the verb meaning 'is'.
Which one should you use?
You may also see the form cioè a dire, which means 'that is to say'. This version is more explicit and is used to introduce a clarification.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃoˈɛ/
Did you know?
- When used as a question, cioè? can be a sharp way of asking 'What do you mean by that?' or 'Get to the point'. Depending on the tone, it can sound impatient or challenging.
- The verb dire inside cioè a dire shares a prehistoric root with the English word 'show'. Both come from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to point out'.
- In casual spoken Italian, you might hear people use cioè as a 'filler word' or 'crutch word', much like how English speakers use 'like' or 'um' while thinking of what to say next.
Examples in context
- "Stai bene?" "Starò bene. (Cioè, una volta che vedrò un cardiologo. Penso che il mio cuore si sia fermato.)" "Allora devi andare in tribunale! Vai con molte benedizioni!""Are you alright?" "I'll be fine. (That is, once I see a cardiologist. I think my heart stopped.)" "Then you must go to the courthouse! Go with many blessings!"This sentence shows how to use cioè to add a qualifying clarification to a statement.Tatoeba #3743951 by Guybrush88, translation #3224417 by Ooneykcall
- Finirò il lavoro in una settimana, cioè il 5 maggio.I'll finish the work in a week, that is, on May 5th.This example illustrates using cioè to specify a date.Tatoeba #1794174 by hitori37, translation #252467 by CN
- La donna ha la capacità di muoversi come se fosse una torre, cioè su file e colonne, e come se fosse un alfiere, cioè su diagonali.The queen has the ability to move as much as if she were a rook, that is, over the rows and columns, as if she were a bishop, that is, over the diagonals.These examples show how cioè can be used multiple times in a sentence to clarify different points.Tatoeba #9955474 by carlosalberto, translation #9955371 by carlosalberto
- L'Italia ha molte città belle, cioè Roma, Firenze e VeneziaItaly has many beautiful cities, that is, Rome, Florence, and Venice
- Andrò al cinema, cioè vedrò un filmI will go to the cinema, that is, I will watch a movie
- Sto studiando lingue straniere, ovvero l'inglese e il franceseI am studying foreign languages, that is, English and French
- Ho comprato un regalo per il mio capo, cioè una penna di lussoI bought a gift for my boss, that is, a luxury pen
- Vado a fare la spesa, cioè devo comprare pasta, pomodori e paneI'm going grocery shopping, that is, I need to buy pasta, tomatoes, and bread
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are discussing a change in their plans.
- GiuliaNon posso venire domani, cioè non ci sarò.I can't come tomorrow, that is, I won't be there.
- LorenzoQuindi non parteciperai alla festa?So you won't participate in the party?
- GiuliaEsatto, ho un impegno improvviso.Exactly, I have a sudden engagement.
- LorenzoPeccato, ci tenevo che venissi anche tu.That's a pity, I really wanted you to come too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “that is” translations and entries cioè, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cioè, a, dire) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, cioè, dire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
