A reader has written to us to ask about two particles: vi and ci. Many of us are familiar with these particles as personal pronouns, indicating the second person plural and the first person plural, respectively. But let's review and cite some examples. 

Most of the time, at least in conversation, vi refers to the second-person plural object personal pronoun. It can be both direct or indirect. In other words, it's translated as "you" plural, as an object. Let's look at a couple of examples. 

Io quello che vi posso dire è che in campagna si cerca sempre di salvare il salvabile.

What I can tell you is that in the country, you always try to salvage what is salvageable.

Captions 99-100, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP2 Come piante fra sassi - Part 22

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Mettetevi qua. -Ma perché?

Put yourselves here. -But why?

Caption 61, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 8

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When there is a direct object pronoun such as lo (it) involved, vi changes to ve. 

Uscite. Ve lo dico io quando potete rientrare.

Come on out. I'll tell [it to] you when you can go in again.

Caption 1, La Ladra EP. 7 - Il piccolo ladro - Part 14

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This is true for all particles in this category. (ci→ce, ti→te, si→se, vi→ve, mi→me).

Ce lo stiamo chiedendo da stamattina.

We've been asking ourselves that since this morning.

Caption 15, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP5 Misericordia - Part 4

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banner2 PLACEHOLDER

See this lesson about ci. It links to another lesson on the same topic. The lesson begins with the meaning referred to above, that of a personal pronoun. But it goes on to talk about ci meaning "in that place," or "there." Here is an example where the particle ci is attached to the root of the infinitive essere (to be).

Devi esserci anche tu.

You have to be there, too.

Caption 44, JAMS S1 EP7 - Part 7

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This could have been Ci devi essere anche tu with the particle separate from the verb. Both ways are correct!

This lesson focuses on ci meaning "there," with examples. Do a search of ci to find even more lessons about this particle. 

If you have gotten this far, with a grasp of ci, then it's time to look at vi. If you are still confused about ci, don't worry. There is a reason there are so many lessons about ci. There is always something new to learn about this pesky little particle.

The next part of the lesson is about a word you might see more than hear, so you can even skip it, but if you are curious, it's good to know about vi meaning "there," even though you will likely never need to actually use it. You can always use ci and it won't be wrong. 

Some grammarians say that vi and ci (when they mean "in that place," or "there") are synonymous, but that vi is more formal. That may be true in many cases, but let's dig a bit deeper. Why would someone use vi instead of ci?

Some scholars posit that vi means "there" but implies a restricted space, whereas ci is more generalized. In other words, vi refers to a precise destination, whereas ci can refer to anywhere. 

One interesting detail is that vi derives from the Latin "ibi" → "there"; ci derives from "ecce hic" → "behold here."

In Calabria vi sono due isole: una è l'Isola Dino, che è la più grande, come ho detto prima e l'altra invece è la [sic]... Isola di Cirella, che è un po' più a sud,

In Calabria, there are two islands: one is Dino Island, which is the biggest, as I said before and the other, instead, is the [sic]... Cirella Island, which is a bit further south,

Captions 27-29, Antonio e l'Isola di Dino

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The speaker could have used ci. But here he is getting specific, referring to Calabria, so vi works, too. In the next example, once again, the speaker (who, in this case, is the teacher) is talking about a specific language (Italian), so vi is appropriate but not necessary.

In both examples, the language is more formal than in everyday conversation. In the first example, someone is providing some factual information about Calabria. In the second example, a teacher is using somewhat formal language with his students. The movie the clip is from takes place in the 1960s which might be another reason for vi in place of ci. 

Nella nostra amata lingua, vi sono molte parole che iniziano con la "o"...

In our beloved language, there are many words that begin with O...

Captions 49-50, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 11

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If you do a quick search of vi sono on the videos page, you will find examples where the meaning is totally different. So context matters. In the following example, vi refers to "you" plural, and sono is the first person singular of the verb essere (to be). 

Vi sono mancato un po'? -Sì.

Did you miss me a little? -Yes.

Caption 48, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 8

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One related word you might see on a listino prezzi (price list) for a hotel or other accommodation as you travel in Italy is ivi. It means therein, so you might see something like: Pernottamento ivi compreso la prima colazione (overnight stay including breakfast)

For interested learners, here is an article delving into the difference between vi and ci. It's in English. CUNY article 

We hope to have cleared up some doubts about vi and ci! You can write to us at [email protected].

banner5 PLACEHOLDER

We talked about comodo (comfortable, convenient) and its opposite, scomodo (uncomfortable, inconvenient) in another lesson. In this lesson, we'll talk about a verb that is closely related, but which can be a bit tricky to understand and use: accommodare.  As a matter of fact, we have already talked about this verb in a previous lesson, but it's such a common but tricky, nuanced verb, that we'll have another look.

Accomodare

At first glance, accommodare looks like the verb "to accommodate." In effect, both verbs are related to settling in someplace. In English, we think of accommodations as being places provided for lodging. So we might say the common idea is "comfort." But accomodare is generally not a cognate for "accommodate." For example, a room can accommodate a certain number of people, in that it can hold that number. Or when you try to accomodate someone, you try to make things more convenient for them. That's not how accomodare is used in Italian.

In terms of conversational Italian, one important thing to know is that, more often than not, the verb accomodare is used with the verb fare (to do, to make). In a sense, we're making someone comfortable; we are providing the space for them to get comfortable. It might be a guest room or a seat at the table, a seat in the waiting room, etc.

But if we already know that comodo means comfortable, we might also guess that accomodare means something like "to get comfortable." In a way, it does mean that, but it's more about placing someone or something somewhere. It often means "to sit down," or "to set up," which can be construed as a way of getting comfortable. 

Venite dentro. Non vi posso fare accomodare. Noi qua stiamo traslocando.

Come inside. I can't have you sit down. Here, we are in the midst of moving.

Captions 7-9, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone EP1 I Bastardi - Part 15

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Note that the English translation uses the verb "to have." If I sleep over at someone's house, and they show me to the guest room, they might say, Ti faccio accomodare qui (I'll have you set up in this room).

Accomodare can also mean repairing something, but we've looked at that in a separate lesson.

Accomodarsi

The verb accomodare is often used in its reflexive form, accomodarsi, especially in formal situations, such as in an office when someone asks you to come in, sit down, or wait somewhere.

La prossima volta La prego di accomodarsi in corridoio.

Next time, please have a seat in the corridor.

Caption 52, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP2 Come piante fra sassi - Part 13

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Where this verb can be tricky is in its imperative form, used quite a bit in conversation. In the following example, the speaker is addressing Mrs. Casadio formally. Sometimes accomodarsi can mean "have a seat," but sometimes it just means, "Come in."

Signora Casadio, prego, si accomodi.

Missus Casadio, please have a seat.

Caption 21, Il Commissario Manara - S2EP4 - Miss Maremma

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Or it might just mean you can't be where you are, you have to find another spot.

Si accomodi fuori, non si può stare qui. -Ostacolo.

Step outside. You can't stay here. -Obstacle.

Caption 71, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 11

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Here, in the formal version, the reflexive particle si is separate from the verb. But it works differently when using the imperative informally, as we see in the example below.

Here, the reflexive particle ti (the object pronoun "you") is attached to the verb, but the information is the same as in the previous example (si accomodi). And make sure to put the accent on the first o in accomodati or listen carefully to the example.

Scusami, è libero?

Pardon me, is this place free?

Sì certo, accomodati. -Posso? -Sì sì... -Grazie.

Yes, sure, have a seat. -May I? -Sure... -Thanks.

Captions 2-3, Milena e Mattia - L'incontro

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The same goes for the second-person plural (informal). The particle vi is attached to the verb. 

Romano, Di Nardo, accomodatevi che abbiamo appena cominciato.

Romano, Di Nardo, have a seat, as we have just begun.

Caption 2, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone EP2 Rabbia - Part 3

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Here, the stress is on the second a, as in the infinitive, accomodare. 

While fare accomodare is used quite a bit, we can also use modal verbs such as potere (to be able to), dovere (to have to), volere (to want to). The example below uses formal speech. 

Comunque se si vuole accomodare, se vuole fare una prova...

Anyway, if you want to come in, if you want to try it out...

Caption 55, Provaci ancora prof! S2EP2 Una mina vagante - Part 18

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Accomodare is used a lot in hotels, restaurants, doctors' offices, people's houses, and places you might visit, so it might be a good idea to practice using this verb if you intend to do any traveling in Italy. Try imagining scenarios in which you might want to seat someone or ask where you can sit.