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folle

mad, crazy, insane

adjective FOL-leh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Personality

Origin: From Latin follis (bellows, windbag) — later 'empty-headed, mad'.

Also means

reckless, wild

Usage Note

Folle is a two-form adjective (folle m/f; plural folli). It is stronger than matto or pazzo in formal registers, though all overlap in colloquial speech. As a noun, il/la folle means 'a madman/madwoman.' In driving, in folle means 'in neutral gear' — a completely unrelated technical sense.

Examples

"È una decisione folle e pericolosa."

Natural Translation

It is a mad and dangerous decision.

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