When learning a new language, you may come across words that are strikingly similar to offensive words in your native language. In fact, some of these words sound or look so similar that you might hesitate to pronounce them for fear of sounding impolite.
There are many such words in Italian. Let’s explore six of the most compelling criminals in this category!
1. wear
Italian meaning: An interjection meaning “Come on!” or “Let’s go!”
What it sounds like in English: verb “to die”
I remember being at the Children’s Games in Italy and my parents yelling “I’m a little surprised!”Dai, Dai, Dai!” to encourage the participating children.Although the pronunciation is almost the same as the English verb diethe meaning couldn’t be clearer. Dai language In fact, it is an interjection, which expresses the same meaning as “hurry up!” or”let’s go!” in English.
Come on, you can do it!
Come on, you can do it!
So what is the verb for “?”Go to hell“In Italian? It actually is dieor in its informal command form, die.
2. bimbo
Italian meaning: a child/boy, same meaning babino
What it sounds like in English: bimbo
two italians bimbo and english bimbo Refers to people, but they have completely different meanings! bimbo It is an onomatopoeia in Italian and means child or little boyHowever bimbo In English it refers to an attractive but unintelligent woman.
Children are playing in the yard.
The boy is playing in the yard.
It turns out that there is a word bimbo or stupid blonde Italian is happy goose (literally means “stupid goose”). Like the English word, it is considered derogatory.
3. Delay
Italian meaning: late, delay
What it sounds like in English: slow down
In English, the word slow down The term is widely considered offensive and derogatory when used to refer to people with intellectual disabilities or to insult others.
When I first encountered this Italian word Delay, I initially thought it had the same meaning as this derogatory term. However, I soon discovered that it actually means “late” or”Delay”. Even so, it took me a while to feel comfortable saying it!
The train is always late.
The train is always late.
interestingly, adjective Delay can mean Delay or Dull In the pejorative sense of the word.
4. Black pepper ketone
Italian meaning: overeating, overeating
What it sounds like in English: nonsense
rhododendron It’s not a word you hear in Italian every day, but when you finally encounter it, you might wonder if it has something to do with some bodily function.The good news is that’s not the case: crapulone is actually a less common synonym gluttonin addition to people who drink a lot of wine, it also refers to people who eat a lot or are gluttons.
Mario is a glutton and loves wine.
Mario is a glutton and he likes wine.
nonsenseon the other hand, translated as stern (colloquial and kid-friendly) or shit (vulgar).
notes: In English, literary words nonsense Exists and is related to the behavior of excessive drinking or being in a drunken state.
5.Asser
Italian meaning: board, plank, shaft
What it sounds like in English: butt
Our next word does sound very similar to its real English counterpart, axisbut it’s more similar to the vulgar term for “rear”!
The planks of the bridge were rotten.
The planks on the bridge were rotting.
about actual words buttwe have the colloquial term sit and more vulgar terms butt.
6. Bassoon
Italian meaning: bondage, bassoon, clown
What it sounds like in English: fag*t
This word bassoon Has many meanings, including bundle, bassoon and clownbut none of them have anything to do with rude-sounding English words.
Woman packs her little daughter into the bag she is carrying.
The woman puts her little daughter into the bundle on her back.
Sadly, there are many derogatory terms for gay people in Italian, including fennelwhich actually means fennel.
Can you think of more Italian words that sound like offensive words in English? Let us know in the comments below!
Heather Broster is a graduate with honors in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, fluent in English and Italian, as well as varying degrees of fluency in Japanese, Welsh and French. Originally from Toronto, Heather has lived in several countries, notably Italy for six years. Her main research areas are language acquisition, education and bilingual teaching.
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