Italian · 15 phrases
Insults
Aimed at a person, from the affectionate "cretino" you'd say to a friend to the honor-wounding "cornuto" that fills stadiums and starts fights. Italian insults live and die on tone — half of these flip from jab to endearment depending on the smile behind them. We rate each for when it's teasing and when it's a declaration of war.
Rompiscatole! rom-pee-SKAH-to-lay Pain in the neck / nuisance È un cesso eh oon CHESS-so They're butt-ugly / a real minger Cretino! kray-TEE-no Idiot / moron Pirla! PEER-lah Idiot / dumbass (Milanese) Sfigato! sfee-GAH-to Loser / dork / unlucky wretch Arbitro cornuto! AR-bee-tro kor-NOO-to You cheating cuckold of a ref! Bastardo! bah-STAR-do Bastard Coglione! kol-YO-nay Idiot / dumbass / sucker Le corna gesture Your partner's cheating on you / cuckold (as an insult) Stronzo! STRON-tso Asshole! / Bastard! Cornuto! kor-NOO-to Cuckold — your partner is cheating on you Figlio di puttana! FEEL-yo dee poot-TAH-nah Son of a bitch! Pezzo di merda! PET-tso dee MEHR-dah Piece of shit Testa di cazzo! TESS-tah dee KAHT-tso Dickhead / stupid asshole Vaffanculo! vah-fahn-KOO-lo Fuck off! / Go to hell!