che cosa hai
The English phrase "what is wrong with you" is translated into Italian as che cosa hai.
Che cosa hai is the standard way to ask someone what is wrong with them, particularly when they appear to be ill, upset or acting in a strange manner.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means "what thing do you have". In this construction, hai is the second-person singular form of the verb avere, which means "to have".
Which one should you use?
While che cosa hai is the standard form, you may also encounter che hai in casual speech. Both forms are used to express the same meaning.
Did you know?
- In a very heated argument, if you shout Ma che cosa hai? with emphasis, you are not asking for a diagnosis, but essentially telling the person they are acting crazy or irrational.
- The word cosa in this phrase shares a common ancestor with the English word 'cause'. It descends from the Latin 'causa', which originally referred to a reason or a legal matter.
- Because the phrase uses the verb avere (to have) instead of 'to be', Italians literally see a problem as something a person 'possesses' or 'carries' rather than something that describes their state of being.
Examples in context
- Che cosa hai oggi?What is wrong with you today?
- Sei molto silenzioso, che cosa hai?You are very quiet, what is wrong with you?
- Ti vedo triste, che cosa hai?You look sad, what is wrong with you?
Example conversation
Lorenzo notices Chiara is acting unusually upset at a cafe.
- LorenzoChiara, sembri molto nervosa. Che cosa hai?Chiara, you seem very nervous. What is wrong with you?
- ChiaraNiente, sono solo stanca.Nothing, I am just tired.
- LorenzoSei sicura? Sei strana oggi.Are you sure? You are strange today.
- ChiaraSì, giuro, non è nulla.Yes, I swear, it is nothing.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries che, cosa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
