Italian Slang to Sound Like a Native

Italian Slang to Sound Like a Native

Understanding slang is a key part of mastering any language, and Italian is no exception. While formal Italian will get you far, using a little slang will make you sound more natural and help you connect with native speakers on a deeper level. This guide covers some of the most common and essential Italian slang words and phrases you'll hear in everyday conversation.

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Common Italian Slang 🇮🇹

• Allora: Well, so, then. This is a classic filler word used to start a sentence, stall for time, or move a conversation along.

  • Allora, cosa facciamo stasera? (So, what are we doing tonight?)

• Boh: I don't know. A simple, informal shrug in word form.

  • "A che ora arriva?" "Boh." ("What time does he arrive?" "I dunno.")

• Che figata!: How cool! A strong exclamation of something being awesome or amazing.

  • Hai vinto i biglietti? Che figata! (You won the tickets? How cool!)

• Che palle!: What a pain! / What a drag! Used to express annoyance or boredom.

  • Dobbiamo fare di nuovo la fila? Che palle! (We have to wait in line again? What a pain!)

• Dai: Come on / Hurry up. A versatile word used for encouragement or to express disbelief.

  • Dai, andiamo, siamo in ritardo! (Come on, let's go, we're late!)

• Figurati: Don't worry about it / You're welcome / Of course. Used to downplay a favor or to reassure someone.

  • "Grazie mille!" "Figurati!" ("Thanks a lot!" "Don't mention it!")

• Figo/a: Cool. A general-purpose word for something or someone you find cool.

  • Questo posto è veramente figo. (This place is really cool.)

• In bocca al lupo: Good luck! The literal meaning is "in the wolf's mouth." The standard reply is Crepi il lupo! (May the wolf die!).

  • Hai un esame domani? In bocca al lupo! (You have an exam tomorrow? Good luck!)

• Magari: I wish! / If only. Used to express a strong desire or hope for something.

  • "Verrai alla festa?" "Magari!" ("Will you come to the party?" "I wish!")

• Meno male: Thank goodness / Luckily. Expresses relief about something.

  • Meno male che ho portato l'ombrello. (Thank goodness I brought the umbrella.)

• Spaccare: To rock / To be awesome (literally "to break/smash"). Used for something that is exceptionally good.

  • Questo gruppo spacca! (This band rocks!)

• Beato te: Lucky you.

  • Vai in vacanza al mare? Beato te! (You're going on vacation to the sea? Lucky you!)

• Tizio/Tizia: Some guy / some girl. An informal way to refer to an unknown person.

  • C'era un tizio che ti cercava. (There was some guy looking for you.)

• Un sacco di: A lot of / tons of.

  • Ho un sacco di lavoro da fare. (I have a lot of work to do.)

• Basta: Enough / Stop it. Used to signal that something should end.

  • Basta, non ne posso più! (Stop it, I can't take it anymore!)

• Cascasse il mondo: No matter what happens / come hell or high water.

  • Vengo alla tua festa, cascasse il mondo. (I'm coming to your party, no matter what.)

• Fregarsene: To not care about something. (Often used in phrases like 'non me ne frega niente' - 'I don't give a damn').

  • Non me ne frega niente di quello che pensa. (I don't care what he thinks.)

• Sfiga: Bad luck. The opposite of fortuna (good luck).

  • Che sfiga! Ho perso il portafoglio. (What bad luck! I lost my wallet.)

• Mannaggia: Damn / Darn it. A common exclamation of frustration.

  • Mannaggia, ho perso le chiavi! (Damn, I lost my keys!)

• Schifo: Disgusting / awful. Used to describe something you find repulsive.

  • Questa zuppa fa schifo. (This soup is disgusting.)

• Approfittare: To take advantage of. Can be neutral (take advantage of an opportunity) or negative (take advantage of a person).

  • Dobbiamo approfittare del bel tempo. (We should take advantage of the nice weather.)

• Scialla: Chill out / relax. A modern, informal term popular with younger people.

  • Stai tranquillo, scialla! (Stay calm, chill out!)

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More Conversational Slang

Here are a few more terms you'll hear in rapid, everyday conversation. Using them correctly is a sure sign you're getting comfortable with the language.

• Che casino: What a mess. This can refer to a literal mess or a chaotic, confusing situation.

  • Non capisco niente di questo film, che casino! (I don't understand anything in this movie, what a mess!)

• Ci sta: That works / I'm down for that / It's fitting. A very common and flexible way to show agreement or to say that something is appropriate.

  • "Prendiamo una pizza stasera?" "Sì, ci sta." ("Should we get a pizza tonight?" "Yeah, I'm down.")

• Lascia perdere: Let it go / Never mind. Used to tell someone to drop a subject or to stop worrying about something.

  • Non riesco a convincerlo. Vabbè, lascia perdere. (I can't convince him. Oh well, let it go.)

• Metterci una vita: To take forever.

  • Questo autobus ci mette una vita ad arrivare. (This bus is taking forever to arrive.)

• Mollare: To give up / to dump someone.

  • Non mollare adesso, sei quasi arrivato! (Don't give up now, you're almost there!)
  • Ha mollato il suo ragazzo la settimana scorsa. (She dumped her boyfriend last week.)

• Neanche per sogno: No way / Not in a million years / In your dreams. A very strong and colorful way to say no.

  • "Mi presti la tua macchina nuova?" "Neanche per sogno!" ("Can I borrow your new car?" "No way!")

• Pisolino: A nap. A short, light sleep, especially after a meal.

  • Faccio un pisolino dopo pranzo. (I'm taking a nap after lunch.)

• Rompere le scatole: To get on someone's nerves (literally "to break the boxes"). A common way to say someone is being annoying.

  • Smettila di fare rumore, mi stai rompendo le scatole! (Stop making noise, you're getting on my nerves!)

• Stare man mano: To calm down / take it easy. Similar to 'scialla', but perhaps used more widely across age groups.

  • Ok, sto man mano, non c'è bisogno di urlare. (Okay, I'm calming down, there's no need to shout.)

• Tipo: Like / kind of. Used as a filler word, much like "like" in English.

  • Era, tipo, altissimo e con i capelli biondi. (He was, like, really tall and with blond hair.)

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This list is just a starting point. Italian slang is vibrant and always evolving. The best way to learn is to listen to native speakers, watch Italian movies, and don't be afraid to try using these phrases yourself. Buon divertimento! (Have fun!)