Italian is one of the most celebrated languages in the world — the language of Dante, opera, and la dolce vita. But like every living language, Italian never stands still. Over the last ten to fifteen years, a wave of new expressions has swept into everyday conversation, shaped by social media, pop culture, and a generation that grew up online. Whether you are learning Italian or simply curious about how modern Italians actually speak, these ten expressions will give you a fascinating glimpse into the language as it is lived today.
Most expressions have been adopted from English, but there are a couple of exceptions.
1. Sciallare
Sciallare means to take it easy, not to stress about something. It is the Italian way of saying “chill out” — an invitation to let go of tension and go with the flow. Interestingly, the word has a rather unexpected origin: according to the Accademia della Crusca, Italy’s most authoritative institution on the Italian language, scialla most likely comes from the Arabic expression in šāʾ Allāh — “if God wills it.” The expression travelled into Roman youth slang and gradually shifted in meaning, landing on something closer to “stay calm” or “it will all be fine.” A beautiful reminder that languages are always borrowing, bending, and reinventing.
“Scialla, non è un problema così grande.” “Chill out, it is not such a big deal.”
2. Ci sta
Short, simple, and incredibly versatile, ci sta literally means “it fits” or “it stands,” but in everyday use it means “that works,” “fair enough,” or “I am in.” It is one of those expressions that Italians, young and older, use dozens of times a day without even thinking about it — the ultimate casual seal of approval.
“Partiamo venerdì mattina presto per evitare il traffico?” — “Sì, ci sta.” “Shall we leave early Friday morning to avoid the traffic?” — “Yes, that makes sense.”
“Non ho voglia di uscire stasera, sono stanco.” — “Ci sta, capisco.” “I don’t feel like going out tonight, I’m tired.” — “Fair enough, I get it.”
“Usciamo sabato sera?” — “Ci sta!” “Shall we go out on Saturday evening?” — “I’m in, sounds good to me!”
3. Triggerare
Borrowed directly from English, triggerare means to trigger an emotional reaction in someone — usually frustration, irritation, or anxiety. It entered Italian through online culture and mental health conversations, and is now used both seriously and humorously.
“Quella scena del film mi ha triggerato tantissimo.” “That scene in the film really triggered me.”
4. Cringe
Another English import that has fully settled into Italian, cringe describes something so awkward or embarrassing that it makes you want to look away. It can be used as an adjective or simply as a standalone reaction.
“Hai visto quel video? Era puro cringe.” “Did you see that video? It was pure cringe.”
5. Ghostare
From the English “to ghost,” ghostare means to suddenly disappear from someone’s life without explanation — no messages, no calls, no closure. It emerged from dating culture but is now used in friendships and even professional contexts.
“Mi ha ghostato dopo tre settimane di messaggi quotidiani.” “He ghosted me after three weeks of daily messages.”
6. Bro / Fra
Both are terms of address used among close friends, roughly equivalent to “mate” or “dude” in English. Bro comes directly from American slang, while fra is a shortened form of fratello (brother). They are often used interchangeably and signal warmth, familiarity, and a relaxed register.
“Fra, non ci posso credere che hai fatto quella cosa.” “Mate, I cannot believe you did that.”
7. Flexare
To flex, in English, means to show off — and Italians have adopted it with enthusiasm. Flexare is the act of displaying something you are proud of, whether it is a new purchase, an achievement, or a lifestyle. It carries a slightly ironic tone when used among friends.
“Stava flexando le scarpe nuove con tutto il gruppo.” “He was flexing his new shoes in front of the whole group.”
8. Droppare
From the English “to drop,” droppare is used when someone releases something new and exciting — a song, an album, a video, a collection. It conveys a sense of anticipation and cultural relevance. If something gets droppato, people are paying attention.
“Hanno droppato il nuovo singolo a mezzanotte.” “They dropped the new single at midnight.”
9. Un botto
Literally “a bang,” un botto is used informally to mean “a lot” or “loads.” It is one of those expressions that feels effortlessly casual and has become extremely common in spoken Italian across all age groups.
“Mi è piaciuto un botto quel film.” “I loved that film so much.”
10. Bullizzare
Derived from the English word “bully,” bullizzare means to bully someone. Unlike many of the other expressions on this list, this one carries real weight. It has entered the Italian language as awareness around bullying — particularly online — has grown significantly in recent years.
“Quel ragazzo veniva bullizzato ogni giorno a scuola.” “That boy was being bullied every day at school.”
Conclusion
Language is not a museum piece — it is alive, it breathes, and it changes with the people who speak it. These ten expressions are proof that Italian is as dynamic and creative as ever, constantly absorbing influences from the world around it while remaining unmistakably itself.
But here is the thing: reading about a language and truly speaking it are two very different experiences. Real fluency is not built in silence — it is built in conversation, in the moments when you reach for a word, take a risk, and connect with another person. That is exactly what we do in our Italian courses. We do not just study the language, we practice it together, through real speaking, real interaction, and real Italian as it is used today.
If this lesson sparked your curiosity, come and practice with us. Your Italian will thank you for it. Email me to claim a taster session: laura@parlaitaliano.co.uk
Want to know more? Watch a fun video between Italian Millennials and Gen Z? Watch here.
