Italian Interrogatives – Essential Question Words

Chi? (Who)

  • Translation: Who

  • Si usa per una persona

    Che? (What)
    Translation: What
    Si usa per una cosa o un'idea. Chi? (Who)
    Translation: Who
    Si usa per riferirsi a una persona.

  • Dove? (Where)

  • Translation: Where

  • Usage: Indicates a position or a place.

Dov’è? (Where is it?)

  • Construction: Dove+eˋ\text{Dove} + è

  • Usage: Asks the location of someone/something.

Quando? (When)

  • Translation: When

  • Usage: Refers to time, occasion, or moment.

Quanto? (How much)

  • Translation: How much

  • Usage: Requests a quantity or amount.

Perché? (Why)

  • Translation: Why

  • Usage: Seeks a motive, reason, or explanation.

Che cosa? (What)

  • Translation: What

  • Usage: Seeks a specific thing or object.

Che cos’è? (What is it?)

  • Construction: Che cosa+eˋ\text{Che cosa} + è

  • Usage: Requests identification of a specific thing or object.

Quale? (Which)

  • Translation: Which

  • Usage: Introduces an alternative choice.

Qual è? (Which one is it?)

  • Construction: Quale+eˋ\text{Quale} + è

  • Usage: Asks for the selection among alternatives.

Come? (How)

  • Translation: How

  • Usage: Refers to mode, manner, or form.

Com’è? (How is it?)

  • Construction: Come+eˋ\text{Come} + è

  • Usage: Asks about the mode, manner, or condition of something.