We’ve all had those moments when we just don’t care—no interest, no energy to pretend. So, in the spirit of showing it loud and clear, here are 10 great ways to say “I don’t care” in Italian. Some are casual and polite, others are pure drama (because let’s be honest, sometimes we want people to know we really mean it!). And of course, let’s not forget the classic “I don’t care” gesture: palm (or even just a finger) under the chin, facing inward, then flicked outward toward whoever’s testing our patience… pure boldness! Just a heads-up: it’s pretty rude, so use it wisely, preferably around friends who’ll laugh, not get offended.
1. Non importa
(It doesn’t have importance)
This is the basic way of saying “I don’t care” in Italian: it’s neutral, polite, and conflict-free, ideal for those situations when something is not a big deal and you want to let the other person know you’re not bothered, without sounding rude. It’s like saying “no worries” or “it’s fine” in English. For example, if a colleague arrives late to a meeting and apologises profusely, but you’ve already handled the situation and it’s no big deal for you, you could say:
Non importa, ho parlato io con il cliente.
It’s fine, I spoke to the client myself.
2. Non mi importa
(It doesn’t matter to me)
This is another natural and commonly used way to express indifference in Italian, but with a more personal touch. The verb is the same—importare (to matter)—but now we’re adding the indirect object pronoun mi (to me), making it clear clear exactly who doesn’t care.
A quick grammar note: in Italian, importare works a bit differently than the English verb “to care.” The thing or person we’re indifferent to is actually the subject of the sentence, while the person who doesn’t care is expressed with an indirect object pronoun, like mi (to me, ti (to you), ci (to us), and so on.
You can use non mi importa on its own or followed by se (if) or di (of) when you want to specify exactly what you don’t care about, like:
In tutta sincerità, non mi importa se viene anche lui.
Honestly, I don’t care if he’s coming too.
To make your disinterest crystal clear, you can also say non me ne importa niente (I couldn’t care less):
Non me ne importa niente se sei impegnato, dobbiamo parlare!
I couldn’t care less if you’re busy, we need to talk!
3. Non mi interessa
Literally: “It doesn’t interest me”
Non mi interessa is very similar to non mi importa: same vibe, just a slightly different level of indifference. Here, you’re making it clear that something simply doesn’t spark your interest.
The verb interessare works just like importare: the thing or person you don’t care about is the subject of the sentence, while you are represented by an indirect object pronoun.
Non mi interessa quanto costano, voglio quelle scarpe!
I don’t care how much they cost, I want those shoes!
If someone keeps pushing, and you need to draw a firmer line, you can opt for the stronger versions: non mi interessa niente (I don’t care at all) and non mi interessa proprio niente (I absolutely do not care). Both sound more definitive, but they’re still totally natural in everyday conversation.
Puoi dire quello che vuoi, non mi interessa niente.
Say whatever you want, I don’t care at all.
4. Me ne frego / Non me ne frega niente
(I don’t give a damn)
Now we’re stepping out of polite territory and into the land of “I seriously could not care less.” Me ne frego and Non me ne frega niente are bold, everyday expressions you’ll hear all the time, though strictly in casual contexts.
Both phrases come from the pronominal verb fregarsene, which is made up of the following elements:
- the verb fregare (to care) – though it can also mean “to scam” or “to rub,” depending on context)
- the reflexive pronoun se , which should technically be si, but it becomes se before another pronoun
- the pronoun particle ne, meaning “about it” or “about them”
It might sound complicated at first, I know, but once you hear it a few times, it clicks. To conjugate this verb, just pick the right reflexive pronoun (like me for “I”), add ne, then finish with the appropriate form of fregare. Want to practise? Check out Achille Lauro’s song “Me ne frego”!
You can use it as a standalone exclamation, like this:
A: Dove vai? Non si può passare di lì! – B: Me ne frego!
A: Where are you going? You can’t go through there! – B: I don’t give a damn!
Or get more specific with di (of) or se (if) + whatever you don’t care about:
Me ne frego di quello che pensa la gente.
I don’t care what people think.
Finally, here are some colourful variations, each one meaning roughly the same thing, with different levels of intensity:
- Non me ne frega un cavolo (I don’t care a cabbage)
- Non me ne frega un cazzo (I don’t give a f**k—super strong)
- Non me ne frega un fico secco (I don’t care a dried fig)
- Non me ne può fregare di meno (I couldn’t care less)
5. Me ne infischio
(I don’t give a damn)
Here’s another wonderfully expressive way to say “I don’t care” in Italian. It comes from the pronominal verb infischiarsene, which works just like fregarsene, so same grammar, same message. The difference is that me ne infischio is a little less common and has a slightly more old-fashioned vibe (but that just adds to its charm!).
Again, you can use it on its own, or follow it with di (of) or se (if) to specify what you don’t give a damn about:
Me ne infischio di queste stupide regole!
I don’t give a damn about these stupid rules!
Sounds pretty confident and dramatic, right?
6. Me ne sbatto
(I couldn’t care less)
Now we’re diving into the more colourful, and decidedly ruder, side of the “I don’t care” spectrum. Me ne sbatto literally translates to “I slam it” (yep, it’s as intense as it sounds), and comes from sbattersene, another pronominal verb. While it follows the same grammar structure as fregarsene and infischiarsene, this expression is far more colloquial and rather rude, so use it sparingly.
A: Non dovresti dire quelle cose, potresti ferire qualcuno! – B: Me ne sbatto, dico quello che penso.
A: You shouldn’t say those things, you might hurt someone! – B: I don’t give a damn, I say what I think.
And if me ne sbatto is not strong enough for you, there are two more intense versions:
- Me ne sbatto le palle – I don’t give a damn (literally: I slam my balls about it)
- Me ne sbatto i coglioni– same idea, just… more anatomical!
These variations are extremely vulgar, so steer clear of them in formal settings. However, if you’re with friends who appreciate your sarcastic humor, they’ll work perfectly to make a bold statement.
7. E allora? / E quindi?
(And so?)
These two Italian expressions are the equivalent of a casual “so what?” in English. Short and sharp, they convey a very laid-back attitude that can come off as playful, indifferent, or even bold. Typically, they’re used to brush off someone’s comment, especially when we’re not impressed or feel like it’s not important.
A: Ho sentito che Alessia sta uscendo con Matteo… – B: E quindi? Ci siamo lasciati, può fare quello che vuole.
A: I heard Alessia is dating Matteo… – B: So what? We broke up, she can do whatever she wants.
8. E sti cavoli?
(And these cabbages?)
E sti cavoli? is a fun and cheeky way to express total indifference in Italian. Just remember: it can be hilarious or a little sharp, depending on how you say it.
A: Serena si è offesa perché non l’hai salutata ieri. – B: E sti cavoli, poteva parlare lei!
Serena got offended because you didn’t say hi yesterday. – Big deal, she could’ve said something herself!
And if cabbages don’t quite hit hard enough, there’s a bolder option: E sti cazzi? (literally: “And these d*cks?”). Yep, it’s vulgar and very street-level, but in the right context, it’s an excellent way to really emphasise your indifference.
9. Embè?
(… and?)
This curious Italian expression is super informal, a bit dismissive, and absolutely perfect for shutting down a comment with just one word. Think of it as the Italian version of “Yeah? And?” , ideal for when someone thinks they’ve made a very good point but you’re completely unimpressed.
A: Se continui a mangiare pizza, non entrerai più nei jeans! – B: Embè? – Ne comprerò un nuovo paio!
If you keep eating pizza, you won’t fit into your jeans anymore! – So what? I’ll buy a new pair!
Especially common in central and southern Italy, embè isn’t exactly rude, but it’s far from polite either—think of it as friendly sarcastic response.
10. Chissene
(Who cares)
Chissene is the slangy shortcut for chi se ne frega?, a lighter, more casual alternative to some of the more intense expressions we’ve seen (me ne sbatto, sti cazzi, etc.). It’s perfect when you want to shrug something off without making a big deal of it.
A: Andrea si è offeso perché non l’hai invitato alla festa. – B: Chissene, sarò libero di invitare chi voglio?!
A: Andrea is upset because you didn’t invite him to the party. – B: Who cares, can I invite whoever I want?
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.
