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

Tacchinare

[TAHK-kee-NA-ray] To hit on, attempt to seduce. What the young people use today instead of rimorchiare.

Tette

[TET-tay] Tits. Not to be confused with tetto, roof.

Tirare un Pacco

[tee-RAHR-ay oon PAHK-ko] “To throw a package”- to stand up, e.g. not show up for a date. The phrase is not rude – the action certainly is!

Tirarsela

[tih-RAR-seh-la] Literally a reflexive form of “to pull”, but used as “to give oneself airs.” Se la tira tanto – S/he really gives him/herself airs (really thinks he/she is something). Not particularly rude.

Tiro Mancino

[TEER-o mahn-CHEE-no] “A left-handed throw”.

Troia

[TROY-ah] Prostitute. The name derives from Troy, the city, because Helen betrayed her husband with a Trojan, and therefore became a slut. The movie of that name did not get an Italianized title.

Trombamico/a

[trom-bah-MEE-ko/ka] (Male/female) Fuck buddy. (This seems to be a new coinage among the young; older people are telling me – rather wistfully – that they’ve never heard it.)

Trombare

[trom-BAHR-ay] To fuck.

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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

Vaccona

[vahk-CONE-ah] Big cow. Used similarly to porcona.

Vaffa’nbagno

[vah-fahn-BAHN-yo] “Go do it in the bathroom” – polite paraphrase for vaffanculo.

Vaffanculo or ‘ffanculo

[vah-fahng-COOL-oh] Va a far[lo] in culo – “Go do it in the ass,” but used like “fuck off.” Survives in the US (sort of) as “fungoo” or “fungo”.

image at top: A reader sent me this from I know not what source (happy to give credit when I find it). The piglet says: “Happy Easter.” The lamb replies: “Go fuck yourself!” – lamb is the traditional Easter meal!

Viados

[vee-ah-DOSS] From a Brazilian term meaning “two ways” or “two-way street”, this term is used for transgender prostitutes.

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Italian Slang: I Italian Slang: G Italian Slang: S Italian Slang: T

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

Zinne

[TZIN-neh] Tits.

Zittire, Zitto

[zit-TEAR-ay, ZEET-toh] To shut (someone else) up, adjective for shut up. Fairly rude when used as a command.

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Italian Slang: I Italian Slang: G Italian Slang: S Italian Slang: T

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

Accidente, un

[ah-chee-DEN-tay] A darn thing, usually used in the negative, as in Non mi ricordo un’accidente – I don’t recall a thing. In normal useage, an accident (as with a car) is un incidente.

QT adds: Ti venisse un accidente – “May you have an accident,” an ill-wish which apparently refers more to serious illness (heart attack, stroke, etc.).

Accidenti

[ah-chee-DEN-ti] A mild expletive, in a league with drat, darn, heck.

Apprezzamento

[ah-pretz-a-MEN-toe] Not a rude word, this translates roughly as “appreciation” or “comment”, but it’s used most often in apprezzamenti pesanti (pesanti = “heavy”) for the kind of “appreciative” comment made to a woman that would cause her husband, boyfriend, etc., to react angrily. Such comments are often followed, in the news reports, by violence.

Arrapare

[ar-ra-PAR-ray] To become sexually excited.

The graffiti scribbled on this poster says: “Would you get hot (ti arraparesti) if this girl was your daughter? – This is too much. – www.cracra.org”

Attaccabottoni

[ah-TAHK-ka-bot-TONE-ee] Literally a “stick-to-buttons”. A long-winded bore. Someone who “grabs you by the lapel” and won’t let go. This term is not particularly rude, except to the person to whom you apply it!

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Italian Slang: I Italian Slang: G Italian Slang: S Italian Slang: V