Lo slang italiano

Oggi analizzeremo lo slang italiano, today we will analyze some Italian slang. If you want to blend in and sound like a local, you will have to use some of the more informal ‘lingo’ or linguaggio informale. The Italian you may have learned in a textbook or through certain language classes will be perfect for everyday tourist activities such as dining out, shopping, cultural actives, ecc… but you are going to hear very different vocabulary between friends and on the street.

Of course, these words and expressions are always changing and passare di moda, going out of fashion, just like in English. The vocabulary you hear can even change drastically between generazioni, as I am sure you have noticed! (I remember learning ‘on fleek’ from my students a few years ago… I prefer to say something is ‘on point’ instead, but it’s always fun to learn new slang words)

Impariamo lo slang italiano, il linguaggio dei giovani. Let’s learn some Italian slang, the language of the youth (but not just them…):

1. Mollare qualcuno – to dump someone (literally to release, to let go)
2. Guastafeste – party-pooper
3. Che figata! or Che figo! – How cool! How awesome!
4. Figurati – don’t worry about it, it’s nothing
5. Limonare – to make out (literally ‘to lemon’)
6. Gufare – to jinx (literally to ‘hoot’ as an owl)
7. Che schifo! – How disgusting! That’s gross!
8. Che barba! – How boring! (literally ‘what a beard’)
9. Che palle! – What a pain! (literally ‘what balls’)
10. Incazzarsi – to get pissed off
11. Leccaculo – a kiss-ass
12. Mannaggia – darn, dang
13. Che sfiga! – What bad luck!
14. Sfigato – dorky, uncool, loser
15. Boia – rotten, god-awful (Che freddo boia! – What god-awful cold weather!)
16. Vattene! – Get lost!
17. Mi fa cagare – it sucks, it’s awful (literally ‘it makes me poop’)
18. Una fregatura – a rip-off
19. Filare – to run, to ‘jet’ (Dobbiamo filare – we have to jet!)
20. Beccarsi – to see one another (literally it means to peck at food)
21. Friendzonare – to be in the ‘friend-zone’ (derived from English, ovviamente!)
22. Inciucio – a relationship, affair (literally a scam)
23. Fare after – to attend an ‘after hours party’
24. Coatto – slang of grezzo, someone who is unrefined and volgare
25. Botto – slang of un sacco, a lot (ho mangiato un botto!)

Allora, che ne pensate? Avete mai sentito queste parole usate? What do you think? Have you ever heard these words used?

Write down some more slang words you have heard below, there are un botto! Ci becchiamo la prossima settimana! We’ll see each other next week!