cavolo
interjection, nounColloquial
A Italian slang term. Browse all Italian slang.
What it means
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?'
Non me ne importa un cavolo: I don't care at all.
Literally: Cabbage.
Examples with translations
Che cavolo stai facendo?
What on earth are you doing?
Cavolo, che bella notizia!
Wow, what great news!
Where it comes from
Substituted for cazzo, which it resembles in shape and sound. Italian has a rich stock of such vegetable substitutions.