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Italian · Insults

Pezzo di merda!

PET-tso dee MEHR-dah · /ˈpɛt.tso di ˈmer.da/

Piece of shit

4/5 Fighting words

aimed at a person, will start something

Literally

"Piece of shit"

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

How to use it

Total contempt — you're calling someone morally worthless, not just annoying. Fighting words, delivered when you mean to end a relationship or start a fight. Not a joke you make with friends.

Heard in the wild

Sei un pezzo di merda, mi hai tradito.

You're a piece of shit, you betrayed me.

Where it lands

Universal across Italy

Quick answers

What does "Pezzo di merda!" mean?
In Italian, "Pezzo di merda!" means "Piece of shit". Literally it's "Piece of shit". Total contempt — you're calling someone morally worthless, not just annoying. Fighting words, delivered when you mean to end a relationship or start a fight. Not a joke you make with friends.
Is "Pezzo di merda!" offensive?
Yes — very. It rates 4/5 on the Punch-o-Meter (Fighting words). aimed at a person, will start something. Read the usage note before you even think about it.
How do you pronounce "Pezzo di merda!"?
Say it "PET-tso dee MEHR-dah" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈpɛt.tso di ˈmer.da.

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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