Grammatical Uses of “chi”
As an Interrogative Pronoun
The simplest and most familiar use of chi is to ask about people. It translates directly to “who” or “whom” in English and does not change in number or gender.
When used this way, it is an interrogative pronoun, used to ask questions. For example:
Chi è alla porta?
Who is at the door?
Chi stai aspettando?
Whom are you waiting for?
Even in indirect questions, chi retains this function:
Non so chi abbia telefonato.
I don’t know who called.
Dimmi chi hai invitato alla festa.
Tell me who you invited to the party.
As a Relative Pronoun
In Italian, chi often replaces phrases like “the one who” or “those who” in English, behaving as a relative pronoun. It refers to people in a vague or general sense and is typically used without additional qualifiers.
Chi compra il biglietto online salta la fila.
Those who buy a ticket online skip the queue.
Be careful, thought! It cannot be used as a relative pronoun replacing “that”, “which”, “who” in Italian. This is a typical English behavior that Italian does not display.
Paired With Prepositions
Prepositions like con (with), a (to), and di (of) frequently precede chi, forming expressions equivalent to “with whom” or “to whom”. Unlike English, these constructions cannot be separated.
Con chi andrai al cinema?
With whom will you go to the movies?
Non so a chi devo chiedere aiuto.
I don’t know whom to ask for help.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Misusing “chi” in Statements
Chi is always singular and, therefore, takes a singular verb. A common mistake is to pluralize it:
Chi vuole venire dovrebbe venire.
Those who want to come should come.
Confusing “chi” With “che”
While in English we can use the relative pronoun “who” when referring to people, in Italian this is not possible. As I mentioned before, if we need an Italian relative pronoun that corresponds to “who” in English, we have to use che.
Loro sono le ragazze che ho conosciuto al concerto.
They are the girls (who) I met at the concert.
Omitting Prepositions
Skipping or replacing prepositions can lead to confusion. Unlike English, prepositions mandatorily precede the interrogative pronouns they are linked to:
A chi hai inviato il messaggio?
Who did you send the message to?
“Chi” in Italian
The Historical Roots of “Chi”
The word chi in Italian traces back to the Latin pronoun quis, meaning “who” or “what”. In Latin, quis was used to ask questions or refer to an unspecified subject.
As the Italian language evolved from Latin, quis transformed into chi, retaining its function while expanding into new grammatical roles.
This transformation reflects the linguistic efficiency of Italian, since now chi can both ask a question and act as an indefinite pronoun.
Idiomatic Expressions with “Chi”
Italian is rich in idiomatic expressions, and many of them feature chi, offering insight into Italian culture and Italian humor. Here are a few classics:
Chi vivrà, vedrà.
Those who’ll live, will see.
Equivalent to “time will tell” or “wait and see”, this phrase reflects the Italian mindset of patience, pragmatism, and faith in the future.
Chi non muore si rivede.
Those who don’t die are seen again.
Used sarcastically when someone reappears after a long absence, it’s like saying “long time no see!” or “look who decided to show up!”
Chi dorme non piglia pesci.
Those who sleep don’t catch fish.
Similar to “the early bird catches the worm”, this idiom emphasizes the importance of being proactive.
Chi tardi arriva, male alloggia.
Those who arrive late, find poor accommodation.
Comparable to “the early bird gets the worm”, this phrase warns against procrastination.
Practice Makes Perfect
Learning Italian often feels like solving a fascinating linguistic puzzle, and the word chi is one of the most versatile pieces in the language.
While at first glance it may seem like a simple equivalent to “who”, its uses extend far beyond that, making it an indispensable part of Italian grammar and culture.
From its Latin roots to its nuanced role in modern Italian, chi is far more than just a pronoun. Learn its uses and improve your language skills while gaining a deeper appreciation of how Italians think and communicate.
