Italian Slang Dictionary: intro A B C D E F G I L M N O P Q R S T U V X Z
Balle
[BAHL-lay] Balls. Usually synonymous with “Bullshit!” Mi ha raccontato un sacco di balle – “He/she told me a whole bunch of lies” (literally, “a bag of balls”). Can also be used like palle. Che due balle/palle – “What two balls” – can also be used like “What a pain in the ass.”
Barbone
[bar-BONE-ay] “Having a big beard”, but also used for homeless men.
Battona
[baht-TONE-ah] Streetwalker, because she “pounds (battere) the pavement”.
Beh
“So?” or “So what?” In some parts of Italy, this may be equivalent to boh. Not particularly rude.
Bocchino
[bock-KEE-no] “A little mouthful” – fellatio.
Boh
A verbal shrug. This isn’t rude – you can use it any time.
Botta
[BOT-ta] A blow, a punch, a coup, but also used to mean a dose of cocaine. Hence in botta is used to mean high (but not necessarily specifically on cocaine).
In Roman slang, botta or bottarella means a fuck. Le ho dato una bottarella – “I fucked her [a little].”
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
An Italian friend asked this evenin (after she used this expression)…What does oooh fah mean? Any ideas? Thanks.
Uffa is a general sound of disgust, doesn’t have any particular meaning.
Uffa means good grief, actually. My teacher uses it a lot >.>