maldestro
/malˈdɛs.tro/
The Italian word for butterfingers is maldestro.
In English, 'butterfingers' is often used as a noun to name a person. In Italian, maldestro is primarily used as an adjective to describe a person's character or a specific clumsy action.
Meaning: someone who is clumsy or uncoordinated (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The prefix mal- means 'badly' or 'poorly', which indicates a lack of skill in the word maldestro.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes its ending to match the gender and number of the person being described: use maldestra for a woman, maldestro for a man and maldestri for a plural group.
How do you pronounce it?
maldestro is pronounced /malˈdɛs.tro/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In historical Italian contexts, the 'right' side destra was associated with honor and law, while the 'left' side sinistra was linked to bad luck. This cultural divide reinforces why maldestro implies a lack of proper order.
- While maldestro describes a lack of skill, Italians use the word pasticcione for someone who specifically makes a mess or breaks things, derived from pasticcio meaning 'mess' or 'pie'.
- Unlike 'butterfingers', which only describes people, maldestro can be used to describe an awkward movement or an object that was poorly constructed.
Examples in context
- Marco è davvero imbranato, lascia cadere tutto quello che tiene in mano!Marco is truly a butterfingers, he drops everything he holds!
- La nuova impiegata è un po' maldestra, ha già rotto un paio di bicchieri.The new employee is a bit of a butterfingers, she has already broken a couple of glasses.
- Gioia ha davvero le mani di burro oggi, ha fatto cadere il telefono due volte!Gioia really has butterfingers today, she dropped her phone twice!
- Sei molto maldestro!You are very clumsy!
- Sei proprio un maldestro!You are such a butterfingers!
- Non essere così maldestro con i piatti.Don't be such a butterfingers with the plates.
- Quel ragazzo è un po' maldestro.That boy is a bit of a butterfingers.
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are in the kitchen after a small accident.
- ChiaraOh no, hai rotto di nuovo il bicchiere!Oh no, you broke the glass again!
- MatteoScusa, sono davvero maldestro oggi.Sorry, I am being such a butterfingers today.
- ChiaraFai attenzione, Matteo, potresti tagliarti.Be careful, Matteo, you might cut yourself.
- MatteoHai ragione, lo farò con più cura.You're right, I will do it more carefully.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry maldestro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
