cosa stai dicendo?
The English phrase "what are you saying?" can be translated into Italian as cosa stai dicendo?
cosa stai dicendo? is used as a question to ask someone to repeat or clarify the words they are currently speaking. You can add Ma to the beginning of the phrase, Ma cosa stai dicendo?, to express disbelief or confusion regarding what someone has just said.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cosa (what), stai (you are, the second person singular of stare) and dicendo (saying, the gerund of dire).
Which one should you use?
While cosa stai dicendo? emphasizes the action currently in progress, che cosa dici? is a more common, simpler way to ask "what are you saying?" or "what do you mean?" in general conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask a group of people what they are saying, use cosa state dicendo? by changing stai to state. To use the phrase in a formal context, change stai to sta to form cosa sta dicendo?
Did you know?
- The word cosa in 'what are you saying?' evolved from the Latin word causa, which originally meant 'cause' or 'lawsuit'.
- In many Italian regions, the phrase cosa dici? is used as a rhetorical expression of disbelief, often accompanied by a shrug or a palm-up gesture.
- The verb dire used in this phrase is the root for the English word 'diction', meaning the way a person speaks or pronounces words.
Examples in context
- Cosa sta dicendo?What are you saying?
- Mi scusi, cosa sta dicendo?Excuse me, what are you saying?
- Scusa, cosa stai dicendo?Sorry, what are you saying?
- Non ti sento bene, cosa stai dicendo?I can't hear you well, what are you saying?
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are talking in a noisy room.
- MatteoChiara, vieni qui presto!Chiara, come here quickly!
- ChiaraCosa stai dicendo? C'è troppo rumore.What are you saying? It's too noisy.
- MatteoHo detto di venire qui!I said to come here!
- ChiaraAh, okay, arrivo subito.Ah, okay, I'm coming right now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cosa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
