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What’s the difference between chi and che in Italian?

Last Modified: June 28, 2021

Chi e che sono due parole italiane comuni che hanno significati diversi e sono usati in modi diversi.

Chi and che are two common Italian words that have different meanings and are used in different ways.

Se hai appena iniziato a imparare l’italiano, all’inizio potresti confondere chi con che, o l’opposto. In realtà, è molto facile usare chi e che in modo corretto. Quindi, vediamo cosa significano chi e che e come vengono usati.

If you have just started to learn Italian, at first you might confuse chi with che, or the opposite. In reality, it’s really easy to use chi and che correctly. So, let’s see what chi and che mean and how they’re used.

Che

Che è la più comune di queste due parole ed è usata per sostituire una parola per evitare di ripeterla.

Che is the most common of these two words and is used to replace a word to avoid repeating it.

Esempi:

Examples:

a. Ho incontrato un ragazzo che si chiama Marco -> Ho incontrato un ragazzo. Il ragazzo si chiama Marco

a. I met a guy named Marco -> I met a guy. The guy’s name is Marco

b. Il risotto che ho mangiato ieri era molto buono -> Ieri ho mangiato un risotto. Il risotto era molto buono

b. The risotto I ate yesterday was very good -> I ate risotto yesterday. Risotto was very good

Nell’esempio a, si usa che per evitare di ripetere la parola Marco e per collegare le due frasi.

In example a, we use che to avoid repeating the word Marco and connect the two sentences.

Nell’esempio b, si usa che per evitare di ripetere la parola risotto e collegare le due frasi.

In example b, we use che to avoid repeating the word risotto and connect the two sentences.

Nell’italiano informale, che è spesso usato per sostituire “cosa/che cosa” nelle domande.

In informal Italian, che is often used to replace “cosa/che cosa” in questions.

Esempi:

Examples:

a. Che fai? -> Cosa fai?

What are you doing?

b. Che ti ha chiesto Lucia? -> Cosa ti ha chiesto Lucia?

What did Lucia ask you?

Chi

Chi è usato in domande dirette e indirette e significa “who” in inglese.

Chi is used in direct and indirect questions and means “who” in English.

Esempi:

Examples:

1. Chi è quell’uomo?

Who is that man?

2. Mi chiedo chi sia quell’uomo

I’m wondering who that man is

Chi è anche usato in frasi affermative per indicare “la persona che/le persone che”.

Chi is also used in affirmative sentences to indicate “the person that/the persons that”.

Esempi:

Examples:

1. Non sopporto chi mente sempre -> Non sopporto le persone che mentono sempre

I can’t stand who always lies -> I can’t stand people who always lie

2. Alla fine ho trovato chi mi ha rubato il portafoglio -> Alla fine ho trovato la persona che mi ha rubato il portafoglio

In the end, I found who stole my wallet -> In the end I found the person who stole my wallet

Se questo articolo ti ha aiutato a capire la differenza tra chi e che in italiano, condividilo con i tuoi amici!

If this article helped you understand the difference between chi and che in Italian, share it with your friends!


Credits:

Original image by Sophieja23

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