Unknown Italian term: 'Chissà'
Italian Word of the Day:
Welcome to another edition of our Italian Word of the Day! Say goodbye to confusion in Italy with the word chissá. Ready to learn? Let's dive in!
Living in Italy can be bewildering at times, leaving you scratching your head and going, "What on earth is happening here?" That's when chissá comes in handy!
Pronounced "here," this versatile little word means "Who knows?" or "Beats me!" You can use it rhetorically to express uncertainty about a situation or unknowingly in response to a question when you haven't a clue what they're talking about. Just add a shrug and say "boh" for extra authenticity!
Here are a few examples of how to use chissá:
Cosa sta succedendo adesso?
Chissá!
What's happening now?
Chiudi la finestra, ho freddo!
Chissá, ho freddo!
Close the window, I'm cold!
Chi fa questi rumori?
Chissá!
Who's making all this noise?
Originating from the phrase "chi sa" (who knows), *chissá is a shorthand version used more casually. It's important to note that while both expressions share a similar meaning, they are not always interchangeable in sentences.
For instance:
Chi sa se Maria mangia la carne?
Does anybody know if Maria eats meat?
Chissà se Maria mangia la carne.
I wonder if Maria eats meat.
Feeling flamboyant? you can elevate chissá to another level by combining it with chi (who) or che cosa (what) to emphasize someone or something being 'special.'
Marco si crede chissà chi.
Marco thinks a lot of himself. (Literally "Marco thinks he's who knows who")
La pasta non era chissà che cosa.
The (quality of) the pasta wasn't anything special. (Literally "The pasta wasn't who knows what")
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In the captivating Italian lifestyle, chissá serves as a versatile phrase that can be used at home and in garden conversations, just as easily as in urban discussions. For example, questioning the sudden appearance of an exotic garden flower, you might say, "Chissá, from where did this beautiful Italian bloom come?"
Drawing inspiration from the Italian home-and-garden surroundings, combining chissá with chi (who) or che cosa (what) can lead to an outpouring of Italian flair. Perhaps you've come across an unusual Italian pottery, and you can exclaim, "Chi sa chi sono questi bellissimi vasi?" (I wonder who made these beautiful vases).
