capisce vs capiche (in dialogue)

How should I spell the Italian word "capisce" in the context of dialogue? We Americans pronounce it "capiche" but should I spell it the way we pronounce it or how it's actually spelled in Italian, which looks really awkward in English?

 

You write it as it's actually spelled.

 

Yes, I'd spell it properly and put it in italics, as it's a foreign word for your speaker.

 

Hmmm - I am tempted to say, if it's an Italian saying is, spell it the Italian way, if it's an English speaking person who doesn't know Italian and it saying it for the "hey I'm the damn boss" effect, go with how he pronounces it ...

But I actually agree with @stevesh

On a side note, I did use this myself but as my character is half Italian, I spelt it how the Italians spell it!

 

Thanks all. I will go with the correct spelling in italics (my character is also half-Italian).

 

I think it's spelled capisci in Italian, so would he use the Italian version or the Americanized version? ( you won't hear the diff, really.)

Here's how you'd conjugate capire:

io capisco
tu capisci
egli capisce
noi capiamo
voi capite
essi capiscono

 

Capisce is correct for formal address (presumed pronoun Lei), capisci for informal address (presumed pronoun tu) for what is second person singular in English.