Italian Italy

alla sera leoni...

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Parents

(lions at night...) • Used when someone stays up late at night but then the following morning has troubles getting out of bed.

"Ah, adesso hai sonno? Alla sera leoni..."

"Oh, you're tired now? Lions at night..."

Confirmed by 10 people

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Italian Rome, Italy

bella

Word USED Frequently BY Young People

(adj.) • (beautiful) • It’s a way to say “hello” to your friends in Rome. It can be followed by their name or by “zì” (lit. “uncle”), which means “bro”.

"Bella, zì!" "Bella, Simo!"

"Hello, bro!" "Hello, Simon!"

Confirmed by 9 people

Italian Italy

#BuongiornodaMondello

Hashtag USED Very frequently BY Social media users

(#GoodMorningFromMondello) • Mondello is a famous Sicilian beach that went viral lately after an interview about anti-covid measures on Italian beaches. Social media users now repeat that expression anytime they are at the seaside (not necessarily, though) and make hashtags, parodies, Instagram filters and much more out of it.

“#BuongiornodaMondello, oggi al mare! Ma non avete un po’ paura del covid?” “Non ce n’è coviddi, non ce n’è!”

“#GoodMorningFromMondello, so you are at the seaside today! But aren’t you a little scared of covid?” “There’s no coviddi here, not at all!”

Italian | Roman Rome, Italy

fa' er giro de Peppe

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(to take a Peppe's route) • You use it when someone takes a very long route when they could have taken a very shorter one.

"Ci hai fatto fa' er giro de Peppe quando saremmo potuti essere arrivati molto prima."

"You made us take a Peppe's route while we could have arrived way earlier."

Confirmed by 3 people

Italian | Roman Rome, Italy

A buffo

Slang USED Frequently BY Teens

(adv.) • (At funny) • You use "a buffo" when you do something randomly, not giving it much thought.

"Mi ha chiamato a buffo."

"He called me at funny."

Confirmed by 4 people

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Italian | Neapolitan Italy

fr🏧

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."

Confirmed by 4 people

Italian | Dialetto avellinese Irpinia, Italy

‘mbrellino

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?"

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Italian | Dialetto avellinese Irpinia, Italy

stordo

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."

Italian Italy

reggere il moccolo

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."

Confirmed by 8 people

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Italian Italy

In culo alla balena!

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!"

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Italian Italy

chicchirichì

Sound USED Very frequently BY roosters

Sound made by Italian roosters.

"Chicchirichì!"

"Time to wake up, you slackers!"

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Italian Italy

dare buca

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?!"

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Italian Italy

In bocca al lupo!

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!"

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Italian Italy

scoprire l'acqua calda

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!"

Italian Italy

Topolino

Name USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(Little mouse) • What Italians call Mickey Mouse.

"Guardiamo Topolino!"

"Let's watch Mickey Mouse!"

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Italian Italy

T.V.B.

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!"

Italian Italy

#iorestoacasa

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!"

Confirmed by 11 people

Italian Italy

#andràtuttobene

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."

Confirmed by 11 people

Italian Italy

Andrà tutto bene

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"

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Italian Italy

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!"