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How to Say ‘Don't break my balls!’ in Italian

Non rompere le palle!

NON ROHM-peh-reh Leh PAHL-leh

[NON ROHM-peh-reh Leh PAHL-leh]

🇮🇹 In Italy: It's common and half-joking among friends or siblings. Said to a stranger, it comes across as genuinely rude.

Phrase Breakdown

Non rompere

NON ROHM-peh-reh

Don't break

A negative informal command: 'non' plus the infinitive. Stress 'ROM' in 'rompere'.

Example

Non rompere il vaso!

Don't break the vase!

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.

rompere

[ROHM-peh-reh]

to break / to bust

Literally 'to break'; with 'le palle' it means to seriously annoy someone.

Example

Mi stai rompendo le scatole.

You're getting on my nerves.

le palle!

Leh PAHL-leh

the balls!

'Le palle' (the balls) completes a vulgar idiom meaning 'stop annoying me'. Pronounce the double 'l' clearly.

Example

Mi stai rompendo le palle!

You're getting on my nerves! (literally: You're breaking my balls!)

Words in this phrase

[Leh]

The (feminine plural)

Definite article used for feminine plural nouns.

Example

Le mele costano tre euro al chilo.

The apples cost three euros per kilo.

palle

[PAHL-leh]

balls

Vulgar slang for testicles, used in many expressions of annoyance.

Example

Ho le palle piene.

I'm fed up.

Guides for Italian learners

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