stronzo
/ˈstron.t͡so/
The Italian word for douchebag is stronzo.
stronzo is an informal and vulgar slang term used to describe someone who is acting like a jerk or an idiot. It can be translated into English as 'douchebag', 'asshole' or 'dick'. Another informal way to express this is Testa di cazzo, which translates to 'dickhead'.
Meaning: slang: jerk, idiot (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, stronzo refers to a piece of excrement.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
stronzo is an informal and vulgar term. Similarly, Testa di cazzo is an informal way to call someone a 'dickhead'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes based on gender and number: use stronza for a feminine singular 'douchebag', stronzi for masculine plural 'douchebags' and stronze for feminine plural 'douchebags'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈstron.tso/. The stress is on the first of two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word was borrowed into Italian from the Lombardic language, a Germanic tongue spoken by tribes who settled in Italy during the early Middle Ages.
- While stronzo is vulgar, it is sometimes used between very close friends as a paradoxical term of endearment, similar to calling a friend a 'bastard' in English.
- If an Italian says che stronzo while laughing, they might actually be admiring someone's cleverness or audacity in getting away with something.
Examples in context
- Mi dispiace, ma non posso lavorare con lui. È uno stronzo!I'm sorry, but I can't work with him. He's an asshole!
- Quel tipo è proprio uno stronzo.That guy is such a jerk.
- Non essere uno stronzo con me.Don't be a jerk to me.
- Il mio ex era uno stronzo.My ex was a jerk.
Example conversation
Sofia and Francesco are discussing a rude man they saw at a bar.
- SofiaHai visto come si è comportato quel tipo?Did you see how that guy behaved?
- FrancescoSì, è uno stronzo totale.Yes, he is a total jerk.
- SofiaÈ stato davvero maleducato con tutti.He was really rude to everyone.
- FrancescoÈ proprio un tipo pessimo.He is truly a terrible guy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “douchebag” translations and entries stronzo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries stronzo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
