You may not have heard of it, but entrarci is a very useful Italian word.

This word is made using the verb entrare (to enter) plus the reflexive pronoun ci and it literally means “to go in there”.

It’s pronounced ‘ent-rar-chee‘ with a slight stress on the second syllable (hear it here.)

You can use it literally:

– Mi ha detto che non devo entrarci

– He told me I don’t need to go in there.

But figuratively it can also mean “to get involved”, much as we might say in English: “you don’t want to go there”.

– non voglio entrarci in questa faccenda

– I don’t want to get involved in this business

The form c’entra means the same: being involved or dealing with someone or something. But it’s more useful in the negative: non c’entra

This means “that doesn’t come into it”, “that has nothing to do with it,” or perhaps, “this has nothing to do with you”.

In other words: “mind your own business”.

It’s also used as a question:

– Che c’entra?

– What’s that got to do with it?

or

– Che c’entri?

– what’s it to you?

It’s a thought many of us have had when dealing with gossiping neighbours or over-involved family members. Although whether you want to actually say it out loud to them or not is another question.

And if you disagree with something you simply counter with:

– c’entra!

– It does so!

Or personalise it as:

– c’entro!

– It certainly does concern me!

If you want to name the irrelevant thing, you can usually put the noun after c’entra. If the noun is plural, use c’entrano.

– È troppo caro.

– Che c’entrano I soldi? Pago io!

– It’s too expensive.

– Forget money. I’m paying!

Do you have an Italian word you’d like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.