Abbreviation USED Very frequently BY Gen X'ers
(n.) • (my brother) • Internet slang abbreviation of the Neapolitan dialect word “fratm”, made popular by a meme and now widely used in the Italian internet community.
"Fr🏧 ingiustamente carcerat."
"My brother, unrightfully jailed."
Italian
| Dialetto avellinese
Irpinia,
Italy
Word USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(noun) • (little umbrella) • Colloquial word used to describe someone/someone’s role as completely useless and compare them to a decorative umbrella.
"Che pote fa’ quillo ‘mbrellino?"
"What could that little umbrella guy do?"
Submitted August 2020 by alessiafromitaly
Italian
| Dialetto avellinese
Irpinia,
Italy
Word USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone
(noun, adjective) • A noun or an adjective used to underline someone’s stupidity in a friendly and, in some cases, slightly offensive way, e.g. when they embarrass themselves (or even you) in public or when they keep on making the same mistakes.
"Quanto si stordo, ‘o frat."
"Bro, you are so stupid."
Submitted August 2020 by alessiafromitaly
Cu nasci tunnu, nun pò moriri quatratu
Idiom USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(The one who was born in the shape of a square, cannot die shaped like a circle) • It’s used when someone promises you that they will change their attitude, but then never changes and keeps making the same mistakes.
When you promised your mum you were always going to clean up your room, but you don’t she says “cu nasci tunnu nun po moriri quatratu”
Submitted August 2020 by chiaragrams
Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone
(to hold the candle end) • Being the third wheel while a couple is sharing a romantic and intimate moment.
"Anna e Marco si sono baciati e io sono rimasto lì a reggere il moccolo."
"Anna and Marco kissed and I stayed there holding the candle end."
Expression USED Frequently BY Some People
(In the whale's ass!) • This is a way to wish someone good luck. Pay close attention to what you're expected to answer.
"In culo alla balena per domani!" "Speriamo che non caghi!"
"In the whale's ass for tomorrow!" "Let's hope it doesn't shit!"
Sound USED Very frequently BY roosters
Sound made by Italian roosters.
"Chicchirichì!"
"Time to wake up, you slackers!"
Expression USED On Occasion BY Teens
(to give hole) • To stand someone up i.e. to not show up for an appointment or date.
"Guarda, sono arrabbiatissima! Come ha potuto darmi buca?!"
"Look, I'm furious! How could he give me hole?!"
Expression USED Frequently BY Everyone
(In the wolf's mouth!) • You say this to wish good luck. There's a debate over the answer to give - "crepi" (may it die) or "evviva il lupo" (may the wolf live). You only have to choose what side you're on.
"Domani ho la consegna della tesi di laurea: augurami buona fortuna." "In bocca al lupo!"
"Tomorrow I have to turn in my thesis - wish me luck." "In the wolf's mouth!"
Expression USED On Occasion BY Adults
(to discover warm water) • It means to discover something obvious, maybe even with lots of thought and/or effort.
"I gatti che hanno il pelo tricolore sono solo femmine! Wow!" "Ma va? Hai scoperto l'acqua calda!"
"Tricolor cats are only female! Wow!" "Oh really? You discovered warm water!"
Name USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(Little mouse) • What Italians call Mickey Mouse.
"Guardiamo Topolino!"
"Let's watch Mickey Mouse!"
Abbreviation USED Frequently BY Children and teenagers
(I love you) • Short for "ti voglio bene", the non-romantic "love you".
"Martina, sei la mia migliore amica. TVB!"
"Martina, you're my best friend. TVB!"
Hashtag USED In the past BY Some People
(#Iwillstayhome) • A hashtag created during the coronavirus crisis to encourage people to stay home and to follow social distancing rules.
"Oggi #iorestoacasa e dovreste farlo anche voi!"
"Today #Iwillstayhome and you should do so too!"
Hashtag USED On Occasion BY Some People
(#everythingwillbeallright) • A hashtag created during the coronavirus crisis to remind people everything will be back to normal soon.
"Molti italiani utilizzano l'hashtag #andràtuttobene per dare speranza agli altri."
"Many Italians use the hashtag #andràtuttobene to give hope to others."
Expression USED Frequently BY Everyone
(Everything will be alright) • During the corona virus pandemic, people affixed cardboards everywhere with this slogan on them. It became the most trending hashtag in Italy when everything seemed dark.
“Non aver paura! Andrà tutto bene”
"Don't panic! Everything will be alright"
Word USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(n.) • (beautiful) • It literally means beautiful, so don't be surprised if Sicilian grannies call you that.
“Ciao, bedda!”
“Hello, beautiful”
Standard Phrase USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(How are we (doing)?) • This is what you say when you meet someone you haven’t seen in a while and you want to know what’s new and how they're doing.
"We Carmelo, comu semu?"
"Hey Carmelo, what’s up?"
il giorno del poi e il mese del mai
Expression USED On Occasion BY Adults
(the day of later and the month of never) • You want your nosy aunt to stop asking you when you're going to get a boyfriend? Answer this and you'll see her wheels spinning trying to figure out you just told her you're going to postpone as much as you can.
"Ma, allora, quando ti fidanzi?" "Il giorno del poi e il mese del mai!"
"So when are you gonna get engaged?" "The day of later and the month of never!"
Idiom USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(inflated-sails-ly) • Successfully.
"Grande, il colloquio è andato a gonfie vele!"
"Yay, your interview was a success!"
Slang USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(Who rubs of it) • You don't care about the gossip they're forcing you to listen to? If you're not afraid to sound a little too blunt, you can opt for "chi se ne frega".
"Chi se ne frega se si sono lasciati! Sono fatti loro."
"Who cares if they broke up! It's their business."
