voi
Lemma: voi
Translation: you (plural); you all; you guys; y'all (pronoun)
Etymology: From Latin 'vos', the second-person plural pronoun. This form has remained remarkably stable throughout the evolution of Romance languages. While English lost the distinction between singular and plural 'you', Italian maintained it with 'tu' (singular) and 'voi' (plural). Historically, 'voi' was also used as a formal singular address (similar to French 'vous'), but has largely been replaced by 'Lei' in modern standard Italian, though it remains in some southern dialects.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'voi' as 'you all' - the 'oi' sound can remind you of multiple people saying 'oi!' to get attention.
- Connect it to 'voyage' - when addressing multiple people going on a journey together.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In standard Italian, 'voi' is used exclusively as the plural form of 'you'. However, in some southern Italian dialects (particularly in Campania, Calabria, and Sicily), 'voi' can still be used as a formal singular address, a usage known as 'voi di cortesia'. This contrasts with standard Italian, which uses 'Lei' for formal singular address. The use of 'voi' as formal address was also common during the Fascist period when the regime tried to eliminate the use of 'Lei' as it was considered too foreign.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Voi' is the plural form of 'you', while 'tu' is the singular form. Using the wrong one can create confusion about how many people you're addressing or can seem inappropriately formal or informal.
Confused word:
Tu sei uno studente.
You (singular) are a student.
Notes: In Italian, the verb conjugation changes depending on whether you use 'tu' or 'voi'.
Mnemonic: 'Voi' has more letters than 'tu', just like it refers to more people.
Explanation: 'Voi' means 'you (plural)' while 'noi' means 'we'. They are both plural pronouns but refer to different groups of people - 'voi' excludes the speaker while 'noi' includes the speaker.
Confused word:
Noi andiamo al cinema.
We go to the cinema.
Notes: Both pronouns take different verb conjugations in Italian.
Mnemonic: 'Voi' starts with 'v' like 'viewers' - people you're looking at. 'Noi' starts with 'n' like 'us' flipped around.