syn

Italian Italy

cmq

Acronym USED Very frequently BY Teens

Short for "comunque", which translates to "anyways" or "by the way".

"Cmq non mi va di andare al cinema stasera."

"I don't feel like going to the movies tonight btw."

Confirmed by 11 people

Italian In the South, Italy

A chi appartieni?

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Older Generations

(Who do you belong to? ) • Question any elder Southern Italian asks when meeting someone younger than them for the first time in order to know which family they belong to and/or who their parents and grandparents are.

“Giovanotto, a chi appartieni?” “Sono figlio del dottor Rossi.”

“Who do you belong to, young boy?” “I’m dr. Rossi’s son.”

Italian Italy

A caval donato non si guarda in bocca

Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(Don’t look in the mouth of a gift horse) • It means that all that is given is something gained and it would be impolite to comment on the quality of the gift.

"La maglia che ti ha regalato Giuseppina non è di buona qualità, ma a caval donato non si guarda in bocca."

"The shirt Giuseppina got you is not of good quality, but don't look in the mouth of a gift horse."

Confirmed by 7 people

Italian Italy

arrampicarsi sugli specchi

Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(to climb on mirrors) • It is used when someone argues for groundless reasons.

"Ti sbagli e tutto ciò che dici non è vero, ti stai arrampicando sugli specchi."

"You're wrong and everything you say isn't true, you're climbing on mirrors."

Confirmed by 7 people

Italian Italy

a ogni morte di Papa

Idiom USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(at every Pope's death) • It means rarely, once in a blue moon.

"Come va tuo figlio?" "Insomma, studia solo a ogni morte di Papa..."

"How's your son doing?" "Meh, he only studies once every Pope's death..."

Confirmed by 4 people

syn

alt

Italian Italy

in culo ai lupi

Expression USED Frequently BY Most People

(in the butt of the wolves) • In a far away, hard to reach place.

"Vuoi andare a quella festa?" "Non lo so, è in culo ai lupi..."

"Do you want to go to that party?" "I don't know, it's in the butt of the wolves..."

Confirmed by 6 people

Italian Puglia and Campania, Italy

Fattapposta

Word USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(n.) • (Made-for-that-purpose) • Generic term for anything that can be used for any purpose.

“Vorrei appendere il quadro, ma non ho il fattapposta".

"I would like to hang the picture, but I don’t have the made-for-that-purpose."

Confirmed by 3 people

syn

Italian Italy

In bocca al lupo

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(In the wolf’s mouth) • A wish of good luck.

“Ho un esame oggi e mi sento nervoso.” “In bocca al lupo!”

“I have an exam today and I’m nervous.” “In the wolf's mouth!”

Confirmed by 5 people

syn

Italian Italy

bau

Sound USED Very frequently BY Dogs

This is what Italian dogs say.

"Bau bau bau!"

"Give me more food, human!"

Confirmed by 13 people

syn

Italian Italy

toc toc

Sound USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(knock knock) • Onomatopeia indicating the sound made by someone knocking on a door.

"Toc toc, è permesso?"

"Knock knock, may I come in?"

Confirmed by 13 people

æ

Italian Italy

pezzo di pane

Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(piece of bread) • When someone is a very good and altruistic person. It is usually only used with the 3rd person singular (he/she).

"Andrea è un pezzo di pane."

"Andrea is a piece of bread."

Confirmed by 7 people

alt

æ

Italian Italy

fregna

Word USED Frequently BY Gen Z'ers

(adj.) • (pussy) • Awesome or good-looking, if referred to a person.

"Oh, guarda quella là! Che fregna che è!"

"Oh, look at that girl over there! How pussy she is!"

Confirmed by 8 people

syn

alt

æ

Italian Italy

Parli del diavolo e spuntano le corna

Proverb USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(You speak of the devil and the corns come out) • When you talk or think of someone and they suddenly appear.

"Hai sentito di Marta? Ah, eccola... Parli del diavolo e spuntano le corna."

"Did you hear about Marta? Oh, there she is... You speak of the devil and the corns come out."

Confirmed by 6 people

æ

Italian Italy

quattro gatti

Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(four cats) • When there are very few people in a place.

"Quante persone ci sono alla festa?" "Quattro gatti."

"How many people are at the party?" "Four cats."

Confirmed by 12 people

alt

Italian Italy

spettacolo!

Expression USED On Occasion BY Teens

(n.) • ((what a) show!) • It's often used by young people when facing something astonishing, amazing, or simply relaxing. It can also be referring to situations of thrilling experiences such as a wonderful sight or a pleasant smell/taste, or when receiving good news. In other words, it can be uttered after experiencing good vibes.

"Domani non lavorerò e potremo stare insieme tutto il giorno." "Spettacolo! Sto già pensando a come organizzare al meglio la giornata."

"I'm not working tomorrow and we could stay together all day." "What a show! I'm already thinking how we should best organize our day."

Confirmed by 11 people

syn

Italian Italy

Che si dice?

Expression USED Frequently BY Most People

(What is said?) • A near-equivalent in English would be "what's up?", referring to people's perception of the general current situation. The question is usually referred to one or more people in particular, so it always has its specificity.

"Ehilà! Che si dice?"

"Hey there! What is said?”

Confirmed by 12 people

Italian Italy

fra

Slang USED Frequently BY Young People

(n.) • (bro) • It's the exact translation for "bro". It is the abbreviation of the word "fratello", which means "brother".

"Bella, fra!" "Ciao, che mi racconti?"

"Hey bro!" "Hi, what's up?"

Confirmed by 12 people

alt

Italian Italy

che mi racconti?

Slang USED Frequently BY Teens

(what do you tell me? ) • It's a sentence used for when you meet someone, after a long period of time, and you ask them what they've been up to.

"Oh bello, che mi racconti?" "Eh insomma, mi ha lasciato da poco la mia ragazza..."

"Hey dude, what's up?" "Well not so good actually, my girlfriend recently broke up with me..."

Confirmed by 12 people

Italian Italy

a cazzo di cane

Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(by dog's penis) • When something is done randomly, without paying attention.

"Ho parcheggiato a cazzo di cane."

"I parked by dog's penis."

æ

Italian Italy

abbiocco

Word USED Frequently BY Everyone

(n.) • Sudden sleepiness that occurs especially after a big meal.

"Dopo pranzo mi viene sempre l'abbiocco!"

"After lunch I have always the abbiocco!"

Confirmed by 20 people