Italian Phrase
Cos'è questo addebito?
Meaning
Literally “What is this charge?” It is used when you see an unfamiliar fee on a bank statement, phone bill, or any invoice and want clarification.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are reviewing a statement, receipt, or any document that lists a monetary entry you don’t recognize. It works in both formal (customer service) and informal (talking with a friend about a shared bill) contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cos'èquestoaddebito?
Cos'è
Contraction of "Che cosa è"; used to ask "what is" in spoken Italian.
questo
Demonstrative adjective meaning "this"; must agree in gender and number with the noun that follows.
addebito
Masculine noun meaning a charge, fee, or debit on an account.
Punctuation
The question mark is placed after the whole sentence; the apostrophe in "Cos'è" signals elision.
🗨In Conversation
Cos'è questo addebito?
What is this charge?
È una commissione per il servizio di streaming che ha attivato il mese scorso.
It’s a commission for the streaming service you activated last month.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa è questo addebito?
In spoken Italian "cosa è" is rarely used; the correct contraction is "Cos'è".
Cos'è questi addebito?
"Quest'i" is plural; the noun "addebito" is singular, so you need the singular demonstrative "questo".
Addebito è questo?
The verb "essere" must follow the interrogative phrase, not precede it.
↔Alternatives
Che addebito è questo?
What charge is this?
Di che addebito si tratta?
What kind of charge is this?
Che cosa è questo addebito?
What is this charge?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, it’s polite to preface the question with "Scusi" or "Mi scusi" when speaking to a bank clerk or customer‑service agent: "Scusi, può spiegarmi questo addebito?" Also, note that "addebito" is more common in banking contexts, while "costo" or "tariffa" may be used for service fees.