Capisce
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ka.ˈpiʃ/
Alternative forms
Origin
- From Neapolitan capisci, the second-person present-tense form of capire ("to understand"), from Latin capere ("to grasp, seize").
Full definition of capisce
Interjection
- (slang) "Get it?"; "Understand?".
- 1995 Bart Simpson. The Simpsons, episode 3F07.Brodka: Hey, kid: one more thing. If you ever set foot in this store again, you'll be spending Christmas in juvenile hall. Capisce? Well, do you understand?Bart: Everything except "capisce."
- 1996 Andy and Larry Wachowski, Bound, Dino De Laurentiis Productions and Spelling FilmsGino Marzzone: You gotta start respecting Johnny, the way you respect me. Capisce?
- 1997 Eric Bogosian. Notes from Underground, page 138It's very simple, George, you forget about this whole licensing lawsuit pipe dream of yours or you can forget about your buddy working in my factory for the next couple of years. I will be that angry. Capiche?
- 2003 Richard Chiappone. Water of an Undetermined DepthI mean, if you were coming into the plant for the long haul, God forbid, then you'd have to think seriously about the money. Capiche?
Usage notes
Often used in a threatening manner, in imitation of the Italian Mafia (or rather, the way the Mafia is portrayed in movies and other pop culture).
Without a question mark at the end, it is sometimes used to mean, “I understand,†as an American colloquialism. In Italian, that would actually mean “he/she/it understandsâ€. To mean “I understand,†one would actually say “capisco.â€