Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Rude" in Italian: maleducato/a
maleducato/a
Rude in Italian is maleducato (mah-leh-doo-KAH-toh) for a man and maleducata for a woman. It literally points to bad manners, stronger than just unfriendly.
Commenting on a queue jumper
Quel tipo è davvero maleducato.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce maleducato/a
Say it
mah-leh-doo-KAH-toh
/maleduˈka.to/
Maleducato stresses KAH: mah-leh-doo-KAH-toh. Keep educa clear in the middle.
"Rude" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| maleducato / maleducata | rude (m/f) Describing someone's manners. | Describing someone's manners. |
| essere maleducato | to be rude Non essere maleducato. | Non essere maleducato. |
| che maleducato! | how rude! Reaction to bad behaviour. | Reaction to bad behaviour. |
| scortese | discourteous Softer alternative. | Softer alternative. |
How to use maleducato/a in real life
- 1Commenting on a queue jumper
Quel tipo è davvero maleducato.
That guy is really rude.
Maleducato for a man.
- 2Warning a child
Non essere maleducato con la nonna.
Don't be rude to grandma.
Common parent line with tu.
- 3After a snappy reply
Mi è sembrata un po' maleducata ieri.
She seemed a bit rude yesterday.
Maleducata for a woman.
Mistakes English speakers make with maleducato/a
Incorrect: Lei è maleducato.
Correct: Lei è maleducata.
Match gender: maleducata for a woman.
Incorrect: È molto rude.
Correct: È molto maleducato.
Use maleducato, not the English word rude.
Good to know
Calling someone maleducato to their face is sharp. Italians may mutter it about strangers who cut in line or ignore per favore, but with friends they often soften with un po' or scherzando.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Talking about a rude café customer
ChatPal
Hai sentito quel cliente? Sembrava maleducato.
Did you hear that customer? He seemed rude.
You
Sì, alzare la voce così è maleducato.
Yes, raising your voice like that is rude.
ChatPal
Il barista ha tenuto la calma, per fortuna.
The barista stayed calm, luckily.
You
Meglio non rispondere allo stesso modo.
Better not answer the same way.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Rude" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Rude" in Italian
Does maleducato only mean rude?
It means badly brought up / ill-mannered—close to rude in everyday talk.
What is the feminine form?
Maleducata. Plural: maleducati / maleducate.
Is it okay to say to someone's face?
Be careful—it can sound harsh. Soften with un po' or keep it private.
What is a softer word?
Scortese is a bit milder; maleducato hits manners harder.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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