Is Italian punctuation different from English?

Mostly it is the same. The main differences are the decimal comma (2,50), the thousands point (1.000), angle quotation marks « » for dialogue, no comma before e at the end of a list, and the apostrophe, which marks elision in words such as l'amico and un'amica.

What are « » called in Italian?

They are called virgolette basse or caporali. They are the traditional Italian quotation marks in print. Double quotation marks (virgolette alte) are also correct and are common in typed and online text.

Is it qual è or qual'è?

Qual è, with no apostrophe. Qual is a shortened form of quale that can stand before consonants too, so it is not an elision. Compare un amico (no apostrophe) and un'amica (elision of una).

Do Italians use a comma or a point for decimals?

A comma. Two euros fifty is 2,50 euro, and three and a half per cent is 3,5 %. The point separates thousands: 1.000 (one thousand), 2.500.000 (two and a half million).

How do you mark a question in written Italian?

With a question mark at the end only. Italian has no question mark at the start of a sentence, and a yes or no question often uses the same word order as a statement: Vieni? (Are you coming?) and Vieni. (You're coming.) differ only in the mark.

Italian grammar · Beginner

Italian Punctuation

Written by Parrot Italian Team, Italian Curriculum Editors · Reviewed October 2026

Italian punctuation uses the same marks as English, with a few differences that English speakers notice quickly. Italian writes decimals with a comma and thousands with a point (2,50 euro; 1.000), often uses angle quotation marks « » for dialogue, and does not put a comma before e in a list. The apostrophe also has a grammatical job: it marks elision, as in l'amico and un'amica.

Mi ha chiesto: «Vieni anche tu?»

He asked me, "Are you coming too?"

What it is

Most punctuation in Italian works as it does in English: a full stop ends a sentence, a comma separates clauses, a question mark ends a question. The differences are in numbers, quotation marks, the list comma, and the apostrophe. Because Italian questions often have the same word order as statements, the question mark also does more work than in English.

Parli italiano. Parli italiano? (You speak Italian. Do you speak Italian?) Only the question mark, and the rising voice in speech, makes the second one a question.

How to spot it

Check three things when you write Italian: no comma before e at the end of a list, a comma for decimals, and an apostrophe only where a vowel has been dropped before another vowel.

pane, latte e uova (bread, milk, and eggs (no comma before e))
3,5 chili (3.5 kilos (decimal comma))
l'acqua (the water (la + acqua, elided))
un'amica (a female friend (una + amica, elided))

The masculine un never takes an apostrophe: un amico, un uomo. Only the feminine una is elided to un'.

Punctuation Quick Reference

Italian punctuation marks and their names

Mark	Italian name	Example	English
.	il punto	Arrivo domani.	I'm arriving tomorrow.
,	la virgola	Compro pane, latte e uova.	I'm buying bread, milk, and eggs.
;	il punto e virgola	Ha piovuto tutto il giorno; siamo rimasti a casa.	It rained all day; we stayed at home.
:	i due punti	Ti dico una cosa: hai ragione.	I'll tell you something: you're right.
?	il punto interrogativo	Parli inglese?	Do you speak English?
!	il punto esclamativo	Che bello!	How lovely.
...	i puntini di sospensione	Beh, vediamo...	Well, we'll see...
« »	le virgolette (caporali)	Ha detto: «Arrivo subito».	He said, "I'm coming right away."
'	l'apostrofo	l'amico, un'amica	the friend, a female friend
-	il trattino	italo-americano	Italian-American
( )	le parentesi	Roma (Italia)	Rome (Italy)

Common Punctuation Examples in Italian

Italian punctuation in use:

Commas

Ho comprato pane, latte e uova.: I bought bread, milk, and eggs.
Marco, vieni qui.: Marco, come here.

As in English, a comma separates the name of the person you are speaking to.

Questions and Exclamations

Hai fame?: Are you hungry?
Vieni anche tu?: Are you coming too?
Che bella giornata!: What a beautiful day.

Italian has no do or are to start a question. The question mark is the only sign in writing.

Numbers and Prices

Il caffè costa 1,20 euro.: Coffee costs 1.20 euros.
Il biglietto costa 1.250 euro.: The ticket costs 1,250 euros.

The comma and the point swap roles compared with English. Read 1,20 as un euro e venti.

Quotations and Apostrophes

Ha detto: «Ci vediamo domani».: She said, "See you tomorrow."
Qual è il problema?: What's the problem?

Qual è has no apostrophe, because qual is a shortened form, not an elision.

Where Italian Punctuation Differs From English

Six points cover nearly every difference you will meet.

No Comma Before E in a List

Italian does not normally put a comma before e (and) or o (or) at the end of a list. The serial comma that many English writers use is not standard in Italian.

Parlo italiano, inglese e tedesco.

I speak Italian, English, and German.

A, B e C.

The Question Mark Carries the Question

A yes or no question in Italian often has the same words in the same order as a statement. In writing, the question mark is the only sign. In speech, your voice rises at the end.

Parli italiano?

Do you speak Italian?

Same words, add ?

Decimal Comma, Thousands Point

Italian writes 2,50 for two and a half and 1.000 for one thousand, the reverse of English. Prices, measurements, and percentages all follow this rule: 3,5 %, 1,75 metri.

Il caffè costa 1,20 euro.

Coffee costs 1.20 euros.

1,20 = one point twenty.

Angle Quotation Marks for Speech

Books and newspapers often use « » (caporali) for quotations and dialogue. Double quotation marks are also common, especially in typed text. A colon usually introduces direct speech, and the final full stop goes outside the closing mark.

Mi ha chiesto: «Dove vai?»

He asked me, "Where are you going?"

verb + : + «...».

The Apostrophe Marks Elision

An apostrophe shows that a final vowel has dropped before another vowel: lo + amico gives l'amico, una + amica gives un'amica, di + estate gives d'estate. When a word is simply shortened (qual, un, buon), there is no apostrophe: qual è, un amico, buon anno.

Qual è il problema?

What's the problem?

l'amico, but qual è.

Lower Case After a Colon

After a colon, Italian continues in lower case unless direct speech or a proper noun follows. This matches most English usage.

Ho una sola regola: niente telefoni a tavola.

I have one rule: no phones at the table.

: + lower case.

Common Mistakes with Punctuation

Incorrect: Qual'è il problema? (What's the problem?)

Correct: Qual è il problema? (What's the problem?)

Qual is a shortened form that exists before consonants too (qual buon vento), so it takes no apostrophe. Qual'è is one of the most common spelling errors in Italian.

Incorrect: Costa 2.50 euro. (It costs 2.50 euros.)

Correct: Costa 2,50 euro. (It costs 2.50 euros.)

Italian uses a comma for decimals. 2.50 with a point would be read as a thousands separator, which makes no sense here.

Incorrect: Ho comprato pane, latte, e uova. (I bought bread, milk, and eggs.)

Correct: Ho comprato pane, latte e uova. (I bought bread, milk, and eggs.)

The serial comma before e is not used in standard Italian lists.

Incorrect: Ho visto un'amico. (I saw a friend.)

Correct: Ho visto un amico. (I saw a friend.)

Un is already the full masculine form, so there is no vowel to drop. Only the feminine una elides: un'amica.

Writing Dialogue in Italian

Italian texts mark dialogue in more than one way. You will meet each of them in books and articles.

Caporali « »

Angle quotation marks are the traditional choice in printed books. The speaker tag follows the closing mark.

«Dove vai?» chiese Marco.: "Where are you going?" Marco asked.
«Torno subito» disse la madre.: "I'll be right back," said the mother.

A comma after the closing mark is optional: «Torno subito», disse la madre is also correct.

Double quotation marks

Typed and online texts often use straight or curly double quotes in the same positions as « ».

Ha scritto: "Arrivo alle otto".: He wrote, "I'll arrive at eight."

Single quotation marks are used for a quote inside a quote, or to highlight a word. Some novels also open each line of dialogue with a long dash (la lineetta) instead of quotation marks.

Quick Check: Punctuation

Correct the punctuation.

1. Correct: Qual'è la tua città preferita?

Answer: Qual è la tua città preferita?

No apostrophe after qual.

2. Write in Italian style: 4.75 euros

Answer: 4,75 euro

Decimal comma.

3. Correct: Ho visto una amica.

Answer: Ho visto un'amica.

Una elides before a vowel.

4. Correct: Studio italiano, inglese, e tedesco.

Answer: Studio italiano, inglese e tedesco.

No comma before e.

5. What is the Italian name for a comma?

Answer: la virgola

A semicolon is il punto e virgola.

Punctuation FAQs

Is Italian punctuation different from English?: Mostly it is the same. The main differences are the decimal comma (2,50), the thousands point (1.000), angle quotation marks « » for dialogue, no comma before e at the end of a list, and the apostrophe, which marks elision in words such as l'amico and un'amica.
What are « » called in Italian?: They are called virgolette basse or caporali. They are the traditional Italian quotation marks in print. Double quotation marks (virgolette alte) are also correct and are common in typed and online text.
Is it qual è or qual'è?: Qual è, with no apostrophe. Qual is a shortened form of quale that can stand before consonants too, so it is not an elision. Compare un amico (no apostrophe) and un'amica (elision of una).
Do Italians use a comma or a point for decimals?: A comma. Two euros fifty is 2,50 euro, and three and a half per cent is 3,5 %. The point separates thousands: 1.000 (one thousand), 2.500.000 (two and a half million).
How do you mark a question in written Italian?: With a question mark at the end only. Italian has no question mark at the start of a sentence, and a yes or no question often uses the same word order as a statement: Vieni? (Are you coming?) and Vieni. (You're coming.) differ only in the mark.