Italian Phrase
Così non va.
Meaning
Literally ‘So it doesn’t go’, the expression is used to say that something isn’t working, isn’t acceptable, or that a method is wrong. It can refer to a physical object (the machine won’t start) or to a plan/behaviour (that’s not how it should be).
When to use
Use it in informal conversation when you want to point out a mistake, a malfunction, or a behaviour that isn’t appropriate. It’s common among friends, classmates, or colleagues, but you would avoid it in very formal written Italian.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosìnonva
Così (adverb)
‘Così’ means ‘so’, ‘like this/that’. It can modify a verb or stand alone to point to a manner or result.
non (negation)
Placed before the verb, ‘non’ negates the action. In spoken Italian it is the standard way to say ‘not / doesn’t’.
va (andare, 3rd pers. sing.)
‘Va’ is the present indicative of ‘andare’. In idiomatic use it often means ‘to work, to be okay, to go as expected’.
🗨In Conversation
Così non va.
That’s not how it works.
Scusa, proviamo un altro modo.
Sorry, let’s try another way.
✕Common Mistakes
Così non vado.
‘Vado’ is first‑person singular (I go). The phrase is about something that ‘doesn’t go’ in general, so you need the third‑person ‘va’.
Così non è.
‘È’ means ‘is’, which changes the meaning to ‘that’s not how it is’. It’s a valid sentence but not the idiomatic way to say something isn’t working.
Cosi non va.
Missing the accent on ‘così’ changes the word to ‘cosi’, which is a misspelling.
↔Alternatives
Non funziona così.
It doesn’t work like that.
Non è così.
It’s not like that.
Questo non va bene.
This isn’t right.
Cultural Tip
‘Così non va’ is a blunt, straightforward way to point out a problem. Italians often rely on tone and facial expression to soften the criticism, so a friendly smile or a “scusa” before the phrase can keep the exchange polite. In the north of Italy you’ll hear it more often than in the very formal speech of the south, where people may prefer a softer ‘non è proprio così’.