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Italian · Insults

Sfigato!

sfee-GAH-to · /sfiˈɡa.to/

Loser / dork / unlucky wretch

2/5 Bar-safe

coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances

Literally

"One without figa — luckless"

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

How to use it

Built from "figa" via "sfiga" (rotten luck): a "sfigato" is a hopeless loser, the opposite of cool. Schoolyard-to-adult range, more mocking than aggressive. "Che sfiga!" on its own just means "what rotten luck!" and is nearly clean.

Heard in the wild

Non venire vestito così, sembri uno sfigato.

Don't come dressed like that, you look like a loser.

Where it lands

Universal across Italy

Quick answers

What does "Sfigato!" mean?
In Italian, "Sfigato!" means "Loser / dork / unlucky wretch". Literally it's "One without figa — luckless". Built from "figa" via "sfiga" (rotten luck): a "sfigato" is a hopeless loser, the opposite of cool. Schoolyard-to-adult range, more mocking than aggressive. "Che sfiga!" on its own just means "what rotten luck!" and is nearly clean.
Is "Sfigato!" 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 "Sfigato!"?
Say it "sfee-GAH-to" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: sfiˈɡa.to.

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" →how to say "Tough luck" →

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