In situations where you aren’t entirely thrilled with the status quo or the outcome of a situation, but have resigned yourself to accepting it for what it is, you might want to use the phrase È così! in Italian.
This expression usually translates as It is what it is! or That’s how it is/things are! in English.
Il calcio femminile è meno seguito. – Si, purtroppo è così.
Fewer people follow female football. – Yes, unfortunately it is what it is.
The phrase is often be preceded by the word ormai, meaning by now or at this point, or followed by e basta, meaning and that’s it or that’s all there is to it.
Ormai è così. Non posso farci niente.
At this point, it is what it is. I can’t do anything about it.
Non voglio più pensarci. È così e basta!
I don’t want to think about it anymore. This is how it is, and that’s all there is to it.
A similar expression is le cose stanno così which means this is how things are.
È così by Matia Bazar
In the song È così by Matia Bazar, the phrase is repeated numerous times in the chorus to emphasise her sadness and anger at the end of a romantic relationship. You can listen to the song in its entirety below.
È così
è un peccato ma è così.
È così,
mi dispiace ma è così!
È così,
non ha senso ma è così.
È così,
è un peccato ma è così.
That’s how it is
It’s a shame but that’s how it is
That’s how it is
I’m sorry but that’s how it is
That’s how it is
It doesn’t make sense but that’s how it is
That’s how it is
It’s a shame but that’s how it is
Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.
