Italian word of the day: 'Scemo'
Have you mastered this Italian word yet? You'd be a fool not to.
Italian has no shortage of insulting words which aren't too shocking to use in front of nonna. Today's word is just one example.
Scemo (pronunciation available here) is commonly used by Italians in much the same way English speakers might use 'stupid', 'dumb' or 'daft'.
Mi dispiace dirtelo ma a volte mi sembri veramente scemo...
I hate to say this, but you really look daft sometimes...
Non sono mica così scemo da credere alle sue frottole!
I'm not dumb enough to believe his lies!
As with all Italian adjectives, the ending of scemo changes depending on whether the person or group of people you're talking about is male or female (scemo, scemi, scema, sceme).
It can also be used as a noun, meaning 'fool' or 'idiot'.
E' lo scemo del paese.
He's the village idiot.
Scemo is just one of many possible synonyms for idiota, including cretino, stupido, sciocco and deficiente.
And the phrase fare lo scemo is equivalent to the English 'acting/playing the fool': being silly on purpose to get a reaction.
Smettila di fare lo scemo!
Stop messing about!
Scemo is an old word, which pops up everywhere from Italian opera to the works of Dante, but the modern meaning has shifted slightly.
In fact, the original meaning of scemo was 'lacking' or 'empty', and it was only through the use of the expression 'scemo di cervello' (literally, 'brainless' or 'empty-headed') over the centuries that the word got its current meaning.
Do you have a favourite Italian word you'd like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.
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Italian has no shortage of insulting words which aren't too shocking to use in front of nonna. Today's word is just one example.
Scemo (pronunciation available here) is commonly used by Italians in much the same way English speakers might use 'stupid', 'dumb' or 'daft'.
Mi dispiace dirtelo ma a volte mi sembri veramente scemo...
I hate to say this, but you really look daft sometimes...
Non sono mica così scemo da credere alle sue frottole!
I'm not dumb enough to believe his lies!
As with all Italian adjectives, the ending of scemo changes depending on whether the person or group of people you're talking about is male or female (scemo, scemi, scema, sceme).
It can also be used as a noun, meaning 'fool' or 'idiot'.
E' lo scemo del paese.
He's the village idiot.
Scemo is just one of many possible synonyms for idiota, including cretino, stupido, sciocco and deficiente.
And the phrase fare lo scemo is equivalent to the English 'acting/playing the fool': being silly on purpose to get a reaction.
Smettila di fare lo scemo!
Stop messing about!
Scemo is an old word, which pops up everywhere from Italian opera to the works of Dante, but the modern meaning has shifted slightly.
In fact, the original meaning of scemo was 'lacking' or 'empty', and it was only through the use of the expression 'scemo di cervello' (literally, 'brainless' or 'empty-headed') over the centuries that the word got its current meaning.
Do you have a favourite Italian word you'd like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.
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