chissà Italian · revision 38738

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=before 1375, Boccaccio (as chi sa)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /kisˈsa/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''chissà''' (invariable)^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also written as two words, '''chi sa'''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|it|chi|sapere|alt2=sa|t1=who|t2=knows]], the question “chi sa?” “who knows?” turned into an adverb.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI) The single word is written with a double ⟨ss⟩ for the doubling of the consonant after “chi” in pronunciation.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) The same phrase gave [[es|quizá]], from “qui sabe”, and [[pt|quiçá]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary traces the expression to a Vulgar Latin “quī sapit”, from [[la|quī|t=who]] and [[m|la|sapiō|t=to taste; to know]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The phrase ''chi sa'' is first recorded in Boccaccio (before 1375), as in ''Chi sa, se ella allor preso m'avesse…'' (“Who knows, if she had then taken me…”).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)^(GRADIT 2003) DELI's first record of the single word ''chissà'' is in Verga (1881).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th and 17th centuries Bandello and Guarini used ''chi sa che'' to put a hopeful or doubtful supposition.^(GDLI) Ferdinando Martini criticised the spelling ''chissà'', but in 1950 Migliorini noted that so many good writers used it that there was no reason to ban it.^(DELI 1999) Today it is a word of basic vocabulary.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ Before a pronoun or adverb it forms vague expressions such as ''chissà chi'', ''chissà dove'' and ''chissà quando'';^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) ''chissà chi'' and ''chissà che'' are also used ironically of someone or something thought to be extraordinary.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) Rarer spellings in one word, such as ''chissammai'' and ''chissaddove'', are also recorded.^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1375 – Boccaccio uses ''chi sa''.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)

+ * 1881 – Verga writes ''chissà''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1950 – Migliorini defends the spelling ''chissà''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|who knows]]: expresses doubt, uncertainty or a faint hope, often as an answer: ''«Ci vediamo domani?» «Chissà.»''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Introduces an indirect question or exclamation: ''Chissà se ha ricevuto la lettera.'' ''Chissà quanto costa!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(parenthetical)'' Perhaps, maybe: ''Potremmo, chissà, trasferirci al mare.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''Chissà chi'', ''chissà che (cosa)'': ''(ironic)'' someone or something extraordinary: ''Si crede chissà chi.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chi]]

+ * [[sapere]]

+ * [[forse]]

+ * [[es|quizá]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}