Glossary of Italian terms

Grazie, grazie mille - Thank you, thank you very much.

Grazie a Dio - Thank God

Bene - Good

Et tu - And you

Sprezzatura is an Italian word that refers to effortless grace, the art of making something difficult look easy or maintaining a nonchalant demeanor while performing complex tasks.

Come stai? - How are you?

Padrone - Boss

Merda - Shit

Cazzo - f$ck

Si - yes

Scusa - sorry, excuse me

Fratello / fratellini - brother, brothers

Ragazza - lass

Figlia - sister

Sorella - sister

Sorellina - little sister

Cara / Amore / Bella - dear, beloved, beautiful, terms of endearment

Buongiorno - Good morning

Squisito - exquisite

Buona notte - good night

Sempre - Forever

Dimmi - Talk to me / tell me

Te amo - I love you

Sei pazzo - you’re crazy

Cosa hai detto - what did you say?

Andiamo - let’s go

Molto romantico - very romantic

Molto bene - so good

Per sempre vostri - forever yours

Stronzate – bullshit

Goombah – a male buddy

Un/una saccente – a know-it-all or a smart ass.

Chiaccierone – chatterbox

Che bruta – how ugly you are

Carbonara – a classic Italian pasta dish combining a silky cheese sauce with crisp pancetta and black pepper.

Compleanno - happy birthday

Che peccato – what a pity

Bello – handsome

Cafone – loser

Amico – a friend who’s not a member of a mafia family.

Mortadella – an Italian bologna; however, it’s used as a ‘loser’ as well.

Chiudere il becco – to shut up (literally meaning ‘to close the beak’)

Fratellanza – brotherhood

Pazzo – crazy

Va fa napole - This means ‘ go to Naples’; however, in mafia lingo, it’s ‘go to hell’

Imbarasso – embarrassment

Vaffanculo - go fuck yourself

Pisolino - nap