Looking for ways to say “rascal” in Italian? You’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll explore 12 lively and expressive words that perfectly describe a troublemaker! Whether you’re describing a cheeky youngster or someone with dubious behaviour, these terms will add personality to your vocabulary!
1. Monello/a
Monello is a playful and endearing term to call someone a “rascal” in Italian. It’s perfect for those adorable little troublemakers who are always up to something, playing all sorts of pranks and creating chaos. For example, you might say:
Luca, metti giù quel vaso! Sei proprio un monello!
Luca, put that vase down! You’re such a rascal!
While this word is primarily reserved for little kids, sometimes you can let it sneak into adult conversations for a bit of playful teasing or in an affectionate manner. For instance, parents might call their grown-up son a monello in a nostalgic, teasing way.
You could even use monello flirtatiously with your partner, meaning “naughty” but in a cute way. Just be careful when using it with girls, as in certain contexts it could evoke a provocative, ‘lolita’ connotation.
2. Birichino/a
The word birichino perfectly captures that cheeky energy often found in children. Picture a kid gleaming with a cheeky grin, caught in the middle of some harmless prank — that’s birichino in a nutshell!
Serena è sempre stata una bambina birichina.
Serena was always a mischievous little girl.
Many pronounce it with a double “c” (biricchino), but remember: it’s written with just one “c.”
The origins of birichino trace back to 18th-century Bologna, where it was used to refer to gang members who caused all sorts of trouble in town. Adding to its intrigue, some believe that it originated from Barachin, the old name of a devil figure. How fitting for a word that encapsulates playful naughtiness!
Birichino can also describe expressions, like a cheeky grin (sorriso birichino) or mischievous glint in the eye (sguardo birichino). Plus, we have birichinata, which means a playful prank or mischief.
3. Birba
Birba is another common word we use to describe a child who’s clever, lively, and just a little bit mischievous. Picture a kid hiding your reading glasses and giggling from behind the couch. You’d shake your head smiling and say:
Ma sei proprio una birba tu!
You really are a little rascal!
Birba works for both boys and girls. Whether it’s Marco who’s always up to no good (Marco è una vera birba!) or Maria playing harmless tricks (Maria è una vera birba!), the word stays the same.
Interestingly, birba comes from the French bribe, which means “a piece of bread” and, by extension, referred to a beggar or rogue. Over time, we adopted it, but we turned the negative connotation into a playful way to describe troublemaking kids.
This word has many variations in everyday speech, for example: birbaccia, birbante, birbantello, and birbone.
And here’s a fun fact: Birba is the name of Azrael, Gargamel’s cat, in the Italian version of The Smurfs!
4. Briccone/a
To say “rascal” in Italian with a sense of cleverness mixed with a little bit of trickery, briccone is the word you need!
In its primary meaning, this word refers to someone deceitful, but you might us it to refer to a child who is always up to mischief or a family member full of playful tricks, for instance:
Quel briccone di zio Gino ne sa una più del diavolo!
That rascal of uncle Gino knows more tricks than the devil!
The diminutive form, bricconcello, is also quite common, and it adds an even lighter, more affectionate tone, implying a smaller or more endearing “rascal.”
5. Discolo
The word discolo has its roots in the Latin dyscolus, meaning “troublesome” or “intractable” and we use it to describe a child who is a bit unruly and rebellious but in a lighthearted, affectionate way. It’s the sort of kid who can’t sit still, is always testing boundaries, and has a remarkable ability for turning even the simplest situation into a delightful (or exasperating!) mess. For example, an Italian parent might teasingly say:
Voi non ve lo ricordate, ma eravate dei veri discoli da piccoli!
You don’t remember, but you were real troublemakers as kids!
In Italian culture, a popular synonym for discolo is Gian burrasca, the nickname of the protagonist in the old children’s novel Il Giornalino di Gian Burrasca (“Gian Burrasca’s Diary”). Gian Burrasca is the ultimate mischievous child, always inventing schemes, breaking rules, and driving adults up the wall—yet somehow managing to be super lovable. Calling someone a Gian Burrasca is like saying, “You’re a little rascal!”
6. Peste
Peste literally translates to “plague”, as in the historic disease that caused chaos and destruction. But don’t worry! In Italian, it’s far from catastrophic. In fact, peste has become a playful way to describe a mischievous child who stirs up trouble. To make it even sweeter, you can use piccola peste (little plague).
Here’s an example:
Anna, smettila di tirare i capelli a tua sorella. Sei proprio una peste!
Anna, stop pulling your sister’s hair. You’re such a rascal!
Grammatically, peste is a feminine noun, so even if you’re talking about a boy, all the adjectives you use with it need to match the feminine form. So, you’d say quella piccola peste for a boy or a girl—no exceptions.
Another playful word in the same family is pestifero/a. Historically, it referred to someone spreading the plague, but nowadays it’s just another way to describe someone who’s a bit of a troublemaker.
7. Brigante
In its primary sense, a brigante is a bandit, referring to someone who is part of a group that ambushes and robs people, often in rural or mountainous areas. This meaning carries strong negative connotations and is rooted in historical contexts, particularly in Southern Italy, where brigandry has been a significant part of regional history. Because of this, tossing this word around lightly in some regions might raise a few eyebrows.
However, in a more playful context, brigante can be used affectionately to describe kids who delight in harmless mischief. You can even shrink it down to brigantello to make it more endearing. Just don’t expect it to pop up in everyday conversation too often—it’s less common than other words on this list.
Che briganti! Hanno preso le caramelle dalla mia borsa e si sono nascosti!
What rascals! They took the candies from my bag and hid themselves!
8. Mascalzone
Mascalzone is a way to say “rascal” in Italy that might sound a bit old-school, but it’s definitely worth keeping in your vocabulary, especially after it gained some international fame thanks to the yacht named “Mascalzone Latino” that competed in the America’s Cup.
When used playfully, mascalzone describes a cheeky troublemaker, the kind of person who’s always cooking up playful schemes. The diminutive form, mascalzoncello, emphasizes the endearing humour:
Quel mascalzoncello di Luca mi ha fatto uno scherzo e quasi ci cascavo!
That little rascal Luca played a prank on me, and I almost fell for it!
But mascalzone can also be used to call out someone behaving dishonorably or inappropriately—particularly when it comes to love and relationships:
Che mascalzone quell’Andrea, l’ha sedotta e poi è sparito!
What a scoundrel that Andrea, he seduced her and then disappeared!
Interestingly, mascalzone is almost always masculine — the feminine version is practically nonexistent!
9. Malandrino/a
Similar to mascalzone, malandrino is one of those old-time Italian words that instantly makes you smile. It’s used in a playful, teasing way to describe a rascal. Think of it as the kind of word grandparents would pull out when their grandkids have been up to some light-hearted prank. For example:
Quei malandrini mi hanno nascosto il giornale e non riesco a trovarlo!
Those rascals hid my newspaper and I can’t find it!
Fun fact for fans of Harry Potter: in the Italian translation, the “Marauder’s Map” that tracks the movements of every person in Hogwarts is called Mappa del Malandrino!
10. Farabutto/a
Farabutto is a word to say “rascal” in Italian with a strong and somewhat offensive connotation. It describes someone who behaves dishonestly or commits bad actions, similar to “scoundrel” in English. It comes from a Dutch term that meant “corsair” or “raider”, which highlights the negative traits associated with it.
While the word is common in modern Italian, it’s considered fairly harsh and is best used with caution, as it directly accuses someone of dishonesty or bad behavior. For example:
Quel farabutto mi ha truffato!
That scoundrel swindled me!
11. Furfante
Furfante indicates a deceiver. The word has its roots in the Latin foris facere, meaning “to act outside what is permitted,” highlighting the idea of someone defying norms.
Furfante can have both serious and light-hearted connotations. For example, it might refer to a petty thief or someone who commits minor crimes, such as:
Hanno acciuffato quei furfanti che hanno truffato gli anziani del quartiere!
They caught those tricksters who scammed the elderly in the neighborhood!
But it can also be used humorously to describe a mischievous child. In this case, the diminutive form, furfantello, softens the tone further. For example:
Ma che furfantello che sei, hai mangiato tutte le caramelle!
What a little rascal you are; you ate the candies!
12. Canaglia
At its core, canaglia describes someone you wouldn’t want to trust. The word comes from the Latin canis (dog) and evokes the image of a scrappy pack of stray dogs ready to cause trouble.
However, in everyday Italian, canaglia can also be used humorously to describe someone who’s more mischievous than malevolent. For example:
Ah, canaglia! Riportami subito il portafoglio!
Ah, you rascal! Bring me back the wallet immediately!
Want to really get the feel for this word? Tune in to “Nostalgia canaglia” (literally, “evil nostalgia”) by the iconic Italian duo Al Bano and Romina Power!
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.
