15 Things Italian Moms Always Say to Their Kids

Are you ready to step into a world of endless wisdom, humor, and affection? Family is everything to us in Italy, and the mother is the queen of the castle. Italian mothers may appear overly protective at times, but their actions come from a place of love and concern.

In an Italian home, it is common to encounter familiar expressions time and time again. Below I’ve gathered a collection of 15 things Italian moms say to their kids all the time, which showcase their expertise in blending care and discipline. From timeless advice on life to humorous remarks and tender reprimands, these quintessential Italian mom expressions always have us nodding and giggling with nostalgia.

Let’s start with a great classic that always makes me laugh when I think of it: “Come ti ho fatto, ti distruggo!”. This fierce phrase, translating to “As I made you, I can destroy you”, is the go-to motto for Italian mothers who’ve had enough of their kids’ antics.

Think of it as a playful warning that even though our fabulous moms love us to bits, they still have their breaking point. So, when you hear this phrase, you know it’s time to take a step back and give your mom some space to breathe.

Picture this: you’re navigating the turbulent waters of your rebellious teenage years, thirsting for tattoos, piercings, and the sweet taste of freedom. And then, the all-too-familiar parental chant begins: “Finché vivi sotto il mio tetto fai quello che ti dico io!”.

Literally translating to “As long as you live under my roof, you do what I tell you”, think of this phrase as an unspoken contract between an Italian mother and her children. The underlying message is something like this: “Darling, the moment you’re ready to spread your wings and leave the nest, you’ll be the captain of your own ship. But until then, you better follow my rules”.

Time for a major attitude adjustment! The expression “Da oggi si cambia musica!” translates to “From today on, we change tune”, where the word “tune” precisely refers to a behaviour moms are tired of and want to change.

Imagine you’ve been slacking off at school or ignoring your chores at home, and your mom has had enough. She might drop this line to let you know it’s time to get your act together and start hustling. Basically, it’s like she’s hitting the “reset” button on your behaviour and starting it fresh!

Whether you’re an energetic 10-year-old or a savvy 40-something, one thing remains constant: when you move away from your dear mother, she’ll always say “Chiamami quando arrivi” (Call me when you get there) to ease her worried mind. And heaven help you if you forget!

It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling to the other side of the world or just a few miles away: you best give a sign of life once you arrive at your destination, or else the poor woman will be in a state of full-blown panic. Of course, we always forget to do it!

Imagine you’re going about your day when suddenly your phone rings. It’s your mom, but you’re in the middle of something important, so you let it go to voicemail. Big mistake. Next thing you know, you’re bombarded with messages from her on WhatsApp, starting with “Perché non rispondi mai al telefono?” (“Why don’t you ever answer the phone?“).

You try to explain that you’re a grown-up with responsibilities, but she’s already channeling her own Jessica Fletcher and concocting wild scenarios in her head! Let’s face it, no matter how old we get, we can’t escape her overactive imagination.

This is another great classic in the repertoire of Italian moms: “Non sudare” (Don’t sweat). I have yet to find an Italian child who has never been scolded by their mother for sweating too much. As if we have any control over our sweating levels!

Italian moms have a real phobia of sweat. For them, sweat is a one-way ticket to illness, fever, and death! It doesn’t matter if it’s summer and you’re going to play on the beach with your friends, your mom will always tell you “Non sudare!”.

Translating to “This house is not a hotel!”, Italian moms everywhere use this classic line to remind their teenage kids that home is not just a place to crash but rather a place to live and be a part of the family.

A typical example is when you miss Sunday lunch with the whole family to go out with friends, but before you reach the door, she catches you and blurts out, “This house is not a hotel!”. It’s such a common saying that in 2000, a TV series was even named after it!

It’s hardly unexpected that food plays a significant role in the lives of many Italian families. Consequently, it’s only natural for some mothers to be particularly passionate about it. The phrase “Hai mangiato?” (Have you eaten?) is commonly uttered by Italian moms, even to their children who are approaching retirement age.

When faced with this question, you have two choices: admit you haven’t eaten and watch as your mother whips up every Italian recipe in her repertoire, as well as prepares lunch boxes for the entire week. Alternatively, confess that you’ve already eaten, but be prepared for your mom to offer “solo una cosina” (only a small thing) – only to discover it is actually an elaborate spread!

Among the special secret weapons of Italian mothers, there is a phrase that has the power to make the hearts of their children tremble: “Aspetta che lo venga a sapere tuo padre!” (Wait until your father finds out!). Of course, this can be applied differently in each family, depending on who the stricter one is.

This is a sophisticated tool of parental persuasion, capable of keeping the wildest kids in check and immediately quashing any potential domestic uprisings at their inception.

Italian mothers possess undeniable strength and resilience! They’re masters at getting things done quickly and efficiently. In fact, they’re so confident in their abilities that you’ll often hear they confidently declare “Spostati che faccio io” (Move, I’ll do it) when they believe they can perform a task better and faster than their kids.

Do you want to wash the dishes to help mom? Forget it, you can’t quite measure up to mom’s standards! But we’re not offended, we know it’s just their way of showing love and affection.

When an Italian child misbehaves, their mom often warns them by saying, “Guarda che conto fino a tre.” This translates to “I’m counting to three,” and is essentially the Italian equivalent of “I’m giving you a countdown”.

The question arises: what happens when the count reaches 3? Fortunately, Italian mothers rarely have to demonstrate the consequences, because when they start counting, children instinctively understand that they need to correct their behaviour immediately.

Italian moms know their kids are constantly pushing boundaries and testing limits, so when they hit them with a “Pensi sia nata ieri?” (Do you think I was born yesterday?), it’s their way of saying, “Honey, you can’t fool me with those little tricks!”

This iconic question showcases the wisdom and experience that Italian mothers are known for. But it also holds an endearing touch of humor, highlighting the playful relationship between mothers and their children.

One of the things Italian mothers always say to their kids when in public is “Non farmi fare brutta figura”, which translates to “Don’t make me look bad”. This catchy saying well reflects that deeply ingrained Italian value, the bella figura, which is all about the importance of making a good impression and maintaining a positive reputation in social situations.

When Italian moms whisper this into their little ones’ ears, they do so to make us aware of our actions and how they impact the family’s image. This age-old wisdom passed down through generations continues to shape our social fabric.

The phrase “Portati la giacca!” echos through Italian households as mothers remind their children to grab their jackets – even amidst the scorching sunbeams of August! But this phrase is more than just a casual reminder; it’s a heartfelt expression of their tender care and wisdom.

Italian mothers know that life, much like the weather, can be unpredictable, dazzling us with sunshine one moment and drenching us in an unexpected downpour the next. By encouraging us to always have a jacket at the ready, they’re imparting the art of resourcefulness!

At the end of the day, mothers just want to give us the tools we need to succeed as adults. Every gentle nudge to improve our posture, every wise word to deter us from making poor choices – all of it stems from that unwavering maternal love. It’s no wonder we often hear Italian moms exclaim “Un giorno mi ringrazierai!” (One day you’ll thank me!).

Italian mothers firmly believe that these invaluable insights will leave a lasting impact on our lives. And as we mature and grow, we gradually come to appreciate the knowledge, virtues, and life lessons they have bestowed upon us!

Valentina Nicastro

Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.