Italian Word of the Day: Noia (boredom / bore)

You might already know the verb annoiarsi (to be bored), but you’re less likely to have come across the noun noia (boredom / bore). I was inspired to write about this word because it’s the title of Italy’s Eurovision submission by Angelina Mango!

/nò·ia/ – [ˈnɔja]
Italian word "noia"

The word originates from Provençal enoja, derived from enojar, and the Late Latin inodiare meaning to hate.

Noia is a feminine noun that takes the following definite and indefinite articles:

  • la noia = the boredom
  • una noia = a boredom
  • le noie = the boredoms
  • delle noie = some boredoms

In addition to boredom, noia also carries the figurative meaning of bother, annoyance, trouble, problem and issue. Indeed, you’ll notice that the English word annoyance bears a striking resemblance to noia. That’s because its etymology can also be traced back to the Latin inodiare via French.



You will often see noia used, literally and figuratively, in the company of the following verbs:

  • venire a noia = to become unbearable / tiresome
  • ammazzare la noia = to relieve the boredom (literally “to kill the boredom”)
  • vincere la noia = to relieve the boredom (literally “to win over boredom”)
  • dar(e) noia = to annoy / to pester
  • morire di noia = to die of boredom
  • prendere a noia = to be annoyed by
  • avere noie con qualcuno / qualcosa = to have problems with someone / something
  • ingannare la noia = to escape from boredom

A very common exclamation of frustration in Italian is Che noia! which means What a bore! / How boring!


You can also use noia to characterise a person or thing you find dull. In such instances, you might hear expressions like una noia mortale (a dead bore), una noia terribile (a terrible bore), and una tale noia (such a bore).

*Note: you can also say the phrase above with the addition of the preposition di (Luca è di una noia mortale).


Shot of a handsome young businessman sitting and looking bored in the city.

Before we conclude this article, let’s take a moment to listen to the hit song that served as the inspiration behind it. Do you believe it stands a chance at Eurovision this year?


Ethics statement: Below you will find affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking the link, we will receive a small commission. To know more about our ethics, you can visit our full disclosure page. Thank you!

Lingopie (affiliate link) is the Netflix of language learning application that uses real TV shows and movies to help you learn a new language. You can choose a show to watch based on your fluency level, and use the interactive subtitles to get instant translations to help you learn quickly.

Are you interested in improving your Italian in a fun and stress-free manner? Then we highly recommend Serena Capilli's short stories in Italian (affiliate link), designed for beginners, advanced beginners, and lower intermediate learners (A1-B1 CEFR). These stories have been optimised for English speakers in search of a fun, laid-back learning experience! Read our full review here.


Leave a Comment