Italyacqua in bocca
phrase, idiom · Colloquial
Keep it to yourself; don't breathe a word. The image is of holding a mouthful of water so you physically cannot speak.
Italy
Italian Slang for Filler Words
21 Italian slang terms for filler words, each with its meaning, how it is pronounced and an example of it in use.
The small words that hold speech together: hedges, tags, intensifiers and pause-fillers. Almost invisible to native speakers and almost impossible for learners.
allora
interjection, adverb · Colloquial · ahl-LOH-rah
So; right then; well. Opens a sentence, fills a pause, calls a room to order, or introduces a conclusion. Teachers begin lessons with it and waiters begin orders with it.
+1 more sense
aò
interjection · Regional · ah-OH
Hey; oi. The Roman attention-getter, used to open a sentence, hail a friend or express exasperation. As Roman as anything gets.
boh
interjection · Colloquial · BOH
I don't know; who knows; search me. A complete answer on its own, and usually delivered with a shrug and downturned mouth.
capito?
interjection · Colloquial
You know? A tag appended to statements to check the listener is following, functioning much like English 'you know what I mean'.
+1 more sense
cavolo
interjection, noun · Colloquial
A euphemism for a much cruder word, used both as an exclamation and as an intensifier: che cavolo vuoi? — 'what the hell do you want?'
+1 more sense
che ne so
phrase · Colloquial
How should I know? Also used mid-sentence as a hedge introducing an example plucked at random: 'a book, che ne so, or a plant'.
ci sta
phrase · Informal
That works; fair enough; it fits. Expresses that something is acceptable or reasonable.
+1 more sense
cioè
interjection, adverb · Colloquial · choh-EH
I mean; like. Nominally a clarifier, in practice one of the most common fillers in spoken Italian, particularly among younger speakers.
dai
interjection · Colloquial · DYE
Come on. Encouragement, impatience or disbelief, depending entirely on intonation.
+2 more senses
figurati
interjection · Colloquial
Don't mention it; not at all. The standard reply to thanks, and to an apology.
+1 more sense
fregarsene
verb · Informal
Not to care at all. Me ne frego — 'I couldn't care less'. Chi se ne frega — 'who cares'.
in bocca al lupo
phrase, idiom · Colloquial
Good luck. The conventional reply is crepi il lupo ('may the wolf die') or simply crepi — replying grazie is considered to invite bad luck.
macché
interjection · Colloquial · mah-KEH
Not at all; nonsense; no chance. A flat, emphatic denial of what has just been suggested.
magari
interjection, adverb · Colloquial · mah-GAH-ree
If only! I wish. Standing alone, it expresses a wish the speaker thinks unlikely.
+2 more senses
mah
interjection · Colloquial
Hmm; well now. Signals doubt, scepticism or resigned uncertainty about what has just been said.
non ci piove
phrase, idiom · Colloquial
There's no doubt about it. Appended to a statement to mark it as beyond argument.
prego
interjection · Colloquial
You're welcome.
+3 more senses
scialla
interjection, adjective · Informal
Relax; take it easy; no worries. Youth slang, Roman in origin and now broadly understood.
tipo
adverb, noun · Informal
Like; about; sort of. A hedge and approximator: tipo alle sette, 'around seven'.
+1 more sense
vabbè
interjection · Colloquial · vah-BEH
Oh well; fine; whatever. Contracted from va bene, and used to accept something reluctantly or to close off a topic.