sciocchezza
/ʃokˈket.t͡sa/
The English word "silliness" is translated into Italian as sciocchezza.
The term is used to refer to something that is perceived as silly or frivolous.
Meaning: that which is perceived as silly or frivolous (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
sciocchezza is a feminine noun. Its plural form is sciocchezze, which can be translated as "sillinesses" or "silly things".
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /ʃokˈket.tsa/.
Did you know?
- In certain Italian dialects, the root word for 'silly' can actually be used as a term of endearment for a beloved child or partner, turning a potential insult into an expression of affection.
- In Italian, when someone says sono sciocchezze, they are often dismissing a series of rumors or gossip as being completely unfounded.
- If you call a person a sciocco, you are often being more gentle than if you called them stupido, as the former implies a harmless lack of judgment rather than a lack of intelligence.
Examples in context
- Non prestare attenzione a quella sciocchezza che ha detto.Don't pay attention to that silliness he said.
- La sua balordaggine ci ha fatto ridere a crepapelle.His silliness made us laugh our heads off.
- Non dire sciocchezze!Don't say silly things!
- Basta con questa sciocchezza!Enough with this silliness!
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are discussing a small mistake at work.
- ChiaraHai rovinato tutto con questa sciocchezza.You ruined everything with this silliness.
- AlessandroScusa Chiara, non volevo sbagliare.Sorry Chiara, I didn't mean to make a mistake.
- ChiaraOra dobbiamo sistemare il problema.Now we have to fix the problem.
- AlessandroHai ragione, lo farò subito.You're right, I'll do it right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sciocchezza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
