The little word CI occurs frequently in Italian and has different meanings. In this article we will explain the meanings of CI.
The meanings of CI
What does CI mean?
1. CI = us (A1-A2)
Ci vediamo!
The simplest and most common meaning of CI is us, a pronoun. Note that there are three different CI pronouns: CI is a reflexive pronoun, a direct pronoun, and an indirect pronoun. Look at the table:
reflexive | direct | indirect |
mi | mi | mi |
ti | ti | ti |
si | lo, la | gli, le |
ci | ci | ci |
vi | vi | vi |
si | li, le | gli |
Esempi:
Ci vediamo! | See you! (lit. we see us) |
Siamo davanti al bar, non ci vedi? | We are in front of the bar, don’t you see us? |
Andiamo spesso in montagna. Ci piace sciare. | We often go to the mountains. We like to ski. |
2. CI = here, there (A1)
Mi piace l'Italia. Ci vado ogni estate.
CI has the meaning of here, there. It is used to avoid repeating a location that has already been mentioned.
Come vai in ufficio? – Ci vado in bicicletta. | How do you drive to the office? – I go there by bike. |
Sei mai stata a Venezia? – Sì, ci sono stata l’anno scorso. | Have you ever been to Venice? – Yes, I was there last year. |
Vai al supermercato oggi? – No, ci vado domani. | Are you going to the supermarket today? – No, I’m going there tomorrow. |
3. CI with essere (A1-A2)
In città ci sono molte persone.
CI is very often combined with the verb essere ( = esserci) to denote the existence of people or things or their presence in a certain place. We are talking here about the quite frequently used c’è / ci sono (here to review).
CI is apostrophized to C’ before a vowel.
By the way, the verb esserci can be conjugated for all persons.
ESSERCI | |
ci sono | I am (t)here |
ci sei | you are (t)here |
c’è | he/she/it is (t)here, there is |
ci siamo | we are (t)here |
ci siete | you are (t)here |
ci sono | they are (t)here, there are |
And of course at all other times, as imperfect:
ESSERCI | |
c’ero | I was (t)here |
c’eri | you were (t)here |
c’era | he/she/it was (t)here, there was |
c’eravamo | we were (t)here |
c’eravate | you were (t)here |
c’erano | they were (t)here, there were |
Esempi:
A Milano c’è la metropolitana. | In Milan there is the subway. |
Laura, ci sei? | Laura, are you there? |
Io c’ero quando è successo! | I was there when it happened! |
4. CI = "one" with reflexive verbs (A2)
Alle feste ci si diverte.
CI replaces the indefinite si (man) when there is a reflexive verb like divertirsi to have fun:
si + si diverte = ci si diverte
So you don’t say si si diverte, but the first si becomes a ci: ci si diverte, one has fun.
But be careful: CI means one (impersonal) only with reflexive verbs. Otherwise the impersonal one is in Italian si.
Other examples:
In vacanza ci si sveglia tardi | On vacation one wakes up late |
Ai matrimoni ci si veste eleganti |
At weddings one dresses elegantly |
5. CI with verbs with A, SU, IN (A2-B1)
Ci credo!
For verbs that have the prepositions A, SU, or IN, CI is used to replace words or whole sentences.
For example, the following verbs:
PENSARE A | Penso alla mia infanzia. | Ci penso. |
to think of/about | I think of my childhood. | I think of it. |
CREDERE A / IN | Credo in Dio. | Ci credo. |
to believe in | I believe in God. | I believe in it. |
GIOCARE A | Gioco a calcio. | Ci gioco. |
to play | I play soccer. | I play it. |
PROVARE A | Provo a fare l’esercizio. | Ci provo. |
to try | I try to do the exercise. | I try. |
CONTARE SU | Conto sul tuo aiuto. | Ci conto. |
To count on | I count on your help. | I count on it. |
SCOMMETTERE SU | Scommetto che Mario è ancora a casa. | Ci scommetto. |
to bet on | I bet Mario is still at home. | I bet on it. |
Esempi:
È acqua passata, non ci penso più. | That’s water under the bridge, I don’t think about it anymore. |
È stata una giornata stancante. – Ci credo! |
It was a tiring day. – I believe that! |
Non sono capace, ma ci provo. | I can’t, but I try. |
There are other verbs with A, like dare a, to give.These verbs, however, answer the question To whom? and therefore do not have a CI, but the indirect pronouns.
6. CI in Pronominal Verbs (A1-B1)
CI can be a part of a verb, such as VOLERCI.
In this case, CI has no meaning in itself, but is used to change the meaning of a verb. Such verbs that have a pronoun like CI attached are called pronominal verbs.
The most important pronominal verbs with CI follow in detail.
6.1. CI in VOLERCI
Da Varese a Milano ci vuole un'ora.
When CI is combined with a verb, the meaning of the verb changes. Volere means to want, while volerci means it is necessary, one needs. CI in this case has no specific meaning, it only serves the verb to take on that meaning.
However, VOLERCI has only two forms: Singular, ci vuole, and plural, ci vogliono, because the verb is always impersonal, that is, it is never used with io, tu, lui, etc.
VOLERE | to want | voglio, vuoi, vuole, vogliamo, volete, vogliono |
VOLERCI | it is necessary, one needs | ci vuole (+ sg.) , ci vogliono (+ pl.) |
Esempi:
Da Francoforte a Milano ci vuole solo un’ora in aereo. | From Frankfurt to Milan it takes only one hour by plane. |
Con questo bambino ci vuole molta pazienza. | You need a lot of patience with this child. |
Quanto tempo ci vuole per arrivare all’hotel? A piedi solo cinque minuti. | How long does it take to get to the hotel? Only five minutes walk. |
More about VOLERCI here.
6.2. CI in METTERCI
Da Varese a Milano ci metto un'ora.
Similar to volerci is the verb metterci. Again, CI is just an appendage that changes the meaning of the verb: mettere means to put, metterci means to need, but only in relation to time.
Unlike volerci, metterci is conjugated through for each person. CI remains unchanged.
METTERE | to put | metto, metti, mette, mettiamo, mettete, mettono |
METTERCI | to need (time) | ci metto, ci metti, ci mette, ci mettiamo, ci mettete, ci mettono |
Esempi:
Da Francoforte a Milano ci metto solo un’ora in aereo. | I only need one hour by plane from Frankfurt to Milan. |
Quanto tempo ci mettiamo per arrivare all’hotel? A piedi solo cinque minuti. | How long do we need to get to the hotel? Only five minutes walk. |
More about METTERCI here.
6.3. CI in STARCI
Va bene, ci sto!
STARCI means to fit or also to be in.
Again, ci only serves to change the meaning of the verb. Ci remains unchanged.
STARE | to stay | sto, stai, sta, stiamo, state, stanno |
STARCI | to fit, to be in | ci sto, ci stai, ci sta, ci stiamo, ci state, ci stanno |
Esempi:
Nella valigia non ci sta più niente. | Nothing fits into the suitcase anymore. |
Se queste sono le regole, io ci sto . | If those are the rules, I’m in. |
6.4. CI in ENTRARCI
Quello che dici non c'entra niente.
ENTRARCI means to fit, or figuratively have to do with.
Again, ci only serves to change the meaning of the verb. Ci remains unchanged.
ENTRARE | to enter | entro, entri, entra, entriamo, entrate, entrano |
ENTRARCI | to fit, have to do with | c’entro, c’entri, c’entra, c’entriamo, c’entrate, c’entrano |
Quello che dici non c’entra niente. | What you are saying has nothing to do with it. |
In questi pantaloni non c’entro più! | I can’t fit into these pants anymore! |
6.5. CI in VEDERCI, SENTIRCI
Senza occhiali non ci vedo.
CI can also be added to the verbs vedere (vederci) and sentire (sentirci). In this case, the meaning of the verb does not change, but rather the sensory ability is emphasized. Ci is therefore added when it refers specifically to the sense of sight or hearing. However, Ci is not mandatory.
Non ci vedo bene, ho bisogno degli occhiali. | I can’t see well, I need glasses. |
Mio nonno non ci sente bene da un orecchio. | My grandfather cannot hear well with one ear. |
Summary: What does CI mean?
In summary, CI has the following meanings:
- It can be a reflexive/direct/indirect pronoun of the 1st person plural (en. us): ci vediamo!
- It can denote a place (en. dort/there) ci vado.
- It can accompany the verb essere: ci sono dei gatti.
- It can be used as an impersonal pronoun with reflexive verbs (en. one): ci si diverte.
- It can replace a word or phrase for verbs accompanied by ‘a’, ‘su’ and ‘in’: ci credo.
- It can be part of a verb and change the meaning of it: ci vuole un’ora.
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