“Cosa” vs “che” in Italian
In Italian, cosa and che are both relative pronouns in Italian, used to form questions and relative clauses. However, they have distinct grammatical functions and usage patterns.
Cosa is a noun that functions as a pronoun and is mostly restricted to questions and relative clauses involving “things”. Che is primarily a pronoun or an adjective which makes it more versatile. Also, it tends to be more common in colloquial speech.
Let me now explain you the difference between che and cosa in Italian.
Che
Interrogative Pronoun
When used in questions to ask for information, che can mean either “what” or “which”. Grammatically, it is either a pronoun or an adjective, depending on whether it precedes a noun or simply introduces a question, for example:
Che fai oggi?
What do you do today?
Che macchina hai comprato?
Which car did you buy?
As you can see, in the second example che qualifies the noun, asking for more specific information about the noun.
Relative Pronoun
Che is commonly used as a relative pronoun to link a subordinate clause to the main one. It can mean “that”, “who”, or “which”.
Il libro che ho letto è interessante.
The book that I read is interesting.
La ragazza che hai visto è mia amica.
The girl who you saw is my friend.
In Exclamations
In exclamations, che is used to express emotions such as surprise, admiration, or frustration. It is translatable as “what a” or “how“, for example:
Che bello!
How beautiful!
Che disastro!
What a disaster!
Subordinating Conjunction
Che can also be a conjunction, specifically used to introduce a subordinate clause that depends on the main clause. It typically means “that” or “because“.
Penso che sia una buona idea.
I think that it’s a good idea.
Credo che tu abbia ragione.
I believe that you’re right.
Notice that when it is used in subordinate clauses, it typically introduces a verb in the subjunctive mood.
As a Comparative
Che is sometimes used in comparisons to mean “than“. Although we typically use the preposition di to make comparisons, remember that che is used to compare two adjectives or verbs within the same clause.
Preferisco andare al mare che restare a casa.
I prefer going to the beach than staying at home.
Mi sento più stanca che malata.
I feel more tired than sick.
Cosa
Interrogative Pronoun
Just like che, the most common use of cosa is as an interrogative pronoun meaning “what“. However, notice that it cannot be used as an adjective: it functions as a pronoun only, standing for an unknown object or action, for example:
Cosa fai?
What are you doing?
Cosa hai detto?
What did you say?
Notice that cosa can be used alone or in combination with che, resulting in che cosa. Nothing really changes, as the meaning remains the same.
Noun
As a noun, cosa literally means “thing” and is used to refer to an object, action, event, or idea. It is common in Italian when referring to unspecified or general things. Notice that, as a noun, it has a plural form.
Ho comprato due cose.
I bought two things.
La cosa più importante è la famiglia.
The most important thing is family.
Relative Pronoun
Cosa can also be used as a relative pronoun to mean “what”, “that”, or “which”, often in complex sentences. It refers to an unspecified object, action, or concept that has already been mentioned or is understood from context.
Non so cosa fare.
I don’t know what to do.
Dimmi cosa pensi.
Tell me what you think.
In Exclamations
Cosa is sometimes used in exclamatory expressions to emphasize surprise, shock, or other emotions. It can translate to “what” in these cases, typically followed by a verb or adjective.
Cosa stai dicendo!
What are you saying!
Cosa fai!
What are you doing!
The Expression “Qualcosa”
When combined with qual (some) – a shortened form of qualche – it becomes the pronoun qualcosa, meaning “something”. This form is used to refer to an unspecified object or event.
Ho visto qualcosa di strano.
I saw something strange.
Vuoi qualcosa da bere?
Do you want something to drink?
