Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| monello | /moˈnɛl.lo/ | masculine |
| moccioso | masculine |
The terms used to describe a brat or a mischievous child in Italian vary depending on whether you mean a playful rascal or an annoying, spoiled child.
Which one should you use?
monello is a more neutral term that can sometimes be used affectionately to mean 'rascal'. In contrast, moccioso is more derogatory and implies a sense of being annoying or immature.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
monello is an informal term often used for a mischievous child, whereas moccioso is slang and more derogatory, often used to imply a child is 'snot-nosed' or insolent.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Naples, the term scugnizzo is often used to describe a cheeky or mischievous child who possesses a sense of street-smartness and playfulness.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the slang term moccioso is mocciosi.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /moˈnɛl.lo/. It has three syllables and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The term monello may have historical roots in the name 'Simone' combined with an old word for 'monkey'.
- The Neapolitan term scugnizzo describes a specific type of street-smart brat. Historically, it referred to the poor children of Naples who survived by their wits in the city's alleys.
- The suffix -oso in moccioso is used to indicate an abundance of a quality. It transforms the noun for 'snot' into an adjective meaning 'full of snot'.
Examples in context
- Non lasciare che quel monello rompa tutto.Don't let that brat break everything.
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are talking about their neighbor's son.
- ChiaraHai visto cosa ha fatto il figlio di Luca?Did you see what Luca's son did?
- MatteoSì, quel monello ha rotto il mio vaso.Yes, that brat broke my vase.
- ChiaraI suoi genitori dovrebbero essere più severi.His parents should be stricter.
- MatteoHai ragione, è davvero viziato.You are right, he is really spoiled.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brat” translations and entries monello, moccioso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries moccioso, monello, CC BY-SA 4.0.
