Here are some common Italian words and phrases I use in my books. I hope you find this helpful!

A

a presto — talk to you soon
allora — um, so, then… a filler word
amore — love
amore mio — my love
andiamo — let’s go!
arrivederci — good-bye

B

bambina/o — baby (fem/masc)
basta — enough! stop!
bastardo — bastard
bella/o — beautiful (fem/masc)
bellissima/o —very beautiful (fem/masc)
bene — good
buon appetito — enjoy your meal
buona sera — good evening
buongiorno — good morning

C

caffè — coffee
Calabria — region in southern Italy
capisce — do you understand?
capobastone — high-ranking ‘Ndrangheta boss
cazzata — bullshit!
cazzo — actually “dick” but used as “fuck!”
cazzo madre di dio — fucking mother of god
certo— certainly
che cazzo — what the fuck?!
che cosa — what?
che figa — she’s hot
che figo — very cool!
che palle — “what balls” or “what a pain“
che schifo — “ew” or “how disgusting”
chi cazzo credi di essere? — what the fuck were you thinking?
ciao — hello/good-bye
cin cin — cheers
cirò — a red wine from Calabria
coglione — literally “balls” but used as “fool”
come stai — how are you?
congratulazioni — congratulations
consiglieri — advisor (mafia)
Cosa Nostra — Sicilian criminal organization (mafia)
Cristo santo — Jesus Christ

D

dai — come on; cut it out; pretty please; no way!
dimmi — tell me
dio — God
dio mio — my God

E

entra— enter!
esattamente — exactly

F

famiglia —family
figa — pussy
figlia — daughter
figlio — son
fiore mio — my flower
fratello/i — brother/s

G

grazie —thank you
guardati — look at you
Guardia di Finanza — government agency that oversee financial (mafia) crimes

H

famiglia —family

I

idiota — idiot

L

lupo — wolf

M

ma che cazzo? — what the fuck?
ma dai — come on, with emphasis
ma sei pazzo? — Are you crazy?
madonna — expression of disgust or surprise
madre di dio — mother of god
mamma — mother
mamma mia — oh, my god; my goodness
mangia — eat!
mantenuta — a kept woman; mistress
marito — husband
merda — wolf
mi dispiace — I am sorry
minchia — shit!
micina — kitten
mio — my
molto bene – very good

N

’Ndrangheta — a criminal mafia organization that stretches the globe, based in Calabria
’ndrina/e — local clan/s of the ‘Ndrangheta
Napoli — Naples
non capisco — I don’t understand
nonno — grandfather
nottambula — night owl

P

Padrino — godfather
Papà — father
paparino — little father (playful)
pazzo — crazy
per favore — please
per sempre — forever
perdonami — forgive me
perfetto — perfect
piacere — nice to meet you
piccolina — little one (fem)
polpetta/o — meatball (used as pet names with children)
porca puttana; porca di una puttana — son of a bitch!
prego — you’re welcome
pronto — ready (when answering the phone)

R

ragazzo/a — boyfriend/girlfriend
ragazzi — friends
Roma — Rome
rustica/o — rustic (fem/masc)

S

scusa — excuse me
sei bella e dolce — you are beautiful and sweet
sei tutta mia — you are all mine
sì — yes
Siderno — Town in Calabria
signora — married (older) woman
signore — sir
signorina/e — unmarried (younger) woman/women
soldato; soldati — soldier; soldiers
stai zitto — shut up!
stronzo — asshole
sul mio onore — on my honor

T

te lo prometto — I promise you
testa di cazzo — dick head
ti amo — I love you (romantic)
ti voglio bene — i love you best (family)
Toscana — Tuscany
trattoria — restaurant

V

va bene — that’s good
vieni qui — come here!

Z

zio/zii — uncle; uncles