figlio di puttana
What does figlio di puttana mean? figlio di puttana is a Italian nuclear that translates to “son of a bitch” in English.
Literal Translation
son of a whore
Meaning & Usage
"son of a bitch"
Attacks someone's mother, implying illegitimacy and promiscuity. Extremely offensive in family-centric Italian culture.
Examples in the Wild
Figlio di puttana! Mi hai rotto il telefono! (Son of a bitch! You broke my phone!)
When to Use It
Context
- Expressing strong frustration or emphasis
- Only among very close friends who share this register
- Direct confrontation (use with caution)
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around elders or authority figures
- Public spaces — will cause genuine offense
- Almost any situation — this is as offensive as it gets
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
Attacking someone's mother is the gravest insult in Italian culture. Can trigger physical violence. Used in 'The Godfather' and countless films.
More in Italian 🇮🇹
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“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.