maledetto
What does maledetto mean? maledetto is a Italian moderate that translates to “damn, cursed, goddamn” in English.
Literal Translation
cursed, damned
Meaning & Usage
"damn, cursed, goddamn"
The Italian 'damn' — literally 'badly spoken of' or 'cursed.' It's a mild-to-moderate intensifier: 'maledetto traffico' (damn traffic), 'maledetta pioggia' (damn rain). Stronger than 'dannato' but weaker than any bestemmia. It's the go-to curse for people who don't use blasphemy.
Examples in the Wild
'Maledetto!' — damn it! 'Questa maledetta macchina non parte' — this damn car won't start. 'Maledetto il giorno che ti ho conosciuto' — cursed be the day I met you.
When to Use It
Context
- Casual conversations with friends
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- As a spontaneous exclamation
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around religious or conservative communities
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
For Italians who avoid bestemmie (blasphemy) — whether from genuine religiosity or social propriety — 'maledetto' is the ceiling of acceptable cursing. It implies a curse from God without directly insulting God, threading the needle between expressing frustration and maintaining piety.
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.