crasso
The Italian word for crass is crasso.
The adjective crasso describes something that is coarse, crude or not refined. A common way to use this word is in the collocation errore crasso, which refers to a gross or glaring mistake.
Meaning: coarse, crude, not refined, insensitive (adj)
Which one should you use?
While crasso implies something that is thick, heavy or intellectually crude, the word volgare is more commonly used when describing social coarseness or a general lack of refinement.
Did you know?
- The Italian word crasso is a linguistic sibling to grasso, which means 'fat'. Both words evolved from the same Latin root but developed different meanings over time.
- Although crasso means 'crass' or 'gross', it is rarely used to describe a person's personality directly. Instead, Italians use it to describe a specific action or mistake that the person made.
- In Italian legal and technical circles, the phrase errore crasso is used to denote a mistake so fundamental that it can completely invalidate an entire legal argument.
Examples in context
- Il suo commento è molto grossolanoHis comment is very crass
- La sua risposta è stata maleducata e grossolanaHis response was rude and crass
- Il suo comportamento è estremamente volgareHis behavior is extremely crass
- Il suo scherzo è stato troppo cafoneHis joke was too crass
- Le sue battute sono sempre pesantiHis jokes are always crass
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are discussing a guest's behavior at a party.
- ChiaraHai sentito cosa ha detto quel ragazzo?Did you hear what that guy said?
- AlessandroSì, è stato un commento molto crasso.Yes, it was a very crass comment.
- ChiaraNon ha proprio tatto con le persone.He really has no tact with people.
- AlessandroHai ragione, Alessandro non lo tollera.You're right, Alessandro can't stand it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries crasso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
