Best 15 Italian Swear Words (Parolacce)

Sadly for some, amusing for others, when learning about the Italian culture and language many of the first words one acquires are the naughty ones. Italian is no exception to the rule. Here is a list of fifteen of my favorite parolacce (bad words). You know, the kind of thing you hear coming out of the Roman Taxi driver's mouth when he gets cut off by a speeding vespa, or when a lady steps gracefully out of the house in her fabulous stiletto heels and straight into a pile of dog poop that some uncaring pet owner neglected to clean up? Here goes.

1. vaffanculo - The Italian equivalent of "F_ _ _ You." This V-bomb is widely diffused in Italian language, and there is now even a holiday called "Vaffanculo Day."

2. menefrego - I don't give a damn. Also heard the variation: Non me ne frega niente

3. porca puttana/troia/vacca - Pig whore/slut/cow/

4. stronzo - Shit, or literally a turd

Street art placed by a Berlusconi fan?

5. cornuto - One who has horns (mostly because they have been betrayed). Tip: don't use this one lightly, it's a major insult in Italy. Here is the hand gesture that will protect you against becoming one.

6. figlio di una mignotta - son of a whore

7. inculare - to give it to someone in the rear

8. pezzo/testa di merda - piece of shit/shithead

 
9. finocchio/frocio/orecchione - all colorful ways of calling someone gay

10. citrullo-cetriolo - cucumber head or dummy

Tony Soprano often called his son Anthony a "cidrule", slang derivative of Cetriolo

11. minchia - penis

12. coglione - testicle: Often used in a phrase such as "che coglione," or "what a jackass"

Again, presumably a Berlusconi lover calling him a "The real coglione"

13. testa di cazzo - dickhead

14. che cazzo vuoi/fai/dici? What the hell (literally what the dick) do you want/are you doing/are you saying?

15. incazzato: angry

I find it curiosly amusing that a third of the list resolves around the male genitalia.

There is a great video showing hand gestures that go with some of these parolacce here: 

If you think the above curses are entertaining and you have a chance to visit Rome some time, be sure to eat at the restaurant in Rome called "La Parolaccia," known for servers who will verbally abuse you with all the swear words you could ever want to hear. 

Have a parolaccia you want us to include? Send us your favorites via the comments section and we'll add them under reader contributions!