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cursing.in curse like a local

Italian · Insults

Pirla!

PEER-lah · /ˈpir.la/

Idiot / dumbass (Milanese)

2/5 Bar-safe

coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances

Literally

"(Milanese for dolt / spinning-top)"

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

How to use it

Milan's signature idiot. Mild and very local — "non fare il pirla" (don't be a fool) is affectionate ribbing in Lombardy, and it's a staple of Milanese road rage. Say it in Naples and people will clock you instantly as a northerner doing a bit.

Heard in the wild

Ma dove vai, pirla?

Where are you going, you idiot?

Where it lands

Milan / Lombardy; understood nationally as 'a Milanese thing'

Quick answers

What does "Pirla!" mean?
In Italian, "Pirla!" means "Idiot / dumbass (Milanese)". Literally it's "(Milanese for dolt / spinning-top)". Milan's signature idiot. Mild and very local — "non fare il pirla" (don't be a fool) is affectionate ribbing in Lombardy, and it's a staple of Milanese road rage. Say it in Naples and people will clock you instantly as a northerner doing a bit.
Is "Pirla!" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
How do you pronounce "Pirla!"?
Say it "PEER-lah" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈpir.la.

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 "You idiot".

how to say "You idiot" →

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