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conjunction

cioè

/tʃoˈɛ/

that is; I mean (used to clarify or rephrase)

Definitions

  1. 1

    Used to clarify or restate something more precisely (= 'that is', 'namely')

    “Arrivo domani, cioè venerdì, verso le dieci di mattina.”

    I'm arriving tomorrow, that is Friday, around ten in the morning.

  2. 2

    Used in spoken Italian to correct or rephrase what you just said (= 'I mean')

    “Ho finito il lavoro, cioè, quasi tutto il lavoro.”

    I finished the work, I mean, almost all the work.

  3. 3

    Used to ask for clarification, often at the start of a question (= 'meaning?', 'so what you're saying is...')

    “Cioè, stai dicendo che non vuoi più venire?”

    I mean, are you saying you don't want to come anymore?

Extremely common as a conversational filler and clarifier in spoken Italian, similar to English 'I mean' or 'that is to say'. Very informal when used as a filler, neutral when used to introduce a precise clarification in writing.