questo
/ˈkwes.to/
In Italian, "this one" is translated as questo.
The phrase is used to identify a specific person or thing among a group.
Which one should you use?
Use questo for masculine singular nouns and questa for feminine singular nouns.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes to agree with the gender and number of the noun: questo is for masculine singular, questa is for feminine singular, questi is the masculine plural for "these ones" and queste is the feminine plural for "these ones".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of questo is /ˈkwes.to/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- When Italians use questo to refer to a person in a dismissive or derogatory way, it can imply the person is beneath them or unimportant.
- The word questo evolved from the Vulgar Latin phrase eccum iste, which literally combined a pointing word with 'that'.
- In Italian, pointing with the finger while saying questo is far more common and socially acceptable than in some East Asian cultures where it would be considered rude.
Examples in context
- Questo è di Tom.This one is Tom's.This sentence is useful for showing possession of questo.Tatoeba #2233791 by Guybrush88, translation #2892278 by CK
- Questo è per noi.This one is for us.This sentence is useful for showing the recipient of questo.Tatoeba #2974607 by Guybrush88, translation #1244807 by CM
- Questo è tutto tuo.This one is all yours.This sentence is useful for showing ownership of questo.Tatoeba #3372547 by Guybrush88, translation #1122760 by Scott
- Questo libro quiThis book [right here]
- Questa casa quaThis house [right here]
- Questi scaffali quaThese shelves [right here]
- Queste scarpe quaThese shoes [right here]
- 129 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are in a clothing store looking at shirts.
- SofiaQuesto è il mio colore preferito.This one is my favorite color.
- AlessandroTi piace davvero?Do you really like it?
- SofiaSì, prendo questo.Yes, I'll take this one.
- AlessandroOttima scelta, Sofia.Great choice, Sofia.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry questo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries questo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
