fanfarone
/fan.faˈro.ne/masculine
The Italian word for braggart is fanfarone. If unsure, use fanfarone. Wiktionary also lists ballista and ammazzasette.
Meaning: one who constantly brags or boasts (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fanfarone | /fan.faˈro.ne/ | masculine |
| ballista | ||
| ammazzasette | /amˌmat.t͡saˈsɛt.te/ |
The term fanfarone is used to describe someone who makes grand, empty boasts, often with a slightly mocking or dismissive tone. For more formal descriptions, you can use the adjective vanaglorioso/a to describe someone who brags excessively about their achievements or qualities or superbo/a to describe someone who is excessively proud and often brags about their accomplishments.
Which one should you use?
You can also use the colloquial phrase Uno che se la tira to describe someone who acts superior and brags about accomplishments, talents or possessions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of fanfarone is fanfarona.
How do you pronounce it?
fanfarone is pronounced /fan.faˈro.ne/. It has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- The slang term ammazzasette literally translates to 'killer of seven', though it is used to describe a braggart rather than a person committing an act of violence.
- The term ballista can be used to describe a braggart, which is unexpected because in English it refers almost exclusively to a heavy ancient missile launcher.
- The word fanfarone has roots that stretch far beyond Europe, likely originating from the Arabic word farfār, which originally described a person who is flighty or superficial.
Examples in context
- Lorenzo è un individuo vanaglorioso che non perde occasione per vantarsi delle sue esperienze internazionali.Lorenzo is a braggart who never misses an opportunity to brag about his international experiences.
- Non sopporto le persone presuntuose che cercano sempre di dimostrare di essere migliori.I can't stand braggarts who always try to prove they are better.
- È una persona arrogante e superba che ama vantarsi dei suoi successi senza valutare gli sforzi degli altri.He is an arrogant and prideful person who loves to boast about his successes without considering the efforts of others.
- Quel ragazzo è un vero fanfarone. Continua a raccontare le sue gesta eroiche, anche se molte sono solo frutto della sua immaginazione.That guy is a real braggart, he keeps telling stories of his heroic deeds, even though many are just products of his imagination.
- Non ascoltarlo, è solo un fanfarone.Don't listen to him, he's just a braggart.
- Quel tipo è un vero fanfarone.That guy is a real braggart.
- Si comporta come un fanfarone con tutti.He behaves like a braggart with everyone.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are discussing a coworker at a cafe.
- AlessandroMarco ha detto di aver vinto un milione.Marco said he won a million.
- ChiaraMa è un grande fanfarone!But he is a huge braggart!
- AlessandroLo sai che non è mai vero.You know it's never true.
- ChiaraSì, non gli credo affatto.Yes, I don't believe him at all.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “braggart” translations and entries fanfarone, ammazzasette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ammazzasette, fanfarone, CC BY-SA 4.0.
