It’s time to interpret yet another of those intriguing gestures that we Italians use, and today I’m going to look at one that my uncle Luciano, who is originally from Rome, uses a lot. But before I describe the gesture I need to give you a bit of background information.
Fregarsene
The verb fregarsene means to ‘not give a damn about something’. Let’s say that it is a ‘stronger’ way of saying ‘non mi importa’ (‘it doesn’t matter to me’, or ‘I don’t care’). We even have the typically Italian term ‘menefreghismo’ (‘not to give a damnism’)
The construction of this verb is a little bit confusing, especially as there are two different ways of using it. Here is how it works:
Variation 1.
me ne frego – I don’t give a damn
te ne freghi – you (informal) don’t give a damn
se ne frega – he/she doesn’t give a damn
ce ne freghiamo – we don’t give a damn
ve ne fregate – you (plural) don’t give a damn
se ne fregano – they don’t give a damn
Notice that because it is me or you who is ‘not giving a damn’ the ending of the verb fregare changes accordingly, i.e. io frego, tu freghi, noi freghiamo etc.
Variation 2.
non me ne frega niente – it doesn’t bother me at all
non te ne frega niente - it doesn’t bother you (singular informal) at all
non gliene frega niente – it doesn’t bother him/her at all
non ce ne frega niente – it doesn’t bother us at all
non ve ne frega niente – it doesn’t bother you (plural) at all
non gliene frega niente – it doesn’t bother them at all
Warning: you may need to read this next sentence a couple of times before it makes sense!
In this variant, because it is not me that is ‘not bothering’ or ‘giving a damn’ but someone/something else that ‘doesn’t bother me’ fregare is only used in the third person singular (frega), even when the thing that doesn’t bother me is plural, e.g ‘non me ne frega niente di quelle vecchie scarpe, buttale via!’ (I don’t give a damn about those old shoes, throw them away!).
We also say: ‘cosa me ne frega’ (what do I care), ‘cosa te ne frega’ (what do you care) etc.
Il gesto (the gesture):
1. lift your chin as if making a gesture of disdain.
2. imagine that an annoying fly has just landed under you chin and, raising your hand with the palm towards your body, use the backs of you finger tips and nails to brush the fly away with an outward sweeping motion (ladies with long nails or men with bushy beards please take care when practicing this gesture).
This definitely works best if you think to yourself whilst practicing: ‘huh, what a load of rubbish’, ‘who cares!’, or best of all ‘me ne frego!’
Divertitevi!
Comments:
Vince Mooney:
Salve Serena:
We always used the phrase “Non fa niente” in the military in Italy. Is this just an American version of the German ‘es macht nichts’ or is it real Italian?
Also, there is a gesture which Italians use with one hand when they say the word “Giusto”. I just don’t remember how to do it because Americans have a similar hand movement which I am quite sure is not the same.
Perhaps ‘Giusto’ would be a good topic.
Vince
serena:
@Vince Mooney Salve Vince, ‘non fa niente’ is a very common colloquial way of saying ‘non importa’. I’ll have to have a think about the ‘giusto’ gesture and get back to you because sometimes even I get confused having lived abroad for so many years!
Serena
Jeannet:
Salve Serena, my gesture: hands with fingers
spread, with arms forward, saying: divertirmi! –
mi scusi. Cosa me ne frega. Grazie Serena. Jeannet
serena:
@Jeannet Brava Jeannet, sei una studentessa molto entusiasta, continua così.
Serena
Nathan:
Ciao Serena,
Mi voglio bene questi articoli sugli gesti! Keep ’em commin’!
Grazie tanto.
Nathan
k.i.s.d.:
I found this blog a few minutes ago. The first post I read affected me so much. I’m learning Italian by myself. I’ll be living in Napoli from 2011 to 2014. I think this blog will help me a lot. Thanks for writing.
serena:
@k.i.s.d. If you need any help with anything in particular let me know, va bene.
Saluti da Serena
John:
Salve Serena,
At the age of 13 my parents relocated our family from Australia to Italy for about a year. It was at that time, immersed in a regular Italian school (scuola media), that I learned most of the Italian that I know.
Some mischievous kids in the class would occasionally try to teach me innapropriate things to say. Many years later, as an adult back in Australia, I found out that they had succeeded on at least one occasion. My then boss was of Italian heritage, and spoke the language. Often I would try to practice my Italian by speaking with him. In one conversation I dropped the “non me ne frega” line (believing it to be equivalent to “I don’t care”). He was quite taken aback, and asked me to explain myself.
His understanding of the phrase was much “stronger”, more so even than “I don’t give a damn” – closer to “I don’t give a f**k”.
Needless to say I was very embarrased. His interpretation was corroborated by another lady in the office who also spoke Italian.
I tell this story not to criticise your translation, just to serve as a warning to others perhaps not to use this construction in “polite company”, as some may find it quite offensive.
Regards
John
serena:
@John Salve John, Well certainly ‘non me ne frega’ isn’t something you’d want to say to your boss, just as you probably wouldn’t say ‘I don’t give a damn’. However , “I don’t give a f**k” is an extreme interpretation of ‘non me ne frega’. To say “I don’t give a f**k” in Italian we would use ‘non me ne f**te’. Non è che ci mancano le espressioni a sfondo sessuale!
Saluti da Serena
Jeannet:
Ciao Serena ed ciao a tutti,
In the ‘gesture’ bloc, I commented ‘Nonne me frega’! –
not knowing it could be taken up more or less rudely; meanwhile I learned with it, that in an occasion I will a l w a y s say: “Scusi I am not interested!”, – to be savely! and in addition
‘Have a nice day’
Friendly,
Jeannet
James Lupori:
Hi Serena – I have been taking Italian Classes for several years and I must say, your blog is exactly what the intermediate student needs to better understand the language! Right now we have been working on ci and ne and this particular post really helps put “ne” in a context much more fun and interesting than our grammar book. Grazie!
serena:
@James Lupori Salve James, grazie, ne sono molto contenta (I’m very pleased about it).
Serena