🚫🤬

How to Say ‘Don't swear!’ in Italian

Non dire parolacce!

NON dee-reh pah-roh-LAHT-cheh

[NON dee-reh pah-roh-LAHT-cheh]

💬 Usage Tip: For a negative command to one person you know well, put non before the basic verb form: dire, not dici. Same with Non toccare! "Don't touch!"

🇮🇹 In Italy: Parents say this to children constantly. Between adults it sounds like mock scolding.

Phrase Breakdown

Non dire

NON dee-reh

Don't say

A negative informal command: 'non' plus the infinitive 'dire'. Say it as 'non DEE-reh'.

Example

Non dire bugie!

Don't tell lies!

Words in this phrase

Non

[NON]

Do not

Used to make a negative command or request.

Example

Non chiedete troppo tardi per i biglietti.

Do not ask too late for the tickets.

dire

[dee-reh]

say

To express something in words.

Example

Dire la verità è fondamentale.

Saying the truth is fundamental.

parolacce!

pah-roh-LAHT-cheh

swear words!

The plural of 'parolaccia' (bad word). The stress falls on 'LAC': pa-ro-LAT-cheh, with a long double 'cc'.

Example

Lui dice sempre parolacce.

He always says swear words.

Words in this phrase

parolacce

[pah-roh-LAHT-cheh]

swear words

Plural of 'parolaccia': rude, vulgar words.

Example

I bambini non devono dire parolacce.

Children shouldn't say swear words.

Guides for Italian learners

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