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Italian · Insults

Stronzo!

STRON-tso · /ˈstron.tso/

Asshole! / Bastard!

3/5 Watch your audience

genuinely rude; friends only, never at work

Literally

"Turd"

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

How to use it

The go-to word for someone who behaved like a jerk — a lie, a betrayal, a bad parking job. Feminine "stronza." It can be genuinely cutting or almost fond between friends ("sei uno stronzo" with a laugh), so tone carries it. Milder than the -culo family, harsher than "cretino."

Heard in the wild

Mi ha lasciato senza dire niente, che stronzo.

He left without a word, what an asshole.

Where it lands

Universal across Italy

Quick answers

What does "Stronzo!" mean?
In Italian, "Stronzo!" means "Asshole! / Bastard!". Literally it's "Turd". The go-to word for someone who behaved like a jerk — a lie, a betrayal, a bad parking job. Feminine "stronza." It can be genuinely cutting or almost fond between friends ("sei uno stronzo" with a laugh), so tone carries it. Milder than the -culo family, harsher than "cretino."
Is "Stronzo!" 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 "Stronzo!"?
Say it "STRON-tso" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈstron.tso.

Related in Italian

Cazzo! KAHT-tso Fuck! / Damn! / The all-purpose Italian curse. Che cazzo?! kay KAHT-tso What the fuck?! Vaffanculo! vah-fahn-KOO-lo Fuck off! / Go to hell! 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!

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "You idiot".

how to say "You idiot" →

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