Textbook Italian will help you order dinner and ask for directions. But if you want to understand conversations in cafés, train stations, family homes and Italian films, you also need the informal words Italians use every day.
Italian slang changes by region, generation and social group. A phrase heard constantly in Milan may be less common in Naples, while younger Italians may use expressions their grandparents would never say. The following words and phrases, however, are widely understood throughout Italy.
The pronunciation guides are approximate and designed for English speakers. Capital letters indicate the stressed syllable.
Everyday Italian Slang at a Glance
Boh — I don’t know
Dai! — Come on!
Magari! — If only! / I wish!
Che figata! — How cool!
Meno male! — Thank goodness!
Ci sta — That works / Fair enough
Mi sa che… — I think that… / It looks like…
Non c’è male — Not bad
Che casino! — What a mess!
Che palle! — What a pain!
Boh: The Most Italian Way to Say “I Don’t Know”
Pronunciation: boh
Meaning: I don’t know; who knows?
Boh is short, informal and extremely common. Italians often say it with a small shrug, raised eyebrows or a downward turn of the mouth. Its meaning can range from genuine uncertainty to complete indifference.
Example:
“Dov’è Marco?”
“Boh, forse è ancora a casa.”
“Where is Marco?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s still at home.”
Boh is fine among friends and in casual situations. In a formal conversation, non lo so is usually more appropriate.
Dai: Come On, Go Ahead or Really?
Pronunciation: dye
The literal form comes from the verb dare, meaning “to give,” but dai has acquired several conversational meanings. Depending on tone, it can express encouragement, impatience, disbelief or a friendly request.
Examples:
“Dai, andiamo!”
“Come on, let’s go!”
“Dai, raccontami tutto.”
“Go on, tell me everything.”
“Dai! Non ci credo.”
“Really? I don’t believe it.”
Italians may repeat it for emphasis: Dai, dai! This can mean “Come on, hurry up” or “Go ahead—you can do it.”
Magari: One Small Word With Several Meanings
Pronunciation: mah-GAH-ree
Magari is one of the most useful—and difficult to translate—words in conversational Italian. It can mean “if only,” “I wish,” “perhaps” or “maybe.”
Example expressing a wish:
“Ti piacerebbe vivere in Italia?”
“Magari!”
“Would you like to live in Italy?”
“If only!”
Example meaning “perhaps”:
“Possiamo andarci domani, magari nel pomeriggio.”
“We can go tomorrow, perhaps in the afternoon.”
The speaker’s tone and the surrounding sentence usually make the intended meaning clear.
Figo and Che Figata: Cool and Awesome
Pronunciation: FEE-go; keh fee-GAH-tah
Figo describes something or someone considered cool, attractive or impressive. The feminine form is figa, although using it to describe a woman can sound suggestive or crude depending on the context.
Examples:
“Quel locale è davvero figo.”
“That place is really cool.”
“Hai preso i biglietti per il concerto? Che figata!”
“You got tickets for the concert? How awesome!”
Che figata is enthusiastic and very informal. It is common among friends but not suitable for a business meeting or formal event.
Forte: Cool, Talented or Impressive
Pronunciation: FOR-teh
Forte literally means “strong,” but Italians also use it informally for a person who is talented, entertaining or impressive.
Example:
“Luca è fortissimo con la chitarra.”
“Luca is incredibly good at playing the guitar.”
“Che forte questa idea!”
“This idea is so cool!”
It is a safe, widely understood alternative to more fashionable slang.
Grande!
Pronunciation: GRAHN-deh
Grande literally means “big” or “great.” Used alone, it praises or congratulates someone, much like “Great job!” or “You’re the best!”
Example:
“Hai risolto il problema?”
“Sì.”
“Grande!”
“Did you solve the problem?”
“Yes.”
“Great!”
Friends also use Grande! as an enthusiastic greeting or response to good news.
Bella!
Pronunciation: BEHL-lah
Bella normally means “beautiful,” but some Italians—particularly younger people—use Bella! as an informal greeting similar to “Hey!” or “What’s up?”
Example:
“Bella, raga! Come va?”
“Hey, guys! How’s it going?”
This usage is youthful and casual. It may sound unnatural if used with a hotel receptionist, an older stranger or someone you have just met in a formal setting.
Raga: Guys or Everyone
Pronunciation: RAH-gah
Raga is an abbreviation of ragazzi or ragazze. It is used to address a group of friends regardless of whether the group includes men, women or both.
Example:
“Raga, che facciamo stasera?”
“Guys, what are we doing tonight?”
You will hear it frequently among teenagers and younger adults, as well as in messages and on social media.
Ci Sta: That Works or That Makes Sense
Pronunciation: chee stah
The literal translation, “it fits” or “it stays there,” does not capture its everyday meaning. Ci sta can express agreement, acceptance or the idea that something is reasonable.
Example:
“Prendiamo una pizza stasera?”
“Ci sta.”
“Shall we get pizza tonight?”
“Sounds good.”
It can also mean that a reaction or situation is understandable:
“Dopo una settimana così, un giorno di riposo ci sta.”
“After a week like that, taking a day off is perfectly reasonable.”
Ci sta has become especially common among younger speakers, but it is now widely understood.
Meno Male: Thank Goodness
Pronunciation: MEH-noh MAH-leh
Meno male is used when something turns out better than expected or a problem is avoided. Depending on the sentence, it can mean “thank goodness,” “fortunately” or “just as well.”
Example:
“Meno male che hai portato l’ombrello.”
“Thank goodness you brought the umbrella.”
“Meno male! Pensavo di aver perso il portafoglio.”
“What a relief! I thought I had lost my wallet.”
Unlike some slang expressions, meno male is appropriate in most everyday situations.
Mi Sa Che: I Think or It Looks Like
Pronunciation: mee sah keh
Mi sa che literally resembles “it tastes to me that,” but in conversation it means “I think that,” “I have a feeling that” or “it looks like.”
Example:
“Mi sa che oggi piove.”
“It looks like it’s going to rain today.”
“Mi sa che abbiamo sbagliato strada.”
“I think we took the wrong road.”
This phrase often suggests an impression rather than absolute certainty.
Non C’è Male: Not Bad
Pronunciation: nohn cheh MAH-leh
Non c’è male is a restrained but positive response. Like “not bad” in English, it may mean that something is actually quite good.
Example:
“Com’è il nuovo ristorante?”
“Non c’è male.”
“What’s the new restaurant like?”
“Not bad.”
It can also answer Come stai? when you are doing reasonably well:
“Come va?”
“Non c’è male, grazie.”
“How’s it going?”
“Not bad, thanks.”
Mica: Not at All or It’s Not As If
Pronunciation: MEE-kah
Mica adds emphasis to a negative statement. It can suggest “not at all,” “certainly not” or “it’s not as if.” Its position and use vary in spoken Italian.
Examples:
“Non è mica facile!”
“It certainly isn’t easy!”
“Mica male!”
“Not bad at all!”
“Sono stanco, mica arrabbiato.”
“I’m tired, not angry.”
Mica is extremely common in speech, but learners should listen to native examples before trying to place it in more complicated sentences.
Un Sacco: A Lot
Pronunciation: oon SAHK-koh
Sacco literally means “sack,” but un sacco di means “a lot of.” It is one of the most common informal quantity expressions.
Examples:
“C’erano un sacco di persone.”
“There were a lot of people.”
“Mi piace un sacco.”
“I like it a lot.”
For more formal writing, molto or molte may be preferable.
Che Casino: What a Mess
Pronunciation: keh kah-ZEE-noh
Casino can mean a casino or gambling establishment, but in informal Italian un casino often means a mess, confusion, chaos or a great deal of noise.
Examples:
“Che casino in questa stanza!”
“What a mess in this room!”
“Alla stazione c’era un casino.”
“The station was chaotic.”
“Ho avuto un casino di problemi.”
“I had a ton of problems.”
The informal meaning is very common, but the expression can sound mildly vulgar in certain company. Use confusione in more formal situations.
Che Palle: What a Pain
Pronunciation: keh PAHL-leh
Che palle expresses boredom, irritation or frustration. English equivalents include “What a pain,” “How annoying” and “This is so boring.”
Example:
“Il treno è in ritardo di un’altra ora.”
“Che palle!”
“The train is delayed by another hour.”
“What a pain!”
Palle literally refers to balls, so the expression is mildly vulgar. It is common among friends but best avoided in polite or professional company.
Rompere le Scatole: To Annoy Someone
Pronunciation: ROHM-peh-reh leh SKAH-toh-leh
Rompere le scatole literally means “to break the boxes,” but it is a softened way of saying “to bother,” “to annoy” or “to be a pain.”
Example:
“Smettila di rompermi le scatole.”
“Stop bothering me.”
The more vulgar version replaces scatole with palle. Visitors who hear that variation should understand it, but do not need to use it.
Scocciare: To Bother or Annoy
Pronunciation: skoh-CHAH-reh
Scocciare is another useful informal verb for annoying, bothering or inconveniencing someone.
Examples:
“Non voglio scocciarti.”
“I don’t want to bother you.”
“Mi scoccia aspettare così tanto.”
“It annoys me to wait so long.”
The related expression Che scocciatura! means “What a nuisance!”
Sbatti: Hassle or Effort
Pronunciation: ZBAHT-tee
Uno sbatti is something tiring, inconvenient or requiring more effort than it seems worth. This is particularly common among younger Italians.
Example:
“Andare fin là senza macchina è uno sbatti.”
“Getting all the way there without a car is a hassle.”
“Non ho voglia, è troppo sbatti.”
“I don’t feel like it—it’s too much trouble.”
Its popularity and precise tone can vary by age and region, so treat it as casual slang rather than standard Italian.
Apericena: Drinks That Become Dinner
Pronunciation: ah-peh-ree-CHEH-nah
Apericena combines aperitivo and cena. It refers to an evening aperitif accompanied by enough food to replace dinner, often through a buffet or a substantial selection of small dishes.
Example:
“Stasera facciamo apericena?”
“Shall we have aperitivo with enough food for dinner tonight?”
Some Italians use the word happily; others dislike it and prefer simply aperitivo. Either way, you will see it on signs and event advertisements throughout Italy.
Abbiocco: Sleepiness After a Big Meal
Pronunciation: ahb-BYOHK-koh
Abbiocco describes the heavy drowsiness that arrives after eating a large meal.
Example:
“Dopo quella lasagna mi è venuto l’abbiocco.”
“After that lasagna, I became really sleepy.”
The phrase avere l’abbiocco means to experience that familiar post-meal slump.
Freddo Cane: Extremely Cold
Pronunciation: FREHD-doh KAH-neh
Fa un freddo cane means “It’s freezing.” The literal wording—“It’s dog cold”—should not be translated word for word.
Example:
“Copriti bene: fuori fa un freddo cane.”
“Wrap up well: it’s freezing outside.”
A similar construction is caldo da morire, meaning “hot enough to die” or simply “extremely hot.”
Essere al Verde: To Be Broke
Pronunciation: EHS-seh-reh ahl VEHR-deh
Essere al verde means to have no money left.
Example:
“Non posso uscire a cena: sono al verde.”
“I can’t go out for dinner—I’m broke.”
It is informal but not vulgar and can be used humorously among friends.
Tirarsela: To Act Superior
Pronunciation: tee-RAHR-seh-lah
Tirarsela describes someone who acts self-important, aloof or overly impressed with themselves.
Example:
“Da quando è diventato famoso, se la tira un po’.”
“Since becoming famous, he acts a little full of himself.”
The related description se la tira means “he or she is showing off” or “acting superior.”
Prendere in Giro: To Tease or Make Fun Of
Pronunciation: PREHN-deh-reh een JEE-roh
Prendere qualcuno in giro can mean to tease, make fun of or deceive someone, depending on context.
Examples:
“Ti sto solo prendendo in giro.”
“I’m only teasing you.”
“Mi stai prendendo in giro?”
“Are you kidding me?”
This is one of the most useful conversational expressions for Italian learners.
Fare una Figuraccia: To Make a Terrible Impression
Pronunciation: FAH-reh OO-nah fee-goo-RAH-chah
A figuraccia is an embarrassing mistake or social failure. Fare una figuraccia means to embarrass yourself or make a very bad impression.
Example:
“Ho chiamato il direttore con il nome sbagliato. Che figuraccia!”
“I called the director by the wrong name. How embarrassing!”
Its positive opposite is fare bella figura: to make a good impression. Understanding the cultural idea of bella figura can help visitors interpret many Italian social situations.
Essere Fuori: To Be Crazy or Out of Touch
Pronunciation: EHS-seh-reh FWOH-ree
Fuori normally means “outside,” but Sei fuori? can mean “Are you crazy?” or “Are you out of your mind?”
Example:
“Vuoi attraversare l’Italia in un giorno? Sei fuori!”
“You want to cross Italy in one day? Are you crazy?”
Tone is important. Among friends it may sound playful; in an argument it can be insulting.
Avere Culo: To Be Lucky
Pronunciation: ah-VEH-reh KOO-loh
Avere culo literally uses a vulgar word for the backside, but the expression means “to be lucky.”
Example:
“Hai trovato l’ultimo biglietto? Che culo!”
“You found the last ticket? What luck!”
A polite alternative is Che fortuna! Because the slang version is vulgar, it should be reserved for informal conversations with people you know well.
In Bocca al Lupo: Good Luck
Pronunciation: een BOHK-kah ahl LOO-poh
Literally “into the wolf’s mouth,” this traditional expression means “Good luck,” especially before an exam, performance, interview or challenge.
Example:
“Domani ho l’esame.”
“In bocca al lupo!”
“I have my exam tomorrow.”
“Good luck!”
The traditional response is Crepi! or Crepi il lupo! In recent years, some speakers prefer Viva il lupo! out of sympathy for wolves. You may hear both responses.
Acqua in Bocca: Keep It Secret
Pronunciation: AHK-kwah een BOHK-kah
Acqua in bocca literally means “water in your mouth.” It tells someone not to reveal a secret.
Example:
“Ti dico una cosa, ma acqua in bocca.”
“I’ll tell you something, but keep it to yourself.”
It is informal, friendly and still widely understood.
The Italian Gesture That Often Accompanies “What Do You Want?”
One of Italy’s most recognizable gestures is made by bringing the fingertips together, pointing them upward and moving the hand slightly. It may accompany phrases such as:
“Ma che vuoi?”
“What do you want?”
“Che stai dicendo?”
“What are you talking about?”
The gesture does not have one fixed translation. Depending on facial expression and context, it may communicate confusion, disbelief, irritation or a request for explanation. Using it constantly because it “looks Italian” can seem exaggerated.
Italian Slang Changes From City to City
Standard Italian slang is only part of the story. Italy has strong regional languages, dialects and local speech patterns. A Roman may say daje as a regional version of dai. In Naples, expressions derived from Neapolitan frequently enter everyday Italian conversation. Milan, Turin, Bologna, Florence, Venice, Palermo and other cities all have distinctive local words.
Travelers do not need to imitate regional accents or memorize dialect. Listening carefully and asking what an unfamiliar expression means is usually received with enthusiasm.
When Should You Avoid Italian Slang?
Slang works best with friends, relatives and people who have already adopted an informal tone. Use standard Italian when speaking to officials, medical professionals, older strangers, employers or anyone addressed with the formal Lei.
Avoid forcing expressions into every sentence. An accurately used boh, dai or meno male sounds much more natural than a conversation overloaded with fashionable words.
If you are unsure, listen first. Italians’ age, region, relationship and tone will tell you whether a word sounds friendly, humorous, rude or inappropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Italian Slang
What is the most common Italian slang word?
Boh is among the most widely used informal Italian words. It means “I don’t know” or “Who knows?” Dai, magari and meno male are also heard constantly in everyday conversation.
How do Italians say “cool”?
Figo, forte and bello can all express the idea of “cool,” depending on context. Che figata! means “How cool!” or “That’s awesome!” but is very informal.
How do Italians say “What’s up?”
There is no single exact equivalent. Come va? means “How’s it going?” Young friends may greet each other with Bella! or say Tutto bene? meaning “Everything good?”
What does “boh” mean in Italian?
Boh expresses uncertainty, lack of knowledge or indifference. It usually translates as “I don’t know,” “No idea” or “Who knows?”
Is Italian slang the same throughout Italy?
No. Many expressions are understood nationwide, but slang varies by city, region and generation. Local dialects and regional languages strongly influence informal speech.
Is Italian slang rude?
Not necessarily. Words such as dai, boh and meno male are ordinary informal language. Expressions such as che palle and avere culo are vulgar and should be used only in very casual company.
How can I sound natural when speaking Italian?
Learn expressions in complete sentences, pay attention to tone and use slang sparingly. Listening to native speakers is more valuable than memorizing an enormous list. For further practice, explore Italia Mia’s articles about the Italian language and the customs that shape everyday communication.
External Sources
RAI Cultura – Italian Language
