Meaning
joke; prank
- something not to be taken seriously
In a sentence
Era solo uno scherzo, non ti arrabbiare.
It was just a joke, don't get mad.
Per te questo lavoro è uno scherzo?
Is this job a joke to you?
Non fare scherzi a tuo fratello.
Don't play pranks on your brother.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| scherzo | masculine · singular |
| scherzi | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- For a verbal joke, Italians often say battuta; scherzo is broader and also covers pranks or teasing.
- In non-musical use, scherzo is usually masculine singular: fare uno scherzo, per scherzo.
- È uno scherzo means “it’s a joke”; che scherzo! can mean “what a joke” or “how easy.” Context matters.