Capisce?

[pmead]

What is the correct spelling of 'capisce' meaning 'you understand' (as used in gansta/maffia movies)? Is it actually Italian or just slang?

[Dave Potts]

"Capisce" is a real Italian word, usually interrogative but I think it can also be used as an affirmation of understanding - maby someone else can confirm this? Hence "Capisce?" would mean "Do you understand?". The usual reply would be "Capisco" - "I understand".

[Quizmonster]

Click http://www.wordwizard.com/clubhouse/founddiscuss1.
asp?Num=4408 for the Word Detective website discussion of the word. They claim it's American-Italian slang and that the correct spelling would be 'capisci'. Have a look.

[Quizmonster]

A bit of simultaneous typing, there, Dave! You pipped me at the post.

[Dave Potts]

LOL Quizmonster - at the expense of my typing I notice :o)

[Quizmonster]

I decided to look a bit further into this and the following came from an American online dictionary: "capiche - 1940s slang, from It. capisci? "do you understand?" (also coppish, kabish, capeesh, etc.)."

It definitely appears to be slang based on the proper Italian word, 'capisci'.

[Dave Potts]

Its usage in the US may well be slang but "capisce" itself is the 3rd person present indicative of the Italian verb "capire" (to understand) - its full conjugation can be found here - http://www.verbix.com/webverbix/cache/4.capire.htm
l - hope that helps!

[Quizmonster]

The problem with the third person singular form, Dave, - which 'capisce' may very well be in proper Italian - is that the word is invariably used in Mafia movies in either first or second person singular present indicative situations!

In other words, it always means: "(Do you) understand?" or: "(Yes, I) understand." and never, as far as I've seen anyway: "He/she/it understands.") Cheers

[Dave Potts]

Sometimes you cast a fly on still water and you're there 'til sundown, and sometimes you just get a bite :o)

[luque]

The spelling is like "kapishe" [kaˈpiʃe], and it is absolutely Italian. It may be used as a question or in a normal speech, since it is the present of the third-person singular (he/she) of the verb "capire" (to understand) - it just depends on what you want to say. The third-person singular is also used in Italian as courtesy form, so when one is talking to a person he doesn't know or to whom he wants to show respect. Hence, it may be common to listen to this form used in those "mafia situations" (meaning - often in a kinda threatening way - "do you understand?/ are you getting the point?") since they always act like gentlemen in the stereotype characterizing them, using an elegant style in speaking even though they're killing someone.