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Italian · Insults

Bastardo!

bah-STAR-do · /basˈtar.do/

Bastard

3/5 Watch your audience

genuinely rude; friends only, never at work

Literally

"Bastard"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

Same range as English "bastard": a real insult that can soften into rueful respect ("bastardo fortunato" — lucky bastard). Feminine "bastarda." A situation or object that betrays you is also "bastardo" ("questa serratura bastarda").

Heard in the wild

Quel bastardo mi ha rubato il posto.

That bastard stole my spot.

Where it lands

Universal across Italy

Quick answers

What does "Bastardo!" mean?
In Italian, "Bastardo!" means "Bastard". Literally it's "Bastard". Same range as English "bastard": a real insult that can soften into rueful respect ("bastardo fortunato" — lucky bastard). Feminine "bastarda." A situation or object that betrays you is also "bastardo" ("questa serratura bastarda").
Is "Bastardo!" offensive?
It's genuinely rude — a 3/5 (Watch your audience) on the Punch-o-Meter. Fine among friends, never at work or with people you've just met.
How do you pronounce "Bastardo!"?
Say it "bah-STAR-do" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: basˈtar.do.

Related in Italian

Vaffanculo! vah-fahn-KOO-lo Fuck off! / Go to hell! Stronzo! STRON-tso Asshole! / Bastard! Coglione! kol-YO-nay Idiot / dumbass / sucker Testa di cazzo! TESS-tah dee KAHT-tso Dickhead / stupid asshole Figlio di puttana! FEEL-yo dee poot-TAH-nah Son of a bitch! Cornuto! kor-NOO-to Cuckold — your partner is cheating on you

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Screw you".

how to say "Screw you" →

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