Italian · Insults
Rompiscatole!
rom-pee-SKAH-to-lay · /rom.piˈska.to.le/
Pain in the neck / nuisance
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
Literally
"Box-breaker"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
A gloriously euphemistic insult: "scatole" (boxes) is the polite swap for the testicles you're actually breaking. So "rompiscatole" is the family-safe version of "rompicoglioni" / "rompipalle" — a pest, a nag, someone who won't leave you be. Safe to use about your kids.
Heard in the wild
Sei un rompiscatole, lo sai?
You're such a pain in the neck, you know that?
Where it lands
Universal across Italy
Quick answers
- What does "Rompiscatole!" mean?
- In Italian, "Rompiscatole!" means "Pain in the neck / nuisance". Literally it's "Box-breaker". A gloriously euphemistic insult: "scatole" (boxes) is the polite swap for the testicles you're actually breaking. So "rompiscatole" is the family-safe version of "rompicoglioni" / "rompipalle" — a pest, a nag, someone who won't leave you be. Safe to use about your kids.
- Is "Rompiscatole!" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
- How do you pronounce "Rompiscatole!"?
- Say it "rom-pee-SKAH-to-lay" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: rom.piˈska.to.le.
Related in Italian
Cazzo! KAHT-tso Fuck! / Damn! / The all-purpose Italian curse. Che palle! kay PAHL-lay What a pain in the ass! / So annoying! Vaffanculo! vah-fahn-KOO-lo Fuck off! / Go to hell! Coglione! kol-YO-nay Idiot / dumbass / sucker Cretino! kray-TEE-no Idiot / moron Sfigato! sfee-GAH-to Loser / dork / unlucky wretch
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