te

with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects

Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects. Unlike the singular forms

the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language

and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead


ci

Uncertain. Rohlfs and Von Wartburg favoured/favored Late Latin ecce hīc. Maiden casts doubt on this etymology, pointing out that Italian ci is an unstressed 'weak' form, while Latin hic otherwise survives in Italian only in stressed forms (reinforced by Latin ecce or eccum) such as ciò, qua, and qui. (It should also be noted that all of the latter trigger syntactic doubling in a following word, thanks to their original final /k/, while ci does not.) Maiden proposes instead an origin in Latin hince, variant of hinc (“hence, from here”), pointing out that in parts of southern Italy there exists a 1PL pronoun 'nci (cf. also 'nce). Treccani, on the other hand, proposes an origin in Latin hīce, a variant of hīc (“here”). In any case, the Italian term is certainly cognate with Neapolitan ce, Sicilian cci and Sassarese zi, all three of which share similar adverbial senses, with the latter two also having pronominal senses.

Ci si lava.

Ci si annoia quando non c'è niente da fare.

One gets bored when there is nothing to do.

replaces the indefinite personal pronoun si (“one”) before reflexive si (“oneself”); one


mi

Inherited from Latin mē and, as an indirect object pronoun, possibly in part from Latin mihi.

stammi bene!

che mi combini?


vi

(noi) vi amiamo

second-person personal plural object pronoun: you, to you


eo

head

eo (personal, first person, possessive meo)

Viso non m'è ch’eo mai potesse gioia
Più giustamente voi, donna, apellare

13ᵗʰ century, Guittone d'Arezzo, Viso non m'è ch'eo mai potesse gioia, collected in Le rime di Guittone d'Arezzo, Bari: Laterza, published 1940, page 164, lines 1–2:

To me it's not a face such that I could have ever rightfully called you, o woman, joy


ke

(informal, often in Internet chat or in SMS messages) who; which; what; that; than


tanto

it-det

tanto (feminine tanta, masculine plural tanti, feminine plural tante, superlative tantissimo)

tanta (feminine)
tanti (masculine plural)
tante (feminine plural)
tantissimo (superlative)


tanto

tanta (feminine)
tanti (masculine plural)
tante (feminine plural)


lui

1472, Giusto de’ Conti, La bella mano, Giannalberto Tumermani (1750), page 122

My heart gets angry with me, and I with it.

Cercai il mio portafogli dentro lo zaino, ma era sparito anche lui e tutti i soldi che c’erano dentro.

2000, Gianfranco Liori, Come un fumetto giapponese, Giunti, published 2008, page 64:

I looked for my wallet in the backpack, but it had disappeared as well, along with all the money inside.


uno

Inherited from Latin ūnus, from Old Latin oinos, from Proto-Italic *oinos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos.

Sono uno a cui piace alzarsi presto.

I’m someone who likes getting up early or I’m a person who likes getting up early.

Ci hanno messo gli uni contro gli altri.


ne

From Latin inde (“thence”). Compare French en (adverb, pronoun).

Furono mesi di lavoro sfibrante, ma ne venne fuori un gran film.

There were months of exhausting work, but a great movie came out of those.

from this; from that; from these; from those, sometimes not translated in English

Se è avanzata della torta, ne vorrei una fetta, per favore.

(literally, “If is left some cake, of it I would like a slice.”)

If there's some cake left, I would like a slice.

Avevi promesso di tornare a casa, te ne ricordi?

(literally, “You had promised to come back to home, do you of it remember?”)

You promised you'd come back home, do you remember (that)?

of this; of that; of these; of those, sometimes not translated in English

Non ne ho più.

(literally, “I don't of it have any more.”)

of them (sometimes not translated in English)

Ho capito cos'ha fatto, ma non ne ho capito il motivo.

I understood what he did, but I didn't understand the reason for that.

for this; of that; of these; of those, sometimes not translated in English

Spalancò la porta e se ne andò tutta esultante.

She slammed the door open, and left all cheerful.

Se ne sta sdraiato per ore a non fare nulla.

He just stays there lying down for hours, without doing anything.

intensive particle, used in forms of certain verbs suffixed with -ne, where it indicates a particular way of carrying out the verb's action

Non te ne vorrò.

only used in forms of the verb of volerne (“to hold a grudge”)


si

From Latin se (“him-, her-, it-, themselves”, reflexive third-person pronoun). Cognate with Spanish se and Portuguese se and si.

inh

Se semo fatti sei chilometri a fette. (Ci siamo fatti sei chilometri a piedi.)

Volemose bene. (Vogliamoci bene.)

Se la smezzamo? (Ce la dividiamo?)

Ambo se poseremo in questo prato
 e domatina, come il giorno pare,
 ritornaremo insieme a battagliare.

1483, Matteo Maria Boiardo, Orlando Innamorato, I, XVIII, lines 37–39:

We will both lay down in this meadow
 and tomorrow morning, when the day appears,
 together we will go back to fight.

(dialectal, notably Rome) reflexive and reciprocal first person pronoun, where Standard Italian uses ci


la

le (plural)
lo (masculine)
-la (alternative)

From Latin illa(m), feminine form of ille.

La vedo.

[…] una improvvisa timidezza però la immobilizza […]

[…] a sudden timidity immobilized her though […]

La vedo.

Scusi se la disturbo.

(accusative, formal) you (term of respect)


tu

From Latin tū, from Proto-Italic *tū, from Proto-Indo-European *túh₂.


voi

From Latin vōs, from Old Latin vōs, from Proto-Italic *wōs, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *yū́.
Cognates with the same usage are the French vous and the Russian вы (vy).


ei

Syncopated form of elli (“he”), from Vulgar Latin *illi, from Latin ille (“that”).

(poetic, archaic, after the verb) Alternative form of egli


ei

Syncopated form of elli (“they”), from Latin illī (“those”).


chi

From Latin quis, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷis, *kʷos.


chi

From Latin quī, from Old Latin quei, from Proto-Italic *kʷoi.


je

Alternative form of gli (3ʳᵈ-person dative pronoun)


esse

From Latin es (the name of the letter S).

The name of the Latin-script letter S/s.; ess


nessuno

it-det

nessuno (feminine nessuna, no plural, superlative nessunissimo)

nessuna (feminine)
nessunissimo (superlative)
nissuno (alternative)
nisuno (alternative)
niuno (alternative)

From Latin nē (“not”) + ipse (emphatic, literally “himself”) + ūnus (“one”), meaning “not even one”. Cognate with Neapolitan nisciuno, Sardinian nisciunu, Friulian nissun, Ligurian nisciǜn, and Old French neisune. Compare Spanish ninguno and Romanian niciun.


uomo

Inherited from Latin homō (nominative). The plural reflects Latin hominēs.

omo (alternative)
uom (alternative)
huomo (alternative)
homo (alternative)
huom (alternative)

Ahi, come poco a sé creder uom degge! ¶ ch’a virtute e fortuna Amor pon legge

1475, Angelo Poliziano, “Libro I”, in Stanze de messer Angelo Politiano cominciate per la giostra del magnifico Giuliano di Pietro de Medici, collected in Poesie Italiane by Saverio Orlando, Bologna: Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli, published 1988, section 59:

Alas, how little must one trust to himself!, for Love imposes laws on virtue and fortune


che

From Latin quid (but also usurping some roles of Latin quod), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷid, compare *kʷis.

[…] del vario stile in ch’io piango e ragiono […] spero trovar pietà, nonché perdono.

1336–1374, Francesco Petrarca, “I — Voi ch’ascoltate in rime sparse il suono”, in Il Canzoniere, lines 5–8; republished as Daniele Ponchiroli, editor, Turin: publ. Giulio Einaudi, 1964:

I hope to find not only forgiveness, but also pity for the variegated style in which I cry and reason.

(archaic, relative) who; whom; which; nominative and accusative case


lo

gli (plural)
il (masculine singular)
lo (l') (masculine singular)
i (masculine plural)
gli (masculine plural)
la (l') (feminine singular)
le (feminine plural)

Inherited from Vulgar Latin *illu, from Latin illum, illud, by dropping il- and -m.

l’osso

lo stato

lo zio

lo ione

the form of il that is used before the so-called impure consonants, that is, s+consonant (impure s), gn, pn, ps, x, y, or z, and before i+vocal; before a vowel it becomes l'; the


gli

gli (plural)
li (alternative)
gl' (alternative)

From Latin illī (dative masculine singular of ille). Cognate with Sicilian ci.

Gli parlo.


gli

From Latin illī (dative feminine singular of ille). Cognate with Sicilian ci.

[…] ne prima altro fece, che ella s’ingegnò di veder Beltramo, & appreſſo nel coſpetto del Re venuta di gratia chieſe, che la ſua infermita gli moſtraſſe.

ca. 1349-1353, Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron, Tommaso Edlin (1725), page 98

Before aught else she studied to see Bertrand and next, presenting herself before the king, she prayed him of his favour/favor to show her his ailment.

Ho detto a Gianna che gli telefono domani.


gli

From Latin illīs (dative plural of ille). Cognate with Sicilian ci.

Gli parlerò.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:gli.

with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects


io

head

io (personal, first person, possessive mio)

mio (possessive)
eo (alternative)
jo (alternative)

→ Interlingua: io

Inherited from Late Latin eo, from Classical Latin egō̆.

I (the first-person singular nominative pronoun)


niente

From an earlier neente, either from Latin ne gentem (“no person, no one”), nec entem, ne entem, or ne inde. Compare Old Catalan nient, Sicilian nenti, Piedmontese gnente, Occitan neient, French néant.
The regional pronunciation with initial self-gemination of /nj-/ is by speakers who try to correct the /ɲ-/ because of the orthography, but keep the syllable structure, and thus gemination, of the original /ɲ-/.

Niente bugie!


le

li (masculine)
la (singular)
-le (alternative)

From Latin illas, which is the accusative plural feminine of ille. Cognate with Sicilian li~i.

Le ho viste.

(accusative) them (third-person plural feminine)


loro

From Latin illōrum, genitive plural of ille, illud (“that”).

i loro figli

le loro macchine

casa loro

loro padre

i Loro figli

le Loro macchine

casa Loro

il Loro padre

(possessive, often capitalised/capitalized) your (polite plural form)


loro

Sono i loro.

Sono i Loro.

(often capitalised/capitalized) your (polite plural form)


lei

Inherited from Latin illaei.
The formal address Lei appears in the 16th century in connection with Signoria (“Lordship”), Eccellenza (“Excellency”), Santità (“Holiness”) and Magnificenza, alongside Voi.


tuo

tua (feminine)
tuoi (masculine plural)
tue (feminine plural)

From Latin tuus, from Proto-Italic *towos.
In the singular, Latin tuum underwent *ʊu > *ou > *ɔu dissimilation, cf. Sardinian tou, and also Latin ōvum > Italian òvo, Spanish huevo, ultimately producing [ˈtwɔu], and a plural [ˈtwɔi]. Italian then underwent its regular *wɔV > *uV sound change, cf. *bwɔe > bue, *mjɛu > mio, producing ultimately [ˈtu.o]. This latter sound change is blocked by a following [i], which explains the plural form tuoi, cf. *mjɛi > miei.

Sono i tuoi.


-si

dare (“to give”) → darsi (“to give oneself; to devote”)

vendere (“to sell”) → vendersi (“to sell oneself; to prostitute”)

servire (“to serve”) → servirsi (“to serve oneself; to make use of”)

si vende latte (“milk for sale”) → vendesi latte (“milk for sale”)


molto

From Latin multus, from Proto-Indo-European *ml̥tos (“crumbled, crumpled”, past passive participle). Compare Portuguese muito, Romanian mult, Catalan molt.


tutto

From Vulgar Latin tōttus, alteration of Latin tōtus.

Che tutto hai preparato?

(regional, Sardinia) Used after interrogative pronouns to emphasise plurality.


questo

questa (feminine)
questi (masculine plural)
queste (feminine plural)

From Vulgar Latin *eccum iste, from Latin eccum (deictic) + iste (“that”), the former surviving also as Italian ecco and the latter as esto.

Libri come questo vengono raramente letti al di fuori della piccola cerchia di persone interessate all'argomento.

Books like this one are rarely read outside the small number of people interested in the subject.

Queste sono le mie prime foto, ma penso anche le mie migliori.

These are my first pics but the best ones I think.

Su questo sono completamente d'accordo.

Questo è tutto.


quello

quella (feminine)
quelli (masculine plural)
quelle (feminine plural)

Contracted from Vulgar Latin *eccum ille, from Latin eccum + ille.


qualcosa

Fa' qualcosa!


quale

Quale uomo era?

Quale fortuna!

Verdura quali le carote ed i piselli.


altro

altra (feminine)
altri (masculine plural)
altre (feminine plural)

From Latin alterum, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élteros.

(in the plural) other, other man, another, more, somebody else


cosa

Inherited from Latin causa. Doublet of the borrowing causa. The pronoun is a clipping of che cosa.


elle

From Latin el (the name of the letter L).

The name of the Latin-script letter L/l.


sé

From Latin sē. Compare with French soi, Portuguese si, and Spanish sí.

(disjunctive, emphatic) oneself, himself, herself


nulla

From Latin nūlla, feminine singular and neuter plural (collective) of nūllus.


vostro

it-det

vostro (feminine vostra, masculine plural vostri, feminine plural vostre)

vostra (feminine)
vostri (masculine plural)
vostre (feminine plural)

Inherited from Latin vostrum, which is the accusative of voster, which derives from the older form vester, from Proto-Italic *westeros.

i vostri figli

le vostre macchine

casa vostra

vostro padre


La

(formal) Alternative letter-case form of la (“you”)


Lei

(formal, polite) Alternative letter-case form of lei (“you”)


Vi

(uncommon, very formal or polite) you (in the singular), to you (singular), yourself


mio

mio (feminine mia, masculine plural miei, feminine plural mie)

mia (feminine)
miei (masculine plural)
mie (feminine plural)

From Old Italian meo, from Latin meus, from Proto-Italic *meos.

casa mia

i miei figli

le mie macchine


suo

sua (feminine)
suoi (masculine plural)
sue (feminine plural)
seo (alternative)
sio (alternative)
só (alternative)
soe (alternative)
sou (alternative)
su (alternative)
suoio (alternative)

From Latin suus, from Proto-Italic *sowos, from Proto-Indo-European *sewos, from *swé.

Sono i Suoi

(often capitalised/capitalized) yours (polite singular form)


nostro

From Latin nostrum, from Proto-Italic *nosteros.

(in the plural) our possessions, friends, relatives etc.


poco

From Latin paucus, from Proto-Italic *paukos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ukos, derived from the root *peh₂w- (“few”, “little”). Compare French peu, Portuguese pouco, Spanish poco.

a tra poco

Dopo ciò poco vid’io quello strazio
far di costui a le fangose genti,
che Dio ancor ne lodo e ne ringrazio.

1300s–1310s, Dante Alighieri, “Canto VIII”, in Inferno [Hell], lines 58–60; republished as Giorgio Petrocchi, editor, La Commedia secondo l'antica vulgata [The Commedia according to the ancient vulgate], 2ⁿᵈ revised edition, Florence: publ. Le Lettere, 1994:

A little after that, I saw such havoc made of him by the people of the mire, that still I praise and thank my God for it.


i'

(literary, poetic) Alternative form of ivi


nosco

Derived from Vulgar Latin nōscum, from Latin nōbīscum (“with us”).

Euripide v’è nosco e Antifonte,
Simonide, Agatone e altri piùe
Greci che già di lauro ornar la fronte.

1310s, Dante Alighieri, “Canto XXII”, in Purgatorio [Purgatory], lines 106–108; republished as Giorgio Petrocchi, editor, La Commedia secondo l'antica vulgata [The Commedia according to the ancient vulgate], 2ⁿᵈ revised edition, Florence: publ. Le Lettere, 1994:

With us is Euripides, and Antiphon, [and] Simonides, [and] Agatho, and many more Greeks who adorned their foreheads with laurel.

ἀλλ’ οἵ περ πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσαντο
τῶν ἤτοι αὐτῶν τέρενα χρόα γῦπες ἔδονται,
ἡμεῖς αὖτ’ ἀλόχους τε φίλας καὶ νήπια τέκνα
ἄξομεν ἐν νήεσσιν, ἐπὴν πτολίεθρον ἕλωμεν.

1810 [c. 8ᵗʰ century BCE], “Libro IV”, in Vincenzo Monti, transl., Iliade, translation of Ῑ̓λιάς (Īliás, Iliad) by Homer (in Epic Greek), lines 284–289; republished as Iliade di Omero^(https://it.wikisource.org/wiki/Iliade_(Monti)), 4ᵗʰ edition, Milan: Società tipografica dei classici italiani, 1825:

Those who first broke the agreement, will find themselves [being a] meal for voracious vultures, as we take with us their beloved wives—together with their children—as prisoners, [once] Troy [is] destroyed.

all’ hoí per próteroi hupèr hórkia dēlḗsanto
tôn ḗtoi autôn térena khróa gûpes édontai,
hēmeîs aût’ alókhous te phílas kaì nḗpia tékna
áxomen en nḗessin, epḕn ptolíethron hélōmen.


ve

Ve lo consiglio

Ve ne ne sarei molto grato


glielo

Glielo mostri.


gliene

Gliene ho dato

Gliene ho parlato


ello

From Latin illum (“that”), from earlier olle, from Old Latin ollus (“he, that”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- (“beyond, other”).


esso

head

esso m or n (plural essi, feminine essa)

essi (plural)
essa (feminine)
desso (alternative)
isso (alternative)


altrettanto

it-det

altrettanto (feminine altrettanta, masculine plural altrettanti, feminine plural altrettante)

altrettanta (feminine)
altrettanti (masculine plural)
altrettante (feminine plural)

Univerbation of altro + e + tanto, corresponding to Latin alterum et tantum (compare also French autant, Venetan altretanto).

cinque vittorie ed altrettante sconfitte


altrettanto

"Buon viaggio!" / "Grazie, altrettanto"

"Have a good trip!" / "Thanks, same to you"

(in response to good wishes, etc.) same to you, you too

Sono passati tre minuti. Ve ne rimangono altrettanto.

Three minutes have passed. There remain (for you guys) just as many.


essa

From Latin ipsa, feminine singular of ipse.


troppo

troppo (feminine troppa, masculine plural troppi, feminine plural troppe)

troppa (feminine)
troppi (masculine plural)
troppe (feminine plural)

From Early Medieval Latin troppus, borrowed from Frankish *þorp (“a cluster, agglomeration", also "collection of houses, village”), from Proto-Germanic *þurpą (“village”), from Proto-Indo-European *trab-, *treb- (“dwelling, room”). Cognate with French trop (“too much”), Piedmontese tròp/trop. More at trop, thorp and troop.


propio

propia (feminine)
propi (masculine plural)
propie (feminine plural)

(colloquial or archaic) Alternative form of proprio


chiunque

From chi (“who”) + -unque (indefinite suffix). Formed similarly to, and possibly influenced by, Latin quicumque. Compare also French quiconque.


ciascuno

ciascuna (feminine)
ciascheduno (alternative)
ciascheuno (alternative)

From Vulgar Latin *cisque-unus, from Latin quisque ūnus, and influenced by cadauno. Cf. French chacun, Catalan cadascun.

Ciascuno Stato membro dovrebbe assicurare un'adeguata protezione dei dati nella legislazione nazionale.

Each Member State should ensure an adequate data protection level in its national law.


ciò

Inherited from Late Latin ecce hoc, from ecce (“behold, voilà”) + hoc (“this”). Compare Sicilian zoccu.


colei

Contracted from Vulgar Latin *eccum illaei, (genitive-)dative feminine singular of *eccum ille, under the influence of *illui. Cognate to Italian lei.


coloro

From Vulgar Latin *eccum illorum, genitive(-dative) plural of *eccum ille, also the source of quello. Compare Romanian acelor and Old French celeur.


colui

head

colui m (feminine colei, plural coloro, demonstrative)

Contracted from Vulgar Latin *eccum illui, (genitive-)dative masculine singular of *eccum ille, under the influence of Latin cui (“to whom”). Compare French celui. and Romanian acelui.

Dopo tutto, Colui-Che-Non-Deve-Essere-Nominato ha fatto grandi cose...terribili, è vero, ma grandi.

1998, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter e la pietra filosofale, page 85:

After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things...terrible, yes, but great.

La gloria di colui che tutto move per l'universo penetra, e risplende in una parte più e meno altrove.

1320, Dante Alighieri, La Divina Commedia, Paradiso, Canto I:

The glory of Him that moves everything in the universe permeates and shines in one part and less in another.

(literary, used to indicate a person far from both the speaker and the listener) he, him; that man

(literary, archaic, belonging to a person far from both the speaker and the listener) his


costei

From Vulgar Latin *eccum istaei, (genitive-)dative of *eccum iste. Compare Romanian acestei, Old French cestei.


costui

costui m (feminine costei, plural costoro, demonstrative)

From Vulgar Latin *eccum istūi, (genitive-)dative masculine singular of *eccum iste, from Latin eccum + istī, influenced by cui (“to whom”). Compare Romanian acestui, Old French cestui.

Non è costui quel ch'essi cercan di uccidere?

1911, Giovanni Diodatti, Il Nuovo Testamento del Nostro Signore e Salvatore Gesù Cristo, San Giovanni 7:25, page 247:

Isn't this the man they are trying to kill?

(literary, used to indicate a person close to the speaker) he, him; this man


ella

ella f (plural elle, archaic plural elleno)

From Latin illa, feminine of ille (“that”).


proprio

a ciascuno il proprio

one's own, what belongs to one, one's due


ognuno

ognuna (feminine)
ogniuno (alternative)
ognun (alternative)

From ogni (“each, every”) + uno (“one”).


stesso

it-det

stesso (feminine stessa, masculine plural stessi, feminine plural stesse)

stessa (feminine)
stessi (masculine plural)
stesse (feminine plural)

Inherited from Old Italian istesso, from Latin istum (“that”) + ipsum (“himself”).


qualsiasi cosa

qualsiasi cosa, basta che funzioni


nol

Nol dire!

(literary, archaic) Contraction of non lo (“not ... it”).


parecchio

From Late Latin pariculus, diminutive of Latin pār. Doublet of pareglio and pariglio, both borrowed via Old French pareil. Compare Spanish parejo.

really, rather, quite a lot, quite a bit, quite a long time, quite a while


Ella

(formal, polite) Alternative letter-case form of ella (“you”)


questi

From Latin (ec)cu(m) istī (nominative masculine plural of iste).

uder

nominative masculine plural of <i class="Latn mention" lang="la">iste</i>


altrui

From Vulgar Latin *alterūi, corresponding to classical Latin alterī (dative singular of alter). The -ui ending, analogous to lui, costui, colui, is ultimately due to the influence of cui.

(possessive) another person's, someone else's, other people's, of others (genitive of altro)


medesimo

it-det

medesimo (feminine medesima, masculine plural medesimi, feminine plural medesime)

medesima (feminine)
medesimi (masculine plural)
medesime (feminine plural)
medesmo (alternative)

From earlier *metesimo, from Vulgar Latin *metipsimus, from a previous form *metipsissimus, derived from Latin -met (emphatic suffix) + ipse (“himself”) + -issimus (superlative suffix).
Cognate with French même, Spanish mismo, Portuguese mesmo.


medesimo

medesima (feminine)
medesmo (alternative)


quegli

From Old Italian quelli, via palatalization of /ll/ before /i/ (cf. begli < belli), from Vulgar Latin *eccum illī, alternative nominative singular of Vulgar Latin *eccum ille, from Latin eccum + ille.

(literary) used to refer to someone distant in terms of space or time from the speaker; that (person) (as a subject)


entrambi

Inherited from Latin inter ambōs (“between the both of them”).


quantunque

→ Ladino: kuantunke

From quanto (“how much”) + -unque (indefinite ending). Formed similarly to, and possibly influenced by, Latin quantuscumque.

suffix

E non sarà dato alla Verità, quantunque potentissima, […] nè sterminarlo mai dalla terra, nè vincerlo

1827, Giacomo Leopardi, “Storia del genere umano [History of Mankind]”, in Operette morali [Small Moral Works], Florence: Guglielmo Piatti, published 1834, page 21:

And the Truth, however very powerful, will not be able to eradicate it from the earth, nor win against it


quantunque

it-det

quantunque (plural quantunque or (rare) quantunqui)

quantunque (plural)
quantunqui (plural rare)

cignesi con la coda tante volte ¶ quantunque gradi vuol che giù sia messa.

1321, Dante Alighieri, La divina commedia: Inferno [The Divine Comedy: Hell], 12th edition (paperback), Le Monnier, published 1994, Canto V, page 72, lines 11–12:

Girds himself with his tail as many times ¶ as grades he wishes it should be thrust down.


quantunque

ad imprender philoſophia il mandò ad Athene, & quantunque più potè, il raccomandò ad un nobile huomo

1353, Giovanni Boccaccio, “Decima giornata, Novella VIII [Tenth Day, Eighth Story]”, in Decamerone [Decameron], Tommaso Hedlin, published 1527, page 263:

he sent him to Athens to study philosophy, and to the best of his power commended him to a nobleman


taluno

taluno (feminine taluna, masculine plural taluni, feminine plural talune)

taluna (feminine)
taluni (masculine plural)
talune (feminine plural)


-ne

Una volta entrato nel labirinto, non riuscì più ad uscirne.

Once he entered the labyrinth, he couldn't get out of there.

Arrivò a Roma, solo per ripartirne l'indomani.

(literally, “She arrived at Rome, just to leave from there the tomorrow.”)

She arrived at Rome, just to leave the following day.

(adverbial) from there; of there, sometimes not translated in English

Con un po' di fortuna, potrebbe venirne un bel guadagno.

(literally, “With a bit of luck, could come from that a nice profit.”)

With a little luck, it could make a good profit.

Traine la conclusione che preferisci.

(literally, “Take from that the conclusion you prefer.”)

from this; from that; from these; from those, sometimes not translated in English

La torta era squisita. Posso averne un'altra fetta?

(literally, “The cake was delicious. Can I have of that another slice?”)

The cake was delicious. May I have another slice?

È successo tre giorni fa! Come fai a non ricordartene?

(literally, “It happened three days ago! How do you do to not remember of that?”)

It happened three days ago! How can you not remember that?

Vuoi un po' di mele? Eccotene una dozzina.

(literally, “Do you want a few of apples? Here to you of them a dozen.”)

Would you like some apples? Here's a dozen for you.

of this; of that; of these; of those, sometimes not translated in English

Continuo a non capirne la ragione.

(literally, “I keep to not understand for that the reason.”)

Ha detto di non averne bisogno.

(literally, “She said of not have for that need.”)

for this; for that; for these; for those, sometimes not translated in English

andare (“to go”) + -si (enclitic reflexive pronoun) + -ne → andarsene (“to go about (in a particular way)”)

venire (“to come”) + -si (enclitic reflexive pronoun) + -ne → venirsene (“to come about (in a particular way)”)

uscire (“to go out; to come out”) + -si (enclitic reflexive pronoun) + -ne → uscirsene (“to say surprisingly or unexpectedly”) (familiar)

intensive particle, used in forms of verbs where it indicates a particular way of carrying out the verb's action

Only used in volerne (“to hold a grudge”)


granché

Univerbation of gran (“great”) + che (“thing, something”).

univerbation

gran che (alternative)
granchè (alternative)

Mi ha detto di non essersi trovato granché bene.

He told me he didn't feel really at ease.

(only used in negative sentences) not that much, not very much; not really


ambedue

From Latin ambi- (“both”) + Latin duo (“two”), via due. Compare Old Italian amendue and Old French ambedeus.

af

ambidue (alternative)
ambeduo (alternative)
ambedui (alternative)
ambidui (alternative)


il quale

la quale (feminine)
i quali (masculine plural)
le quali (feminine plural)

E l’anno dinanzi che’ Saracini passassero apparve in Genova una fontana che largamente gittò sangue, il quale fu segno de la loro futura distruzione.

1348, Giovanni Villani, “Libro quarto, Ⅳ. Come e perché lo ’mperio di Roma tornò agl’Italiani. [Fourth Book, 4 - How and why the dominion of Rome went back to the Italian]”, in Nuova cronica [New Chronicle], published 1845:

And the year before the Saracens came by, in Genua, a fountain happened to gush lots of blood, which was a sign of their future destruction.

quella benigna e saggia incantatrice,
la quale ha sempre cura di costei,
sappiendo ch’esser de’ progenitrice
d’uomini invitti, anzi di semidei

1516–1532, Ludovico Ariosto, “Canto 7”, in Orlando furioso, stanza 39; republished as Santorre Debenedetti, editor, Bari: Laterza, 1928:

That benign and wise enchantress, who always takes care of it, knowing it has to be progenitor to invincible men—nay, to demigods

Gli uomini [...], se non dopo esser passati tramezzo mille errori nelle cose più essenziali alla vita ed alla libertà, [...], non s’inducono a rimediare ai disordini che gli opprimono, e a riconoscere le più palpabili verità, le quali appunto sfuggono per la semplicità loro alle menti volgari, non avvezze ad analizzare gli oggetti

1764, Cesare Beccaria, “Capitolo I”, in Dei delitti e delle pene:

Men, except after going through a thousand mistakes in the things most essential to life and freedom, don't bring themselves to fix the disorders that oppress them, or to recognize the most tangible truths, which, due to their very simplicity, are missed by vulgar minds, [which are] not used to analyzing objects

intanto ingannavano il tempo a contare storie e indovinelli, buoni pei ragazzi, i quali stavano a sentire con tanto d’occhi intontiti dal sonno

1881, Giovanni Verga, “Capitolo 11”, in I Malavoglia:

In the meantime, they would pass the time telling stories and riddles, good for the boys, who would be listening even with their eyes groggy from sleepiness.

(now rare) who; whom; which; that; subject or object


noialtri

From noi + altri. Compare Venetan noialtri/nialtri, Sicilian nuiautri, Piedmontese nojàutri, Spanish nosotros, Catalan nosaltres, French nous autres.


-lo

dare (“to give”) → darlo (“to give it”)

vendere (“to sell”) → venderlo (“to sell it”)

servire (“to serve”) → servirlo (“to serve it”)

mangia (“eat!”) → mangialo (“eat it!”)


v'

Lunge da lei per me non v'ha diletto!


voialtri

From voi + altri. Compare Sicilian vuiautri, Piedmontese vojàutri, Catalan vosaltres, French vous autres, Spanish vosotros.

you (everyone except me or us, "you lot")


che cosa

Che cosa manca?

Che cosa vogliamo? Tutto!


nullo

it-det

nullo (feminine nulla, masculine plural nulli, feminine plural nulle)

nulla (feminine)
nulli (masculine plural)
nulle (feminine plural)

Il contratto è stato dichiarato nullo.

The contract has been deemed null and void.


-la

dare (“to give”) → darla (“to give her”)

vendere (“to sell”) → venderla (“to sell her”)

servire (“to serve”) → servirla (“to serve her”)


ognuna

ognuno (masculine)
ogniuna (alternative)

From ogni (“each, every”) + una (“one”).


cadauno

cadauno (feminine cadauna, masculine plural cadauni, feminine plural cadaune)

cadauna (feminine)
cadauni (masculine plural)
cadaune (feminine plural)

Cf. Old Italian caduno, catuno, from Vulgar Latin *catūnum, from Latin cata (< Ancient Greek κατά (katá)) + unum. The form cadauno may be through the intermediate of Old Spanish cada uno. Compare Occitan cadun, Catalan cadascun; cf. French chacun. See also ciascuno.


codesto

codesta (feminine)
codesti (masculine plural)
codeste (feminine plural)

Inherited from Old Italian cotesto, from Old Italian cotevesto, contracted from a Vulgar Latin introductory locution *eccum tibi istum; compare *eccum iste whence Italian questo.

(dated, regional, literary) this, that (referring to an object close to the addressee)


codesti

(literary) "that (near the adressee) person"


costoro

From Vulgar Latin *eccum istorum, genitive(-dative) plural of *eccum iste.


ciascheduno

ciascheduna (feminine)
ciascheuno (alternative)

From Vulgar Latin *cisque et ūnus, from Latin quisque et ūnus.

E non restò di ruinare a valle
fino a Minòs che ciascheduno afferra.

1300s–1310s, Dante Alighieri, “Canto XX”, in Inferno [Hell], lines 35–36; republished as Giorgio Petrocchi, editor, La Commedia secondo l'antica vulgata [The Commedia according to the ancient vulgate], 2ⁿᵈ revised edition, Florence: publ. Le Lettere, 1994:

And he didn't stop tumbling down towards Minos, who grasps everyone.

Par chiami invan le dolci sue compagne;
Le qual rimase tra fioretti e foglie
Dolenti Europa ciascheduna piagne.

1475, Angelo Poliziano, “Libro I”, in Stanze de messer Angelo Politiano cominciate per la giostra del magnifico Giuliano di Pietro de Medici, collected in Poesie Italiane by Saverio Orlando, Bologna: Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli, published 1988, section 106:

She seems to be calling her dear companions in vain; they, left behind among the flowers and leaves, each mournfully cry for Europa.

Veggiamo hora quello che le sopradette Prepositioni significano, dando per ciascheduna alcuno esempio.

1540, Francesco Priscianese, Della lingua romana [On the Roman Language], page 7:

Now we'll see what the aforementioned prepositions mean, giving an example for each one.

La somma di tutte queste porzioni di libertà, sacrificate al bene di ciascheduno, forma la sovranità di una nazione

1764, Cesare Beccaria, “II. Origine delle pene. Diritto di punire. [2. Origin of punishments - Right to punish]”, in Dei delitti e delle pene [On Crimes and Punishments], Paris: Dal Molini, published 1780, page 8:

The sum of all these parts of freedom, sacrificed for the good of everyone, forms a nation's sovereignty

Perciocchè non si proponendo nè patria da dovere particolarmente amare, nè strani da odiare; ciascheduno odierà tutti gli altri

1827, Giacomo Leopardi, “Storia del genere umano [History of mankind]”, in Operette morali [Small Moral Works], Florence: Guglielmo Piatti, published 1834, page 21:

Thus, without being presented with either a fatherland to be particularly loved, or strangers to hate, everyone will hate everyone else


cotanto

cotanto (feminine cotanta, masculine plural cotanti, feminine plural cotante)

cotanta (feminine)
cotanti (masculine plural)
cotante (feminine plural)

Inherited from Vulgar Latin *(ec)cu tantum, from Latin eccum + tantum (“so much”).


cotanto

Se di saper ch'i sia ti cal cotanto, ¶ che tu abbi però la ripa corsa, ¶ sappi ch'i fui vestito del gran manto; [...]

1321, Dante Alighieri, La divina commedia: Inferno, Le Monnier, published 1994, Canto XIX, p. 285 vv. 67-69:

If who I am thou carest so much to know, ¶ that thou on that account hast crossed the bank, ¶ know that I vested was with the great mantle; …

[Q]uesto è quel mondo? questi ¶ i diletti, l’amor, l’opre, gli eventi, ¶ onde cotanto ragionammo insieme? ¶ questa la sorte dell’umane genti?
Is this that world? These ¶ the delights, the love, the works, the events, ¶ which for so long we discussed? ¶ is this the fate of mankind?

1828, Giacomo Leopardi, A Silvia (Alessandro Donati, Giacomo Leopardi - Canti, Laterza (1917), p. 81 vv. 56-59)


cotanto

Il Greco aviſò il cavallo e diſſe, Meſſere, lo cavalo è di bella guiſa, ma cotanto vi dico, kel cavallo è nutricato a latte d’Aſino.
The Greek looked at the horse and said: «Sir, the horse is of good aspect, but I'm only saying this, that the horse is raised on donkey milk.»

c. 13th century, Novellino (Le ciento novelle antike, Girolamo Benedetti (1525)), D’un savio greco, c’uno re teneva in pregione, come giudicò d’uno destriere


cotesto

it-det

cotesto (feminine cotesta, masculine plural cotesti, feminine plural coteste)

cotesta (feminine)
cotesti (masculine plural)
coteste (feminine plural)

From earlier cotevesto, contracted from a Vulgar Latin introductory locution *eccum tibi istum (literally “here [is] that [thing] for you”).


chicchessia

chi (“who(ever)”) + che (“that”) + sia (“it be”, 3rd person singular present subjunctive of essere (“to be”))
Cognate with Piedmontese chissëssìa.

compound

3rd person singular present subjunctive of <i class="Latn mention" lang="it">essere</i> (“to be”)


-li

dare (“to give”) → darli (“to give them”)

vendere (“to sell”) → venderli (“to sell them”)

servire (“to serve”) → servirli (“to serve them”)


un po'

Truncation of un poco. Compare French un peu, Portuguese um pouco, and Spanish un poco.

un po' d'allegria


un po'

mi sento un po' ammalato

a bit, a little, slightly, somewhat, sort of

resto a casa per un po' più a lungo


veruno

it-det

veruno (feminine veruna, masculine plural veruni, feminine plural verune)

veruna (feminine)
veruni (masculine plural)
verune (feminine plural)

From Latin vērē ūnus (literally “truly only one”).

inh

(following a negative statement) no, not any


veruno

(following a negative statement) no one, nobody


amendue

Ultimately from Latin ambo + duae. Compare Old French andui, Romanian amândoi. Doublet of ambedue.


meve

Inherited from Vulgar Latin *mibi, modification of Classical Latin mihi.
Appears to have been native at least to the medieval dialect of the Marche. In Tuscany, may represent a borrowing from the Sicilian poets (cf. the alternative form mentioned above). In that case, meve would reflect a 'nativization' of the vowels, perhaps along the lines of teve, the native status of which in Tuscany is suggested by cotevesto.

me (1ˢᵗ-person singular personal pronoun)


checchessia

che (“what(ever)”) + che (“that”) + sia (“it is”, 3rd person singular present subjunctive of essere (“to be”))


ambedui

(literary, obsolete) Alternative form of ambedue


eglino

Volpi, e lupi massimamente si pigliano con tagliuola di ferro, che intorno a se hae molti ramponi aguzzati: ed eglino hanno intorno ad esse un'anello

13ᵗʰ century, “ⅩⅩⅩⅡ. Del pigliar lupi, e volpi”, in Trattato dell'agricoltura [Treatise On Agriculture], translation of Opus ruralium commodorum libri Ⅻ by Pietro De' Crescenzi, published 1605, page 526:

Foxes, and especially wolves, are caught by using an iron snare, which has many sharp points around, and they have a ring around them

acciò ch’eglino si esercitino adoperando le virtudi e schifino i vizii, e l’aversitadi sostegnano con forte animo a bene e stato della nostra repubblica

1348, Giovanni Villani, “Libro primo [First Book]”, in Nuova Cronica [New Chronicle], published 1991, section 1:

so that they practice, employing virtues, and reject vices, and shoulder adversities with a strong soul, for the good and stability of our republic

e’ cercano e’ figliuoli farli massai, ivi gli fanno miseri e servili, dove eglino stimano più le ricchezze che lo onore

15ᵗʰ century, Leon Battista Alberti, I libri della famiglia, collected in Opere volgari, page 19:

They try to make their sons into bailiffs, so they make them miserable and servile, where they appreciate riches more than honor

I Medicamenti, che si maneggiano dallo Speziale, ò eglino son semplici al senso, et all'apparenza, ò si chiamano semplici rispetto alle medicine composte.

1567, Ricettario fiorentino [Florentine Cookbook], page 8:

The medicaments handled by the grocer, they either are simple to the senses, or in appearance, or are called "simple" as opposed to the compound medications.

Piatti di frastagliami,
Frutte, pane, salumi: ove vann' eglino?

1619, Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger, La fiera, published 1726, page 131:

Plates of offal, fruit, bread, sausages: where are they going?

Ha corte l’ali la ragione andando dietro a’ sensi; perchè più oltre di quello, ch’eglino apprendono, ella in cotale inchiesta non può comprendere.

1668, Francesco Redi, Esperienze intorno alla generazione degl’insetti [Experiences About the Generation of Insects], Florence, page 3:

Reason has short wings when following the senses, because it cannot comprehend more, in this research, than what they can learn.

La tortura e i tormenti sono eglino giusti, e ottengono eglino il fine che si propongono le leggi?

1764, Cesare Beccaria, “Introduzione [Introduction]”, in Dei delitti e delle pene [On Crimes and Punishments], Paris: Dal Molini, published 1780, page 5:

Torture and torments, are they right, and do they reach the end at which the laws aim?

Deucalione e Pirra […] sedevano in cima a una rupe chiamando la morte con efficacissimo desiderio, non che eglino temessero nè deplorassero il fato comune.

1827, Giacomo Leopardi, “Storia del genere umano [History of Humankind]”, in Operette morali [Small Moral Works], Florence: Guglielmo Piatti, published 1834, page 11:

Deucalion and Pyrrha sat at the top of a cliff, calling for Death with a very effective desire, for they did not fear or shame the common fate

I Volsci per grande dispetto uscirono alla battaglia (però ch'eglino credevano che la maggior parte de' Romani fosse distrutta e morta da' Galli)

1846, Claudio Dalmazzo, “Libro sesto”, in La prima deca di Tito Livio [Titus Livius' First Decade], translation of Ab Urbe Condita Libri by Titus Livius, page 87:

With great disdain, the Volsci came out to battle (because they thought the largest part of the Romans had been destroyed and killed by the Gauls)

ivi ben poco apprendono, se non che ombre li seguono ovunque eglino vadano

1894, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Elegie romane, page 252:

And there they learn very little, except that shadows follow them wherever they go


nisuno

head

nisuno m sg (singular only, feminine nisuna)

De qua 'n ce sta nisuno.


niuno

From Latin nē ūnus (literally “not one”).


-mi

dare (“to give”) → darmi (“to give myself; to give me; to give to me”)

vendere (“to sell”) → vendermi (“to sell myself; to sell me; to sell to me”)

servire (“to serve”) → servirmi (“to serve myself; to serve me; to serve to me”)


-le

dare (“to give”) → darle (“to give them; to give for her”)

vendere (“to sell”) → venderle (“to sell them; to sell to her”)

servire (“to serve”) → servirle (“to serve them; to serve to her”)


Loro

(uncommon, very formal or polite) you (plural)

with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects


Loro

(uncommon, very formal or polite, possessive) your (plural)


-ti

dare (“to give”) → darti (“to give yourself; to give you; to give for you”)

vendere (“to sell”) → venderti (“to sell yourself; to sell you; to sell to you”)

servire (“to serve”) → servirti (“to serve yourself; to serve you; to serve to you”)


-vi

dare (“to give”) → darvi (“to give yourselves; to give you; to give for you”)

vendere (“to sell”) → vendervi (“to sell yourselves; to sell you; to sell to you”)

servire (“to serve”) → servirvi (“to serve yourselves; to serve you; to serve to you”)


qualcheduna

qualcheduna f (masculine form qualcheduno)


ben altro

ben altra (feminine)
ben altri (masculine plural)
ben altre (feminine plural)

Ho ben altro da fare che starti ad ascoltare!

I have much more to do than just listen to you!

(masculine, in the singular) other (more important) things


cotevesto

it-det

cotevesto (feminine cotevesta, masculine plural cotevesti, feminine plural coteveste)

cotevesta (feminine)
cotevesti (masculine plural)
coteveste (feminine plural)

Contracted from a Vulgar Latin introductory locution *eccum tibi istum (literally “here [is] that [thing] for you”).


neuno

head

neuno m sg (singular only, feminine neuna)

From Latin ne ūnus (literally “not one”).


ellino

From elli (“they”) + a -no suffix akin to that of third-person plural verb endings (cfr. -ano, -ono).


Le

Nel ringraziarLa per la Sua risposta, Le porgo i miei distinti saluti.

(formal) Alternative letter-case form of le (“you”)


-gli

dare (“to give”) → dargli (“to give him; to give them”)

vendere (“to sell”) → vendergli (“to sell to him; to sell to them”)

servire (“to serve”) → servirgli (“to serve to him; to serve to them”)


Voi

(uncommon, very formal or polite, chiefly southern Italy) you (in the singular)


tutti e

tutti e tre

Ansimavano tutti e due, ma il sorriso era tornato agli angoli della bocca della ragazza.

2000, George Orwell, translated by Stefano Manferlotti, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mondadori, page 105:

They were both breathing fast, but the smile had reappeared round the corners of her mouth.

(followed by a cardinal number) all (of them)


tutti e

non occorreva che lei considerasse tutte e tre le possibilità

she did not need to consider all three possibilities


niente di niente

Literally, “nothing of nothing”. Compare French rien de rien.


cotestui

cotestui m (plural cotestoro, feminine cotestei)

cotestoro (plural)
cotestei (feminine)
codestui (alternative)

From Vulgar Latin *eccum tibi istūi. Compare costui and codesto.

(literary, dated, demonstrative) he; him; this man (used to indicate a person close to the speaker)


codestui

(literary, dated, uncommon, demonstrative) Alternative form of cotestui


cotestei

cotestei f (plural cotestoro, masculine cotestui)

cotestoro (plural)
cotestui (masculine)
codestei (alternative)

(literary, dated, demonstrative) she; her; this woman (used to indicate a person close to the speaker)


codestei

codestei f (plural codestoro, masculine codestui)

(dated, literary, it, uncommon) Alternative form of cotestei


cotestoro

cotestoro m pl or f pl (masculine singular cotestui, feminine singular cotestei)

cotestui (masculine singular)
cotestei (feminine singular)
codestoro (alternative)

From Vulgar Latin *eccum tibi istōrum. Compare costoro and codesto.

(literary, dated, demonstrative) they; them; these people (used to indicate people close to the speaker)


codestoro

codestoro m pl or f pl (masculine singular codestui, feminine singular codestei)

codestui (masculine singular)
codestei (feminine singular)

(literary, dated, uncommon, demonstrative) Alternative form of cotestoro


ləi

tlb

(gender-neutral, LGBTQ, neologism, rare)

Coined by substituting the central vowel of lui and lei with the gender-neutral vowel ə. Compare French iel.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:ləi.

(s)he, they (singular), gender-neutral third person singular pronoun (exclusively in writing)