Italian profanity (bestemmia, pl. bestemmie, when referred to religious topics; parolaccia, pl. parolacce, when not) are profanities that are blasphemous or inflammatory in the Italian language.

The Italian language is a language with a large set of inflammatory terms and phrases, almost all of which originate from the several dialects and languages of Italy, such as the Tuscan dialect, which had a very strong influence in modern standard Italian, and is widely known to be based on Florentine language.^[1] Several of these words have cognates in other Romance languages, such as Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian, and French.

Profanities differ from region to region, but a number of them are diffused enough to be more closely associated to the Italian language, and are featured in all the more popular Italian dictionaries.

• accidenti [attʃiˈdɛnti]: literally "accidents"; used in the same context of English "damn", either as an exclamation of something gone wrong, or to wish harm (accidents) on someone (ex. "accidenti a lui", which can be translated as "damn him").^[2]
• arrapare: sexually arouse someone.^[3]
  • arrapato: aroused sexually ^[4]
  • arrapante: something or someone that arouses sexually, sexy ^[5]
  • arrapamento or arrapatura: sexual arousal ^[6]
• baldracca (pl. baldracche) [balˈdrakka]: whore.^[7]
• bastardo (pl. bastardi): bastard.
• bazzotto/barzotto of the penis: partially erect ^[8]
• bocchino (pl. bocchini [bokˈkiːno]: blowjob.^[9]
• cagare/cacare (cacare is usually more used in Southern Italy. See Regional varieties of the Italian language): To shit, to defecate. More rarely used to express "not giving a fuck" (about someone, usually with a negative verb): "A scuola nessuno mi caga" ("At school, nobody gives a fuck about me"). Cognate with Spanish and Portuguese cagar, ultimately from Latin cacare.
  • cagata/cacata: Bullshit, crap.
  • Vai a cagare/cacare: fuck you, fuck off.
• cappella: the glans of the penis. ^[10]
  • scappellare: to lower the foreskin to uncover the glans. ^[11]
• cazzo (pl. cazzi [ˈkattso]: literally dick, cock, prick. Used in countless expressions to express a variety of emotions, like anger, frustration, or surprise in a similar way in which "fuck" and "fucking" are used in English.
  • cazzo: fuck/shit/hell.
  • che cazzo: what the hell/fuck.
  • che cazzo fai: what the fuck are you doing.
  • cazzata: bullshit.
  • cazzo in culo: cock up your ass.
  • testa di cazzo: dick-head.
  • incazzarsi: to get pissed off; "incazzato nero": really pissed off.
  • incazzatura: rage, anger. ^[12]
  • incazzoso: someone who gets angry easily.^[13]
  • cazzeggiare: to fuck around.^[14]
  • cazzeggio: the act of fucking around. ^[15]
  • cazzone (lit. 'big dick'): stupid and foolish person. ^[16]
  • cazzuto: very smart and tough person, badass.^[17]
  • scazzare: this word has many meanings: to annoy, bore, irritate someone, to fight with someone, to make somebody angry, to talk bullshit and to make mistakes.^[18]
  • scazzato: bored or angry person. ^[19]
  • scazzo: difficult situation, boredom or fight, quarrel. ^[20]
• coglione (pl. coglioni) [koʎˈʎoːne]: a vulgar version of testicle; when referring to a person, it usually means idiot, berk, twit, fool. In addition, it can be used in several phrases, such as: avere i coglioni (literally, "to have testicles" that is, to be very courageous); "avere i coglioni girati" (literally, "to have twisted testicles"), which means to be angry/in a bad mood; or "essere coglione" ("to be a jerk or fool"). Note that when said to a close friend ("ma quanto sei coglione"), the word is not really offensive.^{[citation needed]} coglione was also featured in worldwide news when used by ex Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, referring to those who would not vote for him during the 2006 Italian election campaign.^[21] It derives from Latin coleo (pl. coleones), and is thus cognate to the Spanish cojones and Portuguese colhões.
  • coglionata: speech or action of a stupid person. ^[22]
  • coglionaggine or coglioneria: behavior or action of a stupid person, fuckwittery. ^[23]
  • coglionare: to make fun of someone, to deride. ^[24]
  • coglionatura or coglionella: mockery, derision. ^[25]
  • coglionatore: a person who make fun of someone, mocker. ^[26]
  • coglionatorio: mocking, derisive. ^[27]
  • scoglionare: to annoy, to irritate someone. ^[28]
  • scoglionato: annoyed, irritated person. ^[29]
  • scoglionatura or scoglionamento: boredom, irritation. ^[30]
  • rincoglionire: to make someone stupid or to become stupid. ^[31]
  • rincoglionito: person who has become stupid or who is acting stupid. ^[32]
  • rincoglionimento: the action and the result of becoming stupid. ^[33]
  • rompicoglioni or scassacoglioni: unbearable and irritating person, pain in the ass. ^[34]
• cornuto (pl. cornuti) [korˈnuːto]:^[35] cuckold, literally "horned"^[36][37]—referring to a male whose female partner is cheating on him (or vice versa). Occasionally, it might be coupled with the corna when saying that. In Southern Italy, it is considered a rough insult.^{[citation needed]}
• culo (pl. culi) [ˈkuːlo]:^[38] rough name for "buttocks", comparable to the English word ass or arse. It can also mean luck, as in "era tutto culo" ("it was all luck"). The popular expression "avere una faccia da culo" ("to have an ass-like face") indicates a cheeky, brazen-faced person. In some regions of the South, "stare sul/in culo" is used as a variant of "stare sul cazzo," both indicating dislike for someone else. It derives from Latin culus. In Northern Italy, may also translate as "faggot", see entries below:
  • culattone (pl. culattoni): faggot.^[39]
  • inculare: to sodomize or (figurative) to cheat.^[40] "Inculare" can also be used for thieving, e.g. "Un tamarro dietro l'angolo voleva incularmi la Vespa" = "A boor behind the corner wanted to steal my Vespa".^[41] In Northern Italy the reflexive form "incularsi" (lit. "to sodomize oneself") may be used to tell someone to "go fuck themself".
• ditalino (pl. ditalini): (lit. 'small thimble') fingering, female masturbation.^[42]
  • sditalinare: to stimulate the female genitalia with fingers, to fingerfuck.

^{[43] [44]}

• fava (pl. fave): (lit. 'fava bean'); dick; common in Tuscany.
• fica or figa (pl. fiche or fighe) [ˈfiːka] [ˈfiːga]: pussy. In past times, it was also the name of an obscene gesture called gesto delle fiche. It also means sexy, hot, and attractive if referring to a woman (or a man when saying figo) Contrary to popular belief, figa is not necessarily an offensive term. If referring to a guy (figo), it means someone really cool, a stud,^[45] someone "who always knows how to get pussy." Figo may also mean someone really skilled in doing something. When referring to a woman, the term strafiga means "smoking hot". The derived term figata means something cool. A less common synonym, mainly used in Rome and Naples respectively, is fregna^[46] and fessa. (even if fessa, m. fesso, can simply mean pussy, but also stupid girl)
• finocchio (pl. finocchi) [fiˈnɔkkjo]: (lit. 'fennel') a male homosexual; faggot; poof. A suggestive and very popular hypothesis suggests it may derive from the age of the Holy Inquisition in the Papal State, when fennel seeds would be thrown on homosexuals executed by burning at the stake—in order to mitigate the stench of burned flesh. However, there is no proof that this is the case.^[47]
• fottere to fuck, commonly used in the expression "vai a farti fottere," meaning "go and get fucked," or "go fuck yourself";^[48] ciulare and chiavare are synonyms, used in the North and in the South, respectively.
• frocio (pl. froci) [ˈfrɔːtʃo]: roughly equivalent to the American "faggot", this term originated in Rome, but is now widely used nationwide. Less-used synonyms include: ricchione (mainly Southern Italy, especially in Campania); culattone or culo (mainly in Northern Italy); busone (common in Emilia-Romagna, and also a rough synonym for "lucky"); buco or bucaiolo (common in Tuscany); and finocchio (see). The usage of this word in Italian may be considered by some individuals as homophobic and politically incorrect.^[49]
• gnocca (pl. gnocche) [ˈɲɔkka]:^[50] typical Bolognese version of figa; is mostly conjugated in its feminine form, although sometimes can be used in the masculine form. Although very vulgar, it is not offensive, but instead complimentary. Indeed, it is used nationwide to refer to an attractive woman.
• gonfiare (lit. 'to inflate'): to ingravidate, to knock up ^[51]
• grilletto (lit. 'trigger') clitoris, clit. ^[52]
  • sgrillettare: to stimulate the clitoris. ^[53]
• maiala: (lit. 'sow') whore, bitch; common in Tuscany and Umbria.
• mannaggia [manˈnaddʒa]: a generic expression of frustration, mostly used in Southern Italy. It is not considered particularly vulgar or insulting, and is most often used jokingly; often translated as "damn" in English. The term comes from the contraction of a former utterance, "mal ne aggia," which in Neapolitan language means "may he/she get mischief out of it." Also used in books written in English, such as Mario Puzo's The Fortunate Pilgrim.^[54]
• merda (pl. merde) [ˈmɛrda]: roughly the same as English word "shit". Cognate to Spanish mierda and French merde.^[55]
  • smerdare: to shame, to take down a peg or two.^[56]
• mignotta (pl. mignotte) [miɲˈɲɔtta]: same meaning of puttana; according to some sources,^[57] it may be the contraction of the Latin matris ignotae ("of unknown mother"), where the note filius m. ignotae ("son of unknown mother") appeared in the registries that referred to abandoned children; other sources^[58] derive it from the French mignoter ("to caress") or mignon/mignonne.
• minchia (pl. minchie) [ˈmiŋkja]: the same meaning as cazzo, but notably a feminine name. Originates from Sicilian language;^[59] nowadays, it is common anywhere in Italy, where it is also used as exclamation of surprise, or even appreciation. It derives from Latin mentula.
  • Testa di minchia: Dickhead.
  • Minchione: Muggins, simpleton, fool.
  • Minchiata: Bullshit, crap.
  • Minchia!: Damn! Shit! Hell!
  • Bimbominkia: Stupid kid, especially referring to internet users.
• mona (pl. mone): dialectic form of "cunt" or "pussy." Commonly used in North Eastern Italy, more specifically in Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.^[60]
• palla or balla: (lit. 'ball') testicle, used chiefly in the plural ^[61]
  • che palle!: what a pain in the ass! ^[62]
• alla pecorina/a pecorina: (lit. 'sheep style') doggy-style.^[63]
• pisciare: to piss.^[64]
  • pisciata: act of urinating, the emitted urine. ^[65]
  • piscio or piscia: urine, piss. ^[66]
  • pisciatoio: urinal, pisser. ^[67]
  • piscioso: covered in piss, pissy. ^[68]
• puttana (pl. puttane) [putˈtaːna]: whore, prostitute.
  • andare a puttane: go to whores, be fucked.^[69]
  • puttanata: crap, bullshit, rubbish.^[70]
  • puttanaio: brothel^[71] or "fuckload."^[72]
  • puttaniere: whoremonger, pimp.^[73]
  • puttaneggiare: to walk the streets, to be a prostitute. ^[74]
  • puttaneggiamento: the act of walk the streets, the behavior of a prostitute. ^[75]
  • puttanesimo: prostitution. ^[76]
  • puttanesco: of a prostitute, typical of a prostitute. ^[77]
  • puttanella: a young prostitute. ^[78]
  • sputtanare: to discredit.^[79]
  • sputtanata or sputtanamento: the action of discrediting someone ^[80]
  • sputtanato: that has been discredited ^[81]
  • imputtanare: the same thing as andare a puttane ^[82]
• porca Madonna: literally "pig Virgin Mary"; one part of a wide range of rude exclamations.
• porco Dio: literally "pig God," but expressing "God damn!"; one part of a wide range of rude exclamations.
• pompa (pl. pompe): (lit. 'pump') blowjob.
• pompino (pl. pompini): (lit. 'small pump') blowjob.
  • pompinaro (f. pompinara, pl. pompinari/pompinare): cock-sucker,^[83] person prone to perform oral sexual activities. More often used towards women.
• ricchione (pl. ricchioni) [rikˈkjoːne]: faggot.^[84]
• sborra (or sborro, sburro, sbora; related verb: sborrare): cum.^[63]
• schizzare to cum, to jizz, to spooge ^[85]
• scopare [skoˈpaːre]: to fuck (lit. 'to sweep').^[86]
• scoreggia (pl. scoregge) [skorˈreddʒa]: fart.^[87]
• sega (pl. seghe) [ˈseːga]: wank, handjob. Literally, the term could be translated as "saw."^[88] The derivative verb is not only segare (which, in this context, is usually used in the reflexive form "segarsi"), but more commonly fare/[farsi] una sega (get a handjob /[from yourself; to jerk off]).^[89]
  • segaiolo: wanker.^[90]
  • segone: mook, loser.^[91]
  • mezza sega (lit. 'half saw'): lightweight, pipsqueak.^[92]
• spagnola (pl. spagnole): (lit. 'Spanish [girl]') titty-fuck, tit-job.^[63]
• sfiga (pl. sfighe): Literally "without pussy." Has the meaning of "bad luck."^[93] A typical exclamation when something goes wrong in Italy is "che sfiga!" ("What a bad luck!")
  • sfigato (pl. sfigati): Literally means "without figa," in English "without pussy." It can be translated as "loser", "unlucky" or "uncool" person.^[94]
• spregnare: to give birth, or, to abort ^[95]
• stronzo (pl. stronzi) [ˈstrontso]: Literally "turd",^[96] but also "arsehole" or "asshole", "bitch", "idiot", "stupid", "sod." It is used as an adjective to indicate that somebody is really a bad, cruel man/woman.
• troia (pl. troie) [ˈtrɔːja], (lit. 'sow'): bitch, slut,^[97] slovenly woman or whore.
• vaffanculo [vaffaŋˈkuːlo]: "fuck you!", "fuck off!", "bugger off!". A contraction of "va' a fare in culo" (literally "go do [it] in the ass"). "Vattela a pijà 'n der culo" is the Romanesco form for vaffanculo, while in Northern Italy "vai a cagare" (lit. "go to shit") is also used, "vai a dar via il culo" (lit. 'go sell your arse'), "fottiti" ("go fuck yourself") or "inculati" (lit."sodomize yourself"). In the Neapolitan language, it is pronounced "va fangool"; and at times, the "va" is omitted, as demonstrated in the film Grease (at the end of the "Sandra Dee" skit, performed by Stockard Channing).
• zoccola (pl. zoccole) [ˈdzɔkkola]: slut, whore; bitch; zoccola also means "sewer rat."^[98]

Italian writers have often used profanity for the "spice" it adds to their publications. This is an example from a seventeenth century collection of tales, the Pentamerone,^[99] by the Neapolitan Giambattista Basile:

"Ah, zoccaro, frasca, merduso, piscialetto, sauteriello de zimmaro, pettola a culo, chiappo de 'mpiso, mulo canzirro! ente, ca pure le pulece hanno la tosse! va', che te venga cionchia, che mammata ne senta la mala nuova, che non ce vide lo primmo de maggio! Va', che te sia data lanzata catalana o che te sia dato stoccata co na funa, che non se perda lo sango, o che te vangano mille malanne, co l'avanzo e priesa e vento alla vela, che se ne perda la semmenta, guzzo, guitto, figlio de 'ngabellata, mariuolo!"

This tirade could be translated from Neapolitan as follows:

"Ah, good for nothing, feather, full of shit, bed-pisser, jack of the harpsichord, shirt on the arse, loop of the hanged, hard-headed mule! Look, now also lice cough loudly! Go, that palsy get you, that your mom get the bad news, that you cannot see the first of May. Go, that a Catalan spear pass through you, that a rope be tied around your neck, so that your blood won't be lost, that one thousand illnesses, and someone more, befall you, coming in full wind; that your name be lost, brigand, penniless, son of a whore, thief!"

Francis Ford Coppola had some characters in The Godfather use untranslated profanity. For instance, when Sonny Corleone found out that Paulie Gatto had sold out his father to the Barzinis, he called Gatto "that stronz." Also, when Connie Corleone learned Carlo Rizzi was cheating on her, Carlo snapped: "Hey, vaffancul, eh?" Connie then yelled back, "I'll vaffancul you!"

Profanities in the original meaning of blasphemous profanity are part of the ancient tradition of the comic cults, which laughed and scoffed at the deity.^[100] In Europe during the Middle Ages, the most improper and sinful "oaths" were those invoking the body of the Lord and its various parts—such as Bergamo dialect expression pota de Cristo ("Christ's cunt")—which resulted in these oaths being used the most frequently.^[101]

Nowadays, the most common kind of blasphemous profanity involves the name of God (Dio), Christ (Cristo), Jesus (Gesù), or the Virgin Mary (Madonna), combined with an insult or sometimes an animal—the most used being porco ("pig"), as in porco Dio ("God [is a] pig") and porca Madonna ("the Virgin Mary [is a] pig"); or cane ("dog"), as in Dio cane ("God [is a] dog").

Common blasphemous profanities in Italian are: porco Dio (often written porcodio or also porcoddio, more rarely as porco Iddio); Dio cane ("God [is a] dog"); Dio merda; Dio bestia; Dio maiale; porco Gesù; Gesù cane; Madonna puttana; porco il Cristo; Dio stronzo; and Dio Fauss with "Fauss" meaning "worm" in Piedmont dialect (or Dio Fa, more colloquially).

Another common formula for blasphemy combines a divinity, an animal and an atrocious death, like in dio porco scannato.

In some areas of Italy,^[102] such as Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Umbria, Marche, Lazio, Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Piedmont, Lombardy, and Tuscany, blasphemy is more common, but not because of a strong anti-Catholic sentiment.^{[citation needed]} Tuscany and Veneto are the regions where bestemmiare is most common, and in these areas, blasphemy appears in the everyday speech almost as an ordinary interjection.^[103] The historical reasons for this are the various conflicts that these two regions have had with the Vatican.^{[citation needed]}

At the same time, it is not an entirely uncommon pastime to come up with creative and articulated bestemmie,^[104][105] especially among the lower social classes, such as dockers.^[106]

Since the advent of the World Wide Web, several websites^{[107][108][109]} have come and gone that featured user-submitted or machine-generated collections of complex bestemmie, and manuals compiling these collections of bestemmie have been printed.^[110]

• Latin obscenity