sì
/ˈsi/
The English phrase "yes, I do" is translated into Italian as sì.
sì is a positive response used to answer a question.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsi/
Did you know?
- In Italy, nodding your head up and down for sì is common, but some regions use a slight upward flick of the chin to mean 'no', which can confuse visitors.
- The etymology of sì traces back to the Latin sīc, which originally meant 'in this manner' or 'thus' rather than a simple affirmative.
- The word sì must be written with a grave accent to distinguish it from the pronoun si, which is used for reflexive verbs and the impersonal 'one'.
Examples in context
- Sì, lo capisco.Yes, I do (understand it).
Example conversation
Chiara asks Alessandro if he enjoys living in the city.
- ChiaraTi piace vivere in città?Do you like living in the city?
- AlessandroSì, mi piace molto.Yes, I do (like it) a lot.
- ChiaraAnche a me!Me too!
- AlessandroÈ un posto fantastico.It is a fantastic place.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sì, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sì, CC BY-SA 4.0.
