sì, lo sono
/ˈsi lo ˈso.no/word by word
In Italian, "yes, I am" is expressed as sì, lo sono.
This phrase is a short response used to confirm that a description or identity applied to the speaker is true.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase lo sono literally translates to "it/that I am". The word lo is a direct object pronoun meaning "it" or "that", which refers back to the adjective or noun used in the question.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈsi lo ˈso.no/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say sì, io sono. While io sono means "I am", it sounds incomplete in Italian without the object pronoun lo to represent the quality being confirmed.
Did you know?
- The word sono is an example of linguistic economy, as it serves as both the first person singular 'I am' and the third person plural 'they are'.
- The word sì for 'yes' is written with an accent to distinguish it from the word si, which is a reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself'.
- The word sì comes from the Latin 'sic', which originally meant 'thus' or 'in this manner', rather than just a simple 'yes'.
Examples in context
- Sei Marco? / Sì, sono io.Are you Marco? / Yes, it's me.
- Sì, lo sono davvero.Yes, I really am.
Example conversation
Francesco asks Martina if she is a student.
- MartinaSei una studentessa, Martina?Are you a student, Martina?
- FrancescoSì, lo sono.Yes, I am.
- MartinaCosa studi all'università?What do you study at the university?
- FrancescoStudio medicina.I study medicine.
