Italian Phrase
Decidi chi chiama chi.
Meaning
‘Decidi chi chiama chi.’ is a direct command meaning ‘Decide who calls who.’ It is used when you want someone to choose the caller and the called person, for example in a game, a phone‑call schedule, or a role‑playing scenario.
When to use
Use this sentence when you need to assign a calling order, such as in a telephone relay, a classroom activity where students call each other, or a board game where players must decide who initiates contact.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Decidichichiamachi
Imperative of decidere
‘Decidi’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘decidere’ (to decide). It gives a direct command or request.
Interrogative pronoun ‘chi’
‘Chi’ means ‘who’ and can be used both as subject and object. In this sentence it appears twice, first as the object of ‘decidi’ and then as the subject and object of ‘chiama’.
Verb ‘chiama’ (present)
‘Chiama’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘chiamare’ (to call). With ‘chi’ as its subject it translates to ‘who calls’.
Word order
Italian often places the interrogative pronoun directly after the verb, so ‘chiama chi’ is the natural order for ‘who calls who’.
🗨In Conversation
Decidi chi chiama chi per il prossimo turno.
Decide who calls who for the next round.
Io penso che Marco chiami Laura.
I think Marco should call Laura.
✕Common Mistakes
Decidi che chiama chi.
‘Che’ means ‘what/that’ and cannot replace the interrogative pronoun ‘chi’ (who).
Decidi chi chiama a chi.
The preposition ‘a’ is not used with ‘chi’ as a direct object of ‘chiamare’.
Decide chi chiama chi.
‘Decide’ is the third‑person singular present, not the command form. Use ‘Decidi’ for a direct command.
↔Alternatives
Stabilisci chi chiama chi.
Establish who calls who.
Decidi chi deve chiamare chi.
Decide who must call whom.
Scegli chi chiama chi.
Choose who calls who.
Cultural Tip
In Italian the pronoun ‘chi’ never takes a preposition when it functions as the subject or object of a verb, so adding ‘a’ (e.g., *chiama a chi*) is incorrect. Also, the double use of ‘chi’ is perfectly natural and does not cause ambiguity because the verb’s position clarifies the roles.