capish

Do you comprehend?

Capish is an anglicized spelling of the Italian *capisci*, meaning "do you understand?" It appears in American English through Italian-American speech and mob movies: You don't talk to the cops, capish?

The word typically comes at the end of a statement, turning it into a rhetorical question that expects compliance rather than a real answer.

Also spelled capeesh, capisce, or capiche.

understanding

comprehend

To fully understand

graspSeize or understand
followGo behind another
savvyPractical shrewdness

dig · copy · pick-up · take-in · clear · understood · roger · tracking · receiving

affirmation

nod

Brief head tilt

acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
yesOpposite of no
okayAdequate or permitted

agreed · alright · sure · fine · understood · confirmed · accepted · gotcha · word · bet

italian-american

paisano

Informal term for compatriot

mobDisorderly, aggressive crowd
wiseguySarcastic quipster or mobster
goombahItalian-American associate, often shady

mafia · omertà · famiglia · sopranos · godfather · fuggedaboutit · connected · neighborhood

slang

vernacular

Everyday regional speech

lingoGroup-specific vocabulary
informalRelaxed, not official
colloquialCasual, everyday language

idiomatic · casual · spoken · everyday · conversational

Opposites

comprehension confirmation

capishconfused

Unable to understand

what do you mean · incomprehension · huh · what · unclear

rhetorical force

capishwhat do you mean

Demand for clarification

pardon

communicative function

capishtell me more

Prompt for details

open question · elaborate

Family

capisce

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G