CAPISH

What Does Capish Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

Capish means "Do You Understand?".

More Detail...

"Capish" is an Anglicized version of the Italian word "capisci." It is used to mean "Do you understand?" and is typically used to make sure that the listener comprehends what the speaker is saying. For example:

Italian words are easy to say, but can be very difficult to spell. Capish?
You've got until five o'clock to come up with the goods, capish? If not, I'm canceling my Amazon account.

"Capish" is not a term that would be used in standard, formal Italian. It is more of a colloquialism, used in Italian-American vernacular. It is used in the US, specifically in areas with a significant Italian-American population. "Capish" was popularized by its usage in movies and TV shows about the mafia, where characters often use Italian or Italian-inflected English. Alterative spellings of "capish" include, "capeesh," "capiche," "capisce," "capische," and "kapeesh."

Image for Capish

When I write Capish, I mean this:

"Do You Understand?"

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

Capish
Definition:	Do You Understand?
Type:	Slang Word (Jargon)
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at Capish

"Capish" comes from the Italian verb "capire," meaning "to understand," which is conjugated in the second-person singular present tense as "capisci." It was picked up as a slang English word during the 1940s and gained further popularity due to depictions of Italian Americans and the American Mafia in film and on TV. "Capish" is a slang term. Slang is informal language that consists of words, phrases, and uses of language that are often restricted to a specific context or a particular group of users. Slang is not typically used in formal or professional settings.