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zoccola

sewer rat

noun DZOK-koh-lah Rare

Also means

slut (vulgar insult)

Usage Note

Zoccola has two very distinct meanings: in standard Italian it is a sewer rat (rattus norvegicus), but as Roman and southern Italian slang it is a strongly vulgar insult for a promiscuous woman. The two meanings cause accidental offence — learners reading about rodents in Italian should be aware the word looks innocent in a biology text but is explosive in conversation. Plural: zoccole.

Examples

"Una zoccola ha attraversato la strada."

Natural Translation

A sewer rat crossed the road.

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