In our recent blog You’re Learning Italian … Really?! we looked at the expression addirittura, which is a polite way of expressing surprise or disbelief.
We also have at our disposal a veritable arsenal of less polite ways of expressing those sentiments. Let’s look at the really ‘naughty’ ones first shall we? (readers: “yes please, yes please …!!!”) Warning: this article contains foul language … but if you’re really interested in colloquial Italian culture read on and think pure thoughts.

Cazzo!
In Italy we have a fascinating glossary of colourful expressions based on the male genitalia. These are more or less equivalent to the English expletive ‘fuck’!
cazzo! (dick, prick, etc.)
cacchio! (the Neapolitan version of cazzo)
minchia! (originally the Sicilian equivalent of cazzo, minchia is now common throughout Italy, possibly due to its use in films such as Ispettore Montalbano)
Examples:
“Ho fatto 40 minuti di fila alla posta per pagare una bolletta!” … “Cazzo!” (“I queued for 40 minutes at the post office to pay a bill!” … “fuck!”
“Alla lotteria sono usciti i numeri che ho giocato ieri, ma non trovo più il mio biglietto!” … “Minchia! che sfiga!” (“The lottery came up with the numbers that I played yesterday but I can’t find my ticket any more!” … “Fuck! that’s unlucky!”)

Cabbage!
Just as in English we often substitute the exclamation ‘shit!’ with the word ‘sugar!’ the Italians use several euphemisms as substitutes for cazzo and minchia:
cazzarola! (from casseruola: casserole)
cavolo! (literally: cabbage!)
mizzica! (a variation on minchia!)

Okay, those of you who are offended by rude words can open your eyes now

Wow!
Yes, of course we also have more polite ways of expressing our sentiments.
caspita! (wow!) a common polite expression of surprise or amazement
accipicchia! (wow!) as above
porca miseria! (pig misery!) used to express consternation
accidenti! as above
Examples:
“Giulia si è laureata con 110 e lode” … “Caspita!” (“Giulia graduated with a first class honours degree” … “wow!”)
“Pretende 2 milioni di Euro di risarcimento” … “Accidenti!” (“He’s demanding 2 millions Euro in compensation” … “damn!”)
“Quando siamo arrivati all’ostello in Friburgo non avevano la nostra prenotazione” … “Porca miseria!” (“When we arrived at the hostel in Freiburg they didn’t have our booking” … “what a bummer!”)

What!
… and the list goes on …
cosa! (what!)
davvero! (really!)
che cavolo! (what the cabbage!)
che diavolo! (what the devil!)
sul serio?! (seriously?!)
ma dai! (go on/you’re kidding!)
dio buono! (good lord!)
Examples: (your turn to translate)
“Hai visto il prezzo di questi jeans? 400 Euro!” … “Che diavolo?!”
“Giorgio si è mangiato 3 gelati uno di seguito all’altro” … “Ma dai!”
“A Lucca in piazza San Francesco una spremuta di arance ci è costata 4 Euro” “Dio buono, che ladri!”

Ye Olde Expletives!
Finally, here are a few quaint old expressions of surprise which are mainly used in children’s literature and films to avoid any trace of ‘swearing’.
caspitina!
perbacco!
perdinci!
perdindirindina!
Examples:
“Oggi la maestra mi ha dato 10 perché sapevo le tabelline” … “Caspitina!”
“Il mio papà ha preso un pesce più grande di una casa!” … “Perbacco!”
“Il mio compagno di banco ha quattro cani!” … “Perdinci!”
“Mio fratello ha mangiato tutto il vasetto della Nutella mentre mamma e papà facevano il riposino!” … “Perdindirindina!”

Vi auguro una buona fine settimana, a presto …