Search

La Parolaccia – Bad language

Key Facts

Children can find **pleasure** in using **bad language**, making it challenging for parents to dissuade them from such words. What is considered **offensive** varies by culture; for example, 'stupido' is a **parolaccia** in Italian but not in British English. Translating words requires **caution**; a mild swear in one language may be much more offensive in another, highlighting cultural differences.

Our little one has added several slightly more colourful words to his already quite extensive vocabulary.

The trouble is they are ‘parolacce’ or bad words. Dissuading him from using them is proving just about impossible as he seems to get some perverse pleasure from there use and loves winding us up. Little monster.  The odd thing is that what is considered bad language in Italian is quite wide ranging.

‘Stupido’ or stupid in English, is categorized as a ‘parolaccia’ in Italian, although I do not regard ‘stupid’ as being bad language or even being mildly offensive in British English. Try explaining this to a four year old. As you may imagine, it is not easy. Incidentally, ‘idiota’ or idiot in English, which is, again, not really considered particularly strong in British English, has been assigned ‘parolaccia’ status by the Italian language. Whereas ‘cretino’ (cretin) is probably as offensive in Italian as it is in English, I believe, even if it is considered rather archaic in the UK . It is rather confusing, is it not? I will admit to knowing about ‘idiota’ before my son came on the scene, but I did not think ‘stupido’ fell into the same category. I was wrong.

think in italian logo dark bg 1

Stop reading, start speaking

Stop translating in your head and start speaking Italian for real with the only audio course that prompt you to speak.

It is probably true to say that bad language can be given various levels of strength in Italian. ‘Stupido’ is probably a, let’s say, grade three word, whereas ‘cretino’ is grade two and, then there are the more obscene expressions which could be grade one words. As you might have gathered, a grade one word is potentially the most offensive.

I suppose the moral to this little story is that you do need to be rather careful when translating certain words, in that what may be considered as being a mild swear word in your own language, when directly translated, could turn out to be two or three times more offensive in another language. You have been warned, and this type of information is not to be found in dictionaries, although good texts about different culture do sometimes point out such differences, hence my knowledge of the strength of idiot in Italian, by the way. Alas, I cannot remember the text from which I gleaned this peal of wisdom.

Funny thing language.

Test your knowledge

Most Popular

Burgers in Tuscany – Mac Dario, Panzano in Chianti

My Tuscan experience continued today with a visit to a burger joint in Tuscany. Only this was no ordinary burger joint, it was Mac Dario in Panzano in Chianti, which is run by Italian restaurateur and butcher extraordinaire, Dario Cecchini.

Categories

Related Posts

Varenna, Lake Como, Italy

Tender Italy

This post is not going to a declaration of my undying love for Italy. No, instead it’s going to be about a problem situation which crops up all too regularly in the news here – that of public tender related corruption and fraud.

The Journalism Talent Contest – Update

Last week I wrote a post about a sort of Journalism Talent Contest which I’m holding on Blog from Italy. This initiative is designed to help aspiring Italian journalists gain some exposure and, with a little luck, move on to greater things. Well, I’m happy to announce that I have now received three applications.