accidenti
/at.t͡ʃiˈdɛn.ti/
The English phrase "gosh" can be translated into Italian using accidenti or diamine.
Meaning: mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm (intj)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| accidenti | /at.t͡ʃiˈdɛn.ti/ |
| diamine | /ˈdja.mi.ne/ |
These terms are used to express mild surprise, enthusiasm or amazement. Accidenti! can serve as an exclamation similar to "Gosh!" or "Wow!", while diamine is used to convey a sense of "goodness gracious" or "for goodness sake".
Which one should you use?
Accidenti is a common way to show amazement or wonder. Diamine is a milder, more polite euphemism often used to avoid stronger expletives that might involve religious terms.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Accidenti is a common, informal exclamation used in everyday speech. Diamine is considered a polite form.
How do you pronounce it?
The word accidenti has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /at.tʃiˈdɛn.ti/.
Did you know?
- In Northern Italy, you might hear the word cavolo used where an English speaker would use 'gosh'. It literally translates to 'cabbage' but serves as a polite substitute for a much stronger swear word.
- The word accidenti is actually a plural form of the word 'accidente', which means 'accident' or 'mishap' in English. Using it as an exclamation is like saying 'what accidents!' to express surprise.
- Using diamine is often associated with an older, more traditional generation of Italian speakers, making it sound slightly 'vintage' to modern youth.
Examples in context
- Ho vinto alla lotteria! Accidenti!I won the lottery! Wow!
- Lei è bellissima! Porca miseria!She is beautiful! Good grief!
- Accidenti, che bella sorpresa!Gosh, what a nice surprise!
- Accidenti, quanto è grande questo palazzo!Gosh, how big this building is!
- Accidenti, hai ragione tu.Gosh, you are right.
Example conversation
Chiara shows Alessandro a stunning photo of her new garden.
- AlessandroAccidenti, Chiara, è bellissima!Gosh, Chiara, it is beautiful!
- ChiaraGrazie, Alessandro, ci ho lavorato molto.Thanks, Alessandro, I worked hard on it.
- AlessandroAccidenti, si vede il tuo impegno.Gosh, your effort shows.
- ChiaraSono molto felice che ti piaccia.I am very happy that you like it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gosh” translations and entries accidenti, diamine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
