sei maleducato
/ˈsɛj ma.le.duˈka.to/word by word
The English phrase "you're rude" is translated into Italian as sei maleducato.
This phrase is used to tell someone that they lack good manners or are behaving inappropriately. While the English "rude" can sometimes mean someone is being abrupt or impolite, the Italian maleducato specifically implies a lack of basic upbringing or social manners.
What does it mean word for word?
The word maleducato is a compound of male, meaning badly and educato, meaning educated.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase must change based on the person you are addressing. If you are speaking to a woman, you must change the ending to sei maleducata. To tell a group of people they are rude, use siete maleducati for a mixed group or all men and siete maleducate for a group of women. When addressing someone formally using the Lei form, use Lei è maleducato for a man or Lei è maleducata for a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of sei maleducato is /ˈsɛj ma.le.duˈka.to/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Using the formal Lei è maleducata to a stranger is a powerful way to reclaim dignity, as it uses polite grammar to deliver a sharp social reprimand.
- In Italian, calling someone maleducato is often considered a much more serious personal insult than the English 'rude' because it attacks the person's family and education.
- If you were to describe a person as 'uneducated' in the sense of having no schooling, you would use ignorante, not maleducato.
Examples in context
- Sei maleducato.You're rude.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase sei maleducato.Tatoeba #2604922 by Guybrush88, translation #2203298 by CK
- Mi dispiace, ma il suo comportamento è poco garbato. Potrebbe fornirci un altro cameriere?I'm sorry, but your behavior is impolite. Could you provide us with another waiter?
- Sei maleducato con i tuoi genitori.You are rude to your parents.
- Non parlare così, sei maleducato.Don't speak like that, you're rude.
Example conversation
Francesco interrupts Giulia while she is speaking.
- FrancescoSenti, io voglio parlare per primo.Listen, I want to speak first.
- GiuliaMa stavo parlando io! Sei maleducato, Francesco.But I was speaking! You're rude, Francesco.
- FrancescoScusa, non me ne sono accorto.Sorry, I didn't notice.
- GiuliaVa bene, ora puoi parlare.Alright, now you can speak.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (sei, maleducato) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
