ammazza
What does ammazza mean? ammazza is a Italian mild that translates to “wow, holy cow, damn” in English.
Literal Translation
kill! (imperative of ammazzare)
Meaning & Usage
"wow, holy cow, damn"
A Roman exclamation of amazement — literally 'kill!' but functioning as 'wow!' Nobody thinks about murder; it's pure reflexive surprise. 'Ammazza che macchina!' (damn, what a car!) is admiration. 'Ammazza!' alone is shock at anything impressive or unexpected.
Examples in the Wild
'Ammazza!' — wow! 'Ammazza che caldo!' — damn, it's hot! 'Ammazza, quanto costa!' — holy cow, how much it costs!
Regional Variations
Core romanesco; used every few minutes
Recognized as distinctly Roman
When to Use It
Context
- Casual conversations with friends
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- As a spontaneous exclamation
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
Quintessentially Roman — hearing 'ammazza' immediately locates the speaker in Rome. It's part of romanesco's colorful contribution to Italian: violent verbs repurposed as exclamations of wonder. Rome's dialect has a theatrical quality that matches the city's personality, and 'ammazza' is one of its signature moves.
More in Italian 🇮🇹
View all →cagna
“bitch”
Direct equivalent to English 'bitch.'
che palle
“what a drag, how boring, ugh”
An expression of boredom, annoyance, or exasperation — literally 'what balls,' implying that something is so tedious it weighs on you like heavy testicles. 'Che palle' is one of Italian's most frequently uttered phrases, covering everything from a boring meeting to a rainy weekend.
vaffanculo
“fuck off / fuck you”
Contraction of 'va' a fare in culo' (go do it in the ass). The ultimate Italian insult. Often accompanied by the 'fig' hand gesture.
fottere
“to fuck, to screw over”
The oldest Italian word for sexual intercourse, directly from Latin 'futuere.' In modern usage, it's less common for sex than 'scopare' but dominates in the figurative sense of 'to cheat/screw someone over.' 'Mi ha fottuto' means 'he screwed me over.' 'Fottiti' means 'fuck you.' 'Fottesega' means 'who gives a fuck.'
palle
“balls / what a pain”
Used in 'che palle!' (what a pain/balls) to express boredom or annoyance. Less vulgar than cazzo.
frocio
“faggot / poof”
Homophobic slur for gay men. Originates from Roman dialect.
mona
“cunt”
Venetian/Friulian dialect for female genitalia.
infame
“snitch, traitor, rat”
Someone without honor — specifically, someone who betrays trust or informs on others. In Italian street culture and criminal contexts, 'infame' is one of the worst things you can be called because it strikes at omertà (the code of silence). Even outside criminal circles, being 'infame' means being a backstabbing traitor.