Italian is one of the easiest languages to learn and one of the most spoken in Europe. To sound like a native, you’ll want to know some Italian slang words. Today, we will find out which are the most common!
It is important to learn Italian slang words for several reasons, most notably because it helps you to blend in and sound like a native. Plus, natives use slang all the time in their speech, so you’ll want to know some in order to understand them!
17. Boh! – “I don’t know”
Although you could use io non lo so (I don’t know), the expression of boh! is far more common.
Boh! doesn’t really have a commonly used and understood definition. However, according to the Italian dictionary, boh! translates as “doubt, indifference or reticence”.
Despite this very odd translation, boh! isn’t really used in a non-slang context. Boh! is commonly used in the context of “I don’t know” or more commonly translated as “I dunno”.
Given its English language counterpart, boh! is most commonly used by teenagers. However, some older adults do use it, but more as a mockery of young people than as a part of their dialect.
16. Frate – “Dude”
Frate is one of the most famous Italian slang words. Frate is used in the sense of “dude” or “bro” and is used to signify a friend that has gone beyond just being an amico.
Unlike most other Italian slang words, frate is simply a shortening of fratello (brother). Frate is used just about everywhere! You’ll hear frate used in both big cities like Naples, Rome and Milan as well as in the countryside and small villages.
However, frate does have its limits. Despite it being a shortened form of fratello, frate isn’t really used to describe your biological or adopted brother(s). Frate also isn’t used for female friends of the same nature.
15. Una guastafesta – “Party pooper”
Una guastafesta is one of the most unique Italian slang words in the entire language. Guastafesta is one of the only compound words in Italian, or any romance language for that matter!
Guasta comes from the Italian verb guastare (“to spoil” or “to ruin”) and festa is the Italian word for “party”. When you combine those two words together, you get a “party ruiner” or a “party spoiler”. Or more accurately, a “party pooper”.
Naturally, this is most commonly use among young adults and teenagers who stereotypically spend their time attending parties. However, most older Italians understand the implications of the term guastafesta.
14. Basta – “Enough”
Basta is one of the strangest, yet most commonly used Italian slang words. Sadly, it is not an autocorrect or misspelling of pasta, but its own slang term in Italian.
Basta has an understandable literal translation, being the imperative form of bastare (“to stop”). However, in a slang setting, basta translates as “enough” and is used to end a debate or undesirable conversation.
Italian has also loaned basta to several other languages via conquest or occupation in the past 300 years. This is why many countries such as Spain, Libya, Portuguese, Greece and Romania also have the slang term basta.
13. A fagiolo – “To the T”
A fagiolo is one of the most commonly used Italian slang words in an office or school setting. Literally, a fagiolo means “at a bean”, with fagiolo literally meaning “bean”.
Despite it’s very odd translation, a fagiolo is used to describe someone’s precision. A fagiolo is used in the same context that we use “To a T” in English.
Unlike most other slang words, a fagiolo is used by literally everyone. It is used by people, both young and old, rich and poor, no matter where in Italy you may find yourself!
12. Tutto sale e pepe – “Fun to be around”
Tutto sale e pepe is one of the most commonly used slang words in all of Italy. It is actually the complete opposite of a guastafesta (as mentioned previously).
Tutto sale e pepe literally translates as “all salt and pepper”. Despite this, it is used more in a sense of describing someone. Tutto sale e pepe is generally used to say that someone is fun and nice to be around.
It is mostly used by teenagers and young adults as a compliment, however can easily be turned into an insult by saying that someone isn’t tutto sale e pepe.
11. Meno male! – “Thank God!”
If heard out of context, hearing meno male! will certainly cause a great deal of confusion. This is mostly down to its literal translation and slang meaning being completely different!
Meno male! literally translates as “less bad”. However, its slang meaning is vastly different, meaning “Thank God”, as in to express gratitude or relief for something.
Meno male! is also used in the same context as grazie dio (Thank God). However, is seem as quite rude if used in a Church or religious setting, rather than with friends.
10. Vivere alla giornata – “Poor”
This Italian slang word is perhaps the saddest if it is ever used. Vivere alla giornata is used in the sense of talking about being poor. Vivere alla giornata translates to mean “to live during the day”.
Whilst it’s literal meaning may seem harmless enough, it is used in the sense of “living hand to mouth”. That is to say, that it is used as a description of being poor or derelict.
The term is often used by Italian teenagers to describe both people and objects. That is to say, that it is used as an insult and as a description. It is often used in the same sense as the Australian slang term “povo” meaning poverty stricken.
9. Mollare (qualcuno) – “To dump (someone)”
Mollare is perhaps the saddest slang term in the entire Italian language. If you are in a romantic relationship with an Italian and they begin to throw around the word mollare, get ready.
In a slang setting, mollare is the Italian term “to dump someone” or “to end a romantic relationship”. And this is quite easy to work out from its literal meaning, “to release”.
As you can probably imagine, mollare is most commonly used by teenagers and young adults who are trying to find their perfect match. However, most of the population understand what the term mollare means from when they were dating.
8. Dai! – “Come on!”
Dai! is one of the most used Italian slang words. Dai! is a conjugation of the Italian verb dare (to give). It is often used to tell people that they need to come with you.
Dai! is often used in the context of “Come on!”, used similarly to the Spanish vamos. You can often use dai! in the same context as you’d use andiamo.
Dai! is used in both Italy and Switzerland. It is more commonly used by young teenagers and adults, however, many “cool dads” and “cool moms” in Italy and Switzerland do use it as well. Most adults also understand the meaning behind dai!
7. Saputo/Saputa – “Know-it-all”
Being called a saputo or a saputa is used either way. In some cases, it can be used as a compliment to call someone the equivalent of a genius. However, more often than not, saputo/saputa is used as an insult.
Saputo/saputa is used to call someone a “know-it-all”, that is to say, someone who seems to be far too smart for their own good. Both saputo (used for males) and saputa (used for females) come from the verb sapere (to know).
Both saputo and saputa are some of the most commonly used Italian slang words. You can find people calling and being called saputos and saputas all over Italy, both in the cities and in the countryside!
6. Sei scemo – “You’re being mean”
Sei scemo can be one of the weirdest things to hear out of context. I’m sure that it has caused its fair share of issues between Native Italians and foreign Italian speakers!
This is mostly because sei scemo in a formal setting can mean “you’re shrinking” (as in, you are becoming smaller). However, in an informal setting, it is used to tell someone that they aren’t being very kind and should think about their actions.
When you think of it- by being mean, you do actually make yourself look smaller! If not physically, then emotionally. After all, there is an old adage that “people are mean to others to hide their own insecurities!”.
5. Magari! – If only!
Magari! is perhaps one of the oddest Italian slang words out there! It is like this, because its slang meaning and dictionary definition are the exact same. That is to say, the slang term has become official in the dictionary!
Literally, magari! means “if only” or “maybe”. However, you wouldn’t use this in a formal environment, instead using può essere or forse. As such, if you were with your friends, magari! is most certainly going to be used!
As with most other Italian slang, magari! is common among teenagers and young adults. However, thanks to popular media and TV shows in Italy, magari! is understood by most Italians.
4. Avere un chiodo fisso in testa – “I’m obsessed”
Avere un chiodo fisso in testa certainly sounds weird no matter what context you hear it in. Nevertheless, it is one of the most commonly used slang terms in all of Italy, and can be heard in most places that speak Italian.
Literally, avere un chiodo fisso in testa translates as “to have a nail fixed to one’s head”. Despite it’s incredibly strange literal translation, it doesn’t have anything to do with incriminating yourself as I thought it might, when I first heard it.
In a slang setting, avere un chiodo fisso in testa translates as “to be obsessed with something”. That is to say that you could say io avero un chiodo fisso in testa to say “I am obsessed with something”.
3. ‘ndom! – “Let’s go!”
In Italy, you’ll hear the phrase andiamo! (Let’s go!) a lot. However, in the North of Italy, especially the alpine regions, such as Lombardy and Trentino–Alto Adige, you’ll hear ‘ndom! more often, which also translates as “let’s go!”
‘ndom! is more common in the big cities (such as Milan and Trento) however is also quite common in the countryside too. It is more common among younger Lombards and Trentinos, however, many older Lombards and Trentinos use it too.
Despite the regional difference, some Lombards and Trentinos prefers to use andiamo however are often fine with you using the local way of saying it too.
2. Limonare – “To make out”
Limonare is most commonly used by young Italian adults and teenagers. It is generally used in the same context as the English verb “to make out”. Despite this, limonare literally means “to lemon” (which isn’t a verb in either English or Italian!)
Limonare originates in Rome and in some circles is used extensively. However, thanks to popular TV shows and newspapers using the verb, it has become well used in several other major towns and cities, including Naples and Milan.
In the countryside, many of the locals, especially the younger ones, understand the implications of the verb, however, rarely use it. Using the verb comes at your own peril, some girls/boys simply don’t want to do that!
1. Figurati! – “Don’t worry!”
Figurati! is one of the most bizarre Italian slang words you will ever hear! Anyone who knows how to conjugate verbs in Italian will recognize figurati! is also a conjugation.
Indeed, figurati is a conjugation- a conjugation of figurare (“to appear” or “to be present”). Despite its literal translation, however, figurati has nothing to do with appearing or being present. Instead, it means “don’t worry”.
Unlike most other slang terms, figurati isn’t looked down upon in formal settings. It seems to be the one slang word that has actually been accepted into “proper” Italian!
Which are your favorite Italian slang words? Tell me in the comments!