Ceci

Ceci is a French demonstrative pronoun meaning "this" or "this one." In contemporary speech it is relatively formal and often avoided in everyday conversation, where ceci is typically replaced by cela or ça. The phrase "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" from René Magritte's 1929 painting The Treachery of Images is a famous example of ceci used in an art-historical and philosophical context, illustrating the difference between representation and reality.

In Italian, ceci refers to chickpeas, the plural form of cece. Chickpeas are a legume native to the Mediterranean and South Asia, cultivated for thousands of years. They are a staple in many cuisines and appear in dishes such as soups, stews, salads, and purées, including variations of hummus. Nutritionally, chickpeas provide plant-based protein and dietary fiber and are naturally gluten-free, contributing to varied vegetarian and vegan diets as well as general healthy eating. They are also valued for minerals such as iron and magnesium and for their role in promoting satiety and steady energy release.

The term ceci thus has distinct meanings depending on language and context: a French pronoun used in formal or literary contexts, and the Italian word for chickpeas, a widely consumed food ingredient. In multilingual settings, the intended sense is usually clear from adjacent words and subject matter.