vedere per credere
Lemma: vedere per credere
Translation: seeing is believing; to see is to believe (idiom)
Etymology: This Italian idiom combines 'vedere' (to see) and 'credere' (to believe) with the preposition 'per' (for/in order to). It reflects the universal concept that visual evidence is more convincing than hearsay, similar to the English expression 'seeing is believing'. The phrase embodies the empirical approach to knowledge that gained prominence during the Renaissance in Italy, particularly with scientists like Galileo who emphasized observation over pure theory.
Example Usage
Hanno detto che il ristorante è fantastico, ma vedere per credere!
They said the restaurant is fantastic, but seeing is believing!
Ti assicuro che funziona, ma devi vedere per credere.
I assure you it works, but you have to see it to believe it.
Vedere per credere: questo nuovo prodotto risolve davvero tutti i problemi!
Seeing is believing: this new product really solves all problems!
Mnemonics
- Think of Thomas in the Bible who had to see Jesus's wounds to believe in his resurrection - a classic 'vedere per credere' moment.
- Remember that 'vedere' (to see) comes before 'credere' (to believe) in the phrase, just as seeing comes before believing in the process.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This expression is commonly used in Italian everyday speech when someone is skeptical about something and needs visual proof. It reflects the practical, empirical side of Italian culture that values direct experience over secondhand information. The phrase is often used when describing something extraordinary or hard to believe.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'vedere per credere' means 'seeing is believing', 'credere di vedere' means 'to think one sees something' or 'to believe one is seeing something', often implying an illusion or misperception.
Confused word:
Ho creduto di vedere un fantasma, ma era solo un'ombra.
I thought I saw a ghost, but it was just a shadow.
Notes: The order of the verbs changes the meaning completely: one is about empirical verification, the other about perception possibly influenced by preconceptions.
Mnemonic: 'Vedere per credere' puts seeing first (as the cause), while 'credere di vedere' puts believing first (as the cause of possibly false perception).