cagata
What does cagata mean? cagata is a Italian moderate that translates to “crap, shit, worthless thing” in English.
Literal Translation
a shit (thing produced by shitting)
Meaning & Usage
"crap, shit, worthless thing"
Something worthless, poorly made, or stupid — the product of shitting, metaphorically. 'Che cagata' means 'what crap.' Applied to movies, ideas, products, decisions. It's milder and more dismissive than 'stronzata' — a 'cagata' is something you flush and forget.
Examples in the Wild
'Che cagata di film' — what a shit film. 'Non dire cagata' — don't say stupid things. 'È una cagata pazzesca' — it's incredibly bad/stupid.
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
Part of the complete Italian scatological insult family: 'merda' (shit), 'stronzo' (turd/asshole), 'cagata' (the act/product of shitting), 'cagare' (to shit). Italian uses this vocabulary with the same creativity and frequency as French uses 'merde' derivatives. A culture that discusses bathroom functions openly produces rich scatological vocabulary.
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.