schizzinoso
The English word picky can be translated into Italian as schizzinoso.
The term is used to describe someone who is overly fussy or hard to please, especially regarding food.
Which one should you use?
While schizzinoso implies a negative, fussy or 'picky' attitude, esigente is a more neutral or positive way to say someone has high standards or is demanding. For describing someone who is meticulous or nitpicky, you can use the informal term pignolo(a).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Schizzinoso is more colloquial and carries a slightly derogatory tone compared to more formal terms for being selective. For a formal alternative that describes someone as picky or demanding, use esigente.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes based on gender and number: the feminine form is schizzinosa, the masculine plural is schizzinosi and the feminine plural is schizzinose.
Did you know?
- The word schizzinoso may be linked to the Northern Italian dialect word schizza, which means a 'flattened nose'.
- If you call someone schizzinoso, you are not just saying they are picky, but suggesting they are easily 'disgusted' or 'squeamish'.
- Italian distinguishes between three distinct types of 'pickiness': sensory disgust (schizzinoso), high expectations (esigente) and meticulousness (pignolo).
Examples in context
- Tom non è schizzinoso.Tom isn't picky.This sentence shows how to use schizzinoso in a negative statement.Tatoeba #3816037 by Guybrush88, translation #2237002 by CK
- Penso che tu sia troppo schizzinoso.I think you're too picky.This sentence demonstrates how to express an opinion about someone being too picky using schizzinoso.Tatoeba #2068337 by Guybrush88, translation #1887797 by CK
- Non è schizzinoso su quello che mangia.He isn't picky about what he eats.This sentence illustrates how to specify that someone is not picky about food using schizzinoso.Tatoeba #8258604 by Guybrush88, translation #7394926 by CH
- Maria è molto schizzinosa con il cibo.Maria is very picky with food.
- Il cliente è molto esigente, vuole solamente i prodotti di qualità.The customer is very picky, he only wants quality products.
- Il mio capo è molto pignolo riguardo alle tempistiche dei progetti.My boss is very picky about project deadlines.
- Sono molto schizzinosi per quanto riguarda il vino.They are very picky when it comes to wine.
- Mia sorella è esigente nella scelta dei ristoranti.My sister is picky when it comes to choosing restaurants.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are deciding what to order for dinner.
- FrancescoCosa vuoi mangiare stasera, Sofia?What do you want to eat tonight, Sofia?
- SofiaNon so, non mi piace quasi nulla.I don't know, I don't like almost anything.
- FrancescoSei davvero troppo schizzinoso con il cibo!You are really too picky with food!
- SofiaNon sono schizzinosa, sono solo esigente.I'm not picky, I'm just demanding.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries schizzinoso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
