Italian Phrase
Che schifo!
Meaning
This is a quintessential Italian exclamation used to express strong revulsion or disgust. It can be applied to physical sensations like a bad smell or taste, as well as to moral or social situations that one finds repulsive.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal contexts when reacting to something gross, like rotten food, a dirty room, or even a story about someone's bad behavior. It is very common in daily conversation among friends and family.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cheschifo
Exclamative 'Che'
In Italian, 'Che' followed by a noun or adjective creates an exclamation equivalent to 'What a...' or 'How...' in English.
Noun usage
Unlike the English 'How disgusting' which uses an adjective, Italian uses the noun 'schifo' (disgust) to form this common expression.
🗨In Conversation
C'è una mosca nella tua zuppa!
There is a fly in your soup!
Che schifo! Non la mangio più.
How disgusting! I'm not eating it anymore.
✕Common Mistakes
È schifo
Avoid using the verb 'to be' for this exclamation; Italian uses the exclamative 'Che' with the noun.
Che schifoso
While 'schifoso' is an adjective meaning disgusting, 'Che schifo!' is the standard idiomatic exclamation.
↔Alternatives
Mi fa schifo
It grosses me out
Che orrore
How horrible
Che schifezza
What a mess / What junk
Cultural Tip
Italians are very expressive, and this phrase is often accompanied by a specific facial expression—a wrinkled nose and curled lip. While common, using it to describe food served by a host is considered extremely offensive in Italian culture.