stracciare
What does stracciare mean? stracciare is a Italian mild that translates to “to demolish, to wreck, to crush” in English.
Literal Translation
to tear apart / to destroy (slang: to dominate)
Meaning & Usage
"to demolish, to wreck, to crush"
Literally 'to tear,' used in slang to mean utterly defeating or outperforming someone. 'Li abbiamo stracciati' — we destroyed them (in a game). It's aggressive vocabulary applied to competition rather than insult. The word turns every Italian football match into a violent metaphor.
Examples in the Wild
'Li abbiamo stracciati 4 a 0!' — we tore them apart 4-0! 'Ha stracciato tutti all'esame' — she crushed everyone on the exam.
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
Italian sports vocabulary is full of violent metaphors: stracciare (tear apart), massacrare (massacre), distruggere (destroy), ammazzare (kill). This linguistic violence reflects the emotional intensity Italians bring to competition. A 3-0 football victory isn't a win — it's a 'strage' (slaughter).
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.