che casino!
/ˈke kaˈzi.no/word by word
The English phrase "what a mess!" can be translated into Italian as che casino!
Che casino! is an informal way to express that something is a mess or in a state of chaos.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of che, which means "what" in an exclamatory sense and casino, which literally means "casino" or "gambling house" but idiomatically refers to a mess or chaos.
Which one should you use?
While che casino! implies chaos, noise or a complicated situation, che disordine! is used specifically for a physical mess, such as a room with clothes scattered everywhere. Another informal option is che macello!
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Che casino! is informal and slightly colorful, making it suitable for friends or casual settings but potentially too blunt for very formal environments.
How do you pronounce it?
The phrase is pronounced /ˈke kaˈzi.no/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on 1 of 3.
Did you know?
- While che casino! refers to general chaos, the alternative che macello! literally means 'what a slaughterhouse!'
- Although it looks like the English word 'casino', the Italian casino is actually a diminutive of casa, meaning 'little house'.
- In Italy, casino can describe not just a mess but also an extremely loud environment, such as a noisy party.
Examples in context
- Che casino! Chi diavolo ha combinato tutto questo?What a mess! Who on earth made all this mess?
- Che macello che hanno combinato sti ragazzini!What a mess these kids made!
- Che casino!What a mess!
- Guarda la cucina, che casino!Look at the kitchen, what a mess!
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are looking at a living room after a party.
- FrancescoGuarda qui, che casino!Look here, what a mess!
- GiuliaHai ragione, Francesco, è un disastro.You're right, Francesco, it's a disaster.
- FrancescoDobbiamo pulire tutto subito.We have to clean everything up immediately.
- GiuliaSì, iniziamo dal soggiorno.Yes, let's start with the living room.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (che, casino) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries casino, che, CC BY-SA 4.0.
