sì
/ˈsi/
The English word "yes" is sì in Italian.
sì is the most straightforward and widely used way to say "yes" in Italian. It functions as a particle to indicate agreement or acceptance. It can also be used as a noun to refer to an answer that shows agreement. In certain contexts, it can also be used as an interjection to express pleasure, joy or great excitement.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Which one should you use?
While sì is the standard word for yes, you might choose other words to convey different nuances. For example, certamente conveys a stronger sense of certainty, equivalent to "certainly" or "absolutely", while assolutamente translates to "absolutely" or "definitely". Use Certo to say "sure" or "of course", esatto to mean "exactly" and È vero to mean "that's true" or "it's true". The opposite of sì is no.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsi/
Did you know?
- In many parts of Italy, people use a sharp, quick upward nod of the chin to signal sì. This gesture can look like a slight 'toss' of the head, which may be mistaken for a dismissive gesture by foreigners.
- While sì means 'yes', the word si without the accent is a reflexive pronoun or an impersonal particle. These two words are pronounced identically, but the accent mark is mandatory to distinguish 'yes' from 'oneself'.
- The Italian sì is a direct descendant of the Latin sīc, which originally meant 'thus' or 'in this manner'.
Examples in context
- Sì, è a casa.Yes, she's at home.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of sì to confirm a location.Tatoeba #3143710 by Guybrush88, translation #3143713 by ddnktr
- Sì, è un cane.Yes, it is a dog.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of sì to identify an animal.Tatoeba #11290066 by Guybrush88, translation #5228521 by solejar
- Di' solo di sì.Just say yes.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of sì as the object of a command.Tatoeba #2575447 by Guybrush88, translation #2549760 by CK
- Sì, sarò presente domani alla riunione.Yes, I will be present at the meeting tomorrow.
- Certo! Mi piacerebbe molto!Sure! I would love to!
- Sicuro, prendi le chiavi!Sure, take the keys!
- 573 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are deciding whether to order pizza.
- MatteoVuoi ordinare una pizza, Giulia?Do you want to order a pizza, Giulia?
- GiuliaSì, ne ho molta voglia.Yes, I really feel like it.
- MatteoTi va una Margherita?Would you like a Margherita?
- GiuliaSì, va benissimo.Yes, that is perfect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries sì, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sì, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
