Italian Phrase
Ti fa schifo?
Meaning
This idiomatic expression is used to ask if someone finds something physically or morally repulsive. It literally translates to 'Does it make disgust to you?' and is a very common, albeit blunt, way to express that something is gross.
When to use
Use this in informal settings with friends or family when encountering bad smells, unappealing food, or unpleasant situations. It is too informal and potentially offensive for professional or polite social contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tifaschifo?
Ti (Pronoun)
This is an indirect object pronoun meaning 'to you' in the informal singular form.
Fare (Verb)
The verb 'fa' is the third-person singular of 'fare' (to make/do), used here to describe the effect the object has on the person.
Schifo (Noun)
A noun meaning 'disgust' or 'nausea' which completes the idiomatic verbal unit 'fare schifo'.
🗨In Conversation
Ho trovato una mosca nella mia zuppa!
I found a fly in my soup!
Che orrore! Ti fa schifo?
How horrible! Does it disgust you?
✕Common Mistakes
Tu fai schifo?
This translates to 'Are you disgusting?' which is a personal insult rather than asking about their reaction to an object.
Ti è schifo?
The expression always uses the verb 'fare' (to make), never 'essere' (to be).
↔Alternatives
Non ti piace?
Don't you like it?
Ti disgusta?
Does it disgust you? (More formal)
Cultural Tip
In Italy, food is sacred, so saying 'mi fa schifo' about a meal can be taken as a serious insult to the cook. However, among young people, it is frequently used as a hyperbolic way to describe anything they strongly dislike.