cos'è quello?
To ask "what is that?" in Italian about something away from you, say cos'è quello?
cos'è quello? is the everyday question for asking what an object is when it is not close to you. For something near you, ask cos'è questo? (what is this?).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a contraction of cosa è quello?, where cosa means "what", è means "is" and quello means "that".
Which one should you use?
Che cos'è quella cosa? means "What is that thing?" Scusa, che cos'è quella roba? is a casual way to ask about some stuff. With strangers you can add a polite opener, as in Scusi, che cosa è quella cosa? or Mi scusi, potrebbe dirmi cosa è quella cosa?
How does it change in a sentence?
The demonstrative agrees with the thing you are asking about. If it is feminine, say cos'è quella?
Did you know?
- The word quello originates from the Vulgar Latin eccum ille, combining the words for 'behold' and 'that one'.
- In casual conversation, using roba instead of cosa can imply that the object is strange, suspicious or messy.
- When asking about something in the distance, you can add là to the end of the phrase to make it quello là, emphasizing the physical gap between you and the object.
Examples in context
- Scusa, che cos'è quella torta?Hey, what is that cake?
- Cos'è quello?What is that?
Example conversation
Francesco and Chiara are walking in a park.
- FrancescoChiara, guarda! Cos'è quello?Chiara, look! What is that?
- ChiaraPenso che sia un aquilone.I think it is a kite.
- FrancescoÈ molto grande!It is very big!
- ChiaraSì, è bellissimo.Yes, it is beautiful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quello, CC BY-SA 4.0.
