fottere
What does “fottere” mean in English?
It means to fuck, but it can also imply cheating or ruining something. The literal translation is 'to have sex,' but the usage is much broader and more aggressive.
Literally “have sex”
It's often used as a direct insult or exclamation, similar to 'fuck' in English, and carries a strong connotation. Context is key, as it can be aimed at someone or describe an action.
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Related Italian words
fottuto
4/5 · StrongIt means screwed or ruined, but can also be used emphatically like 'fucking.'
chiavare
4/5 · StrongThis is a vulgar regional verb meaning to have sex. It's not universally used across Italy, with some dialects having more neutral uses.
fottiti
4/5 · StrongThis means 'fuck yourself' and is used as a strong dismissal. It's a direct way to tell someone to go away or express anger.
scopare
3/5 · VulgarIt means to have sex, used in a very informal context. The literal translation is 'to sweep', which is quite tame compared to its sexual connotation.
About this data
Swear Atlas is a source-attested, AI-curated reference — not a native-speaker-certified dictionary. Meanings and the 1–5 Burn Rating are approximate editorial assessments that vary with context, region, tone and speaker. Inclusion of a word does not constitute endorsement of its use.
The literal gloss is a short editorial translation to show word-for-word sense, not an etymological claim.
“Sounds like” is an English-friendly approximation of how the word sounds, not an authoritative pronunciation. Where shown, the romanisation is a conventional Latin-script transliteration of the original spelling.
Term attested via LDNOOBW (CC-BY-4.0). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.