Meaning · noun
idiot, moron
- a foolish, stupid, or irritating person
In a sentence
Quel cretino ha dimenticato di nuovo le chiavi.
That idiot forgot the keys again.
Smettila di fare il cretino e aiutami!
Stop fooling around and help me!
Non dare retta a quel cretino, dice solo sciocchezze.
Don't listen to that moron, he only talks nonsense.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|
| cretino | masculine · singular |
| cretini | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Informal: can be mildly offensive or teasing depending on tone and context.
- Also used as an adjective meaning 'foolish' or 'stupid'.
Meaning · adjective
stupid, idiot
- foolish, senseless, or stupid
- person lacking intelligence or acting foolishly (as a noun)
In a sentence
Ha fatto una domanda davvero cretina durante la lezione.
He asked a really stupid question during the lesson.
Smettila di fare il cretino e aiutami!
Stop playing the fool and help me!
Non sono così cretino da credergli.
I'm not so stupid as to believe him.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|
| cretino | masculine · singular |
| cretina | feminine · singular |
| cretini | masculine · plural |
| cretine | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Informal: a mild insult, common in spoken Italian among friends or in annoyance.
- Very frequently used as a masculine or feminine noun: 'un cretino', 'una cretina'.
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