vaffanculo Italian · revision 38941

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1953, Aldo Palazzeschi}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /vaf.fanˈku.lo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vaffanculo''' (interjection; also a masculine noun, invariable)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ Shortened forms are '''fanculo''', '''affanculo''' and '''vaffa'''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a contraction of the phrase va’ a fa’ ’n culo, “go and do it in the arse”, made up of the imperative [[andare|alt=va’]], [[a]], the shortened infinitive [[fare|alt=fa’]], [[in|alt=’n]] and [[culo|t=arse]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary) The fuller phrase is va’ a fare in culo, with an allusion to sodomy.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010) The Italian Wiktionary notes that the insult was originally homophobic.^(Wikizionario)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ GRADIT's first record is in Aldo Palazzeschi's novel ''Roma'' (1953).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Besides an insult telling someone to go away, the word expresses annoyance at a thing or event, without anyone to address it to.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) It is also a noun: one can “send a ''vaffanculo''” to someone.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1953 – Palazzeschi uses ''vaffanculo'' in the novel ''Roma''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(vulgar)'' An [[m|en|insult]] telling someone who is annoying to stop and go away, “fuck off”: ''Vaffanculo, lasciami stare!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(vulgar)'' An exclamation of anger or annoyance at something: ''Vaffanculo, ho perso le chiavi!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(vulgar)'' The insult itself: ''Se n'è andato con un vaffanculo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[culo]]

+ * [[andare]]

+ * [[fare]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}