puzzi di cacca
The English phrase 'you smell like poop' is translated into Italian as puzzi di cacca.
The phrase puzzi di cacca is an informal way to tell someone that they smell like poop.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the second-person singular verb puzzare (to smell bad) and the preposition di (of/with) followed by cacca (poop).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While puzzi di cacca is informal, you can make the phrase much more vulgar and aggressive by replacing cacca with merda to say puzzi di merda (you smell like shit).
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to say 'it smells like poop' referring to a situation or an object rather than a person, use the third-person singular form puzza di cacca.
Did you know?
- Italian speakers might use the verb puzzare to describe a person's bad reputation or a 'stinking' lie, regardless of their actual scent.
- The word cacca shares a common ancestor with the Ancient Greek word kákkē, which also meant 'dung'.
- While English uses 'smell' for both pleasant and unpleasant odors, the verb puzzare in puzzi di cacca can only ever mean to smell bad.
Examples in context
- Stai lontano, puzzi di cacca.Stay away, you smell like poop.
- Perché puzzi di cacca?Why do you smell like poop?
- Non toccarmi, puzzi di cacca!Don't touch me, you smell like poop!
Example conversation
Two siblings are arguing in the living room.
- LorenzoNon avvicinarti, puzzi di cacca!Don't come near me, you smell like poop!
- ChiaraMa non è vero, Lorenzo!That's not true, Lorenzo!
- LorenzoSì che è vero, puzzi di cacca.Yes it is, you smell like poop.
- ChiaraSei un bambino cattivo.You are a mean boy.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cacca, di, CC BY-SA 4.0.
