Italian Phrase
Che c'è?
Meaning
Literally ‘What is there?’, this short question is used informally to ask what’s happening, what the problem is, or simply what is present in a given situation.
When to use
Use ‘Che c’è?’ in casual conversation with friends, family, or peers when you want to know what’s going on, what’s wrong, or what’s in a place. It’s too informal for formal business meetings or when speaking to strangers you don’t know well.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Chec'è
Che (interrogative pronoun)
‘Che’ is the basic interrogative pronoun meaning ‘what’. It can stand alone or be followed by a verb or noun.
c’è = ci è
‘c’è’ is the contracted form of ‘ci è’, literally ‘there is’. It uses the third‑person singular of ‘essere’ (è) with the clitic ‘ci’ indicating existence or location.
Elision with apostrophe
The apostrophe replaces the vowel of ‘ci’ before the vowel‑initial verb ‘è’, a common elision in spoken Italian.
🗨In Conversation
Che c'è?
What’s up?
Niente, sto solo guardando la TV.
Nothing, I’m just watching TV.
✕Common Mistakes
Che è?
The clitic ‘ci’ is required; ‘c’è’ is the correct contracted form of ‘ci è’.
Che cè?
The accent must be grave (è) to indicate the verb ‘essere’; a acute accent changes the meaning.
Che c'è?
Using it in a formal email or with a superior can sound overly casual; opt for ‘Cosa c’è?’ or ‘Qual è il problema?’ in those contexts.
↔Alternatives
Che succede?
What’s happening?
Che cosa c'è?
What is there?
Cosa c'è?
What’s there?
Che c'è di nuovo?
What’s new?
Cultural Tip
‘Che c’è?’ is a staple of everyday Italian slang, especially among younger speakers. It conveys curiosity but can also hint at a mild concern – think of it as the Italian equivalent of ‘What’s the matter?’ Use a friendly tone; a sharp or demanding intonation may sound rude. In the north of Italy you’ll hear it more often than in the very formal speech of some central regions.