When giving instructions or explaining procedures, clarity is essential. Use Italian explanatory discourse markers to clarify, confirm, or rephrase your statements.
Clarifying with cioè
Cioè means "that is" or "namely" (literally ciò + è, "that is"). Use it to explain a concept in simpler terms or specify exactly what you mean.
| The captain, that is the head of the flight, is speaking to you now. | Il comandante, cioè il capo del volo, vi parla adesso. |
| You will find the life jacket, that is the yellow vest, under the seat. | Trovate il salvagente, cioè il giubbotto giallo, sotto il sedile. |
Confirming with infatti
Infatti means "in fact" or "indeed." Unlike English, where "in fact" can introduce a contradiction, Italian infatti is strictly used to confirm, justify, or provide evidence for the preceding statement.
| There is turbulence, in fact the flight is not smooth. | C'è turbolenza, infatti il volo non è tranquillo. |
| The landing is near, in fact we are descending. | L'atterraggio è vicino, infatti scendiamo. |
Rephrasing with ossia
Ossia translates to "that is to say" or "or rather." It functions similarly to cioè and often introduces a direct synonym or a precise technical term.
| You must put on the mask, that is to say the oxygen one. | Dovete mettere la maschera, ossia quella per l'ossigeno. |
| The personnel, that is to say the crew, is preparing the landing. | Il personale, ossia l'equipaggio, prepara l'atterraggio. |
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