Question Words

1. Chi cosa?

   What?

   Usage

   Asks what something is or what someone said

   Grammar Note

   Literally "what thing". Chi is the interrogative "what"; the conjunction "that" is ca

2. Unni?

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks about a place

   Grammar Note

   Unni is the question word for place; "from where" is di unni

3. Quannu?

   When?

   Usage

   Asks about time

   Grammar Note

   The -nn- of quannu comes from -nd- (Italian quando)

4. Cu?

   Who?

   Usage

   Asks about a person

   Grammar Note

   Cu is "who"; it is spelled like the preposition cu (with), so context tells them apart

5. Picchì?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason; it also means "because" in the answer

   Grammar Note

   The final ì is a stressed word-final vowel, so it carries the accent mark

6. Comu?

   How?

   Usage

   Asks about manner or way

   Grammar Note

   Comu is the question word for manner

7. Quanti?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks for a number

   Grammar Note

   Quanti is used for number (plural) and quantu for amount

8. Quantu costa?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Asks the price in shops and markets

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is custari, but the stressed 3rd person has o (costa): the stressed/unstressed vowel alternation of Sicilian, like portu / purtari

9. Quali?

   Which one?

   Usage

   Asks which one among several

   Grammar Note

   The question word for choosing among known options

10. Chi cosa è chistu?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Asks about something unfamiliar by pointing at it

    Grammar Note

    È (with accent) is "is"; the unaccented e is "and", a different word. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. Unni è u bagnu?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    Asks where the toilet is

    Grammar Note

    The masculine singular article is u. Bagnu also means "bath", and here it refers to the toilet by context. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. Chi ura è?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Asks the time

    Grammar Note

    Literally "what hour is it". Ura is the hour; ora is the adverb "now", a different word. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

13. L'aviti?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Asks in a shop whether they have something

    Grammar Note

    The object pronoun goes before the verb. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

14. Si pò?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Asks whether something is possible or allowed

    Grammar Note

    The impersonal si asks whether it can be done in general. Putiri in the present is pozzu / poi / pò / putemu / putiti / ponnu

15. Si paga?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    Asks whether there is a charge

    Grammar Note

    The impersonal si asks whether one pays in general. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

16. È gratis?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Asks whether something is free of charge

    Grammar Note

    Gratuitu is another word for "free of charge". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

17. Va beni?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Checks whether something is fine

    Grammar Note

    It has the same word order as the statement Va beni; only the intonation rises

18. Nun si pò?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    Checks whether something is forbidden

    Grammar Note

    The negation nun stands right before the verb group (si pò)

19. Stati bonu?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    A polite way to check on someone who looks unwell

    Grammar Note

    For a state use stari, not èssiri (staiu bonu "I am well"). The 2nd person plural is also the polite form to one person. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

20. Daveru?

    Really?

    Usage

    Said when surprised or to check something

    Grammar Note

    Said with rising intonation. The adjective "true" is veru

21. Siti sicuru?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Politely checks what someone has said

    Grammar Note

    Èssiri in the present is sugnu / sì / è / semu / siti / sunnu. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

22. Di unni siti?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    Politely asks where someone comes from

    Grammar Note

    Literally "from where are you". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

23. Comu vi chiamati?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    Politely asks for someone's name

    Grammar Note

    Literally "how are you called". To a friend say Comu ti chiami? Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

24. Quantu anni aviti?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Politely asks someone's age

    Grammar Note

    Literally "how many years do you have": age is expressed with aviri. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

25. Putemu fari na fotu nzèmmula?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    Asks a local person to pose for a photo with you

    Grammar Note

    After the modal putiri comes the infinitive. Unstressed vowels are written u (putemu). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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