lecchino
What does “lecchino” mean in English?
It's an insult for someone who flatters others to gain favor, like a sycophant or brown-noser. Literally, it translates to 'licker,' but that's not how it's used.
Literally “licker”
You'd use it to call someone out for being overly subservient or ingratiating, similar to calling someone a 'kiss-ass' in English. It's a bit milder than some other insults but still carries a sting.
Take it with you
Wear it. Stick it. Drink from it.
Put lecchino on a mug, a T-shirt or a sticker as Swear Atlas stamp artwork. You'll finish your order with Zazzle, our print partner — they handle payment, printing and delivery.
Adult/mature product · 18+. Purchases, delivery, returns and support are provided by Zazzle, not Swear Atlas. Availability is subject to Zazzle's policies.
Related Italian words
leccaculo
3/5 · VulgarThis is an insult for someone who flatters others to gain favor, essentially calling them an arse licker. It captures the idea of being overly submissive or sycophantic.
ruffiano
2/5 · CoarseIt's an insult for someone who flatters or manipulates others, often to gain favor. While it literally means 'panderer,' the sexual connotation isn't always the focus.
balordo
2/5 · CoarseIt's an insult used to call someone a fool or a scoundrel, implying they're unreliable or not to be trusted.
cacciapalle
2/5 · CoarseIt's an insult for someone who tells lies or exaggerates stories, essentially calling them a bullshitter. The term combines elements that imply someone is a nuisance or bothersome.
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, FlacSy/BadWords (CC-BY-4.0, MIT AND CC-BY-4.0). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.