With the Euros in full swing, knowing Italian football lingo has never been more useful. This year’s European Championship, hosted in various stadiums across Germany, has teams from all over the continent, including the reigning Euro 2020 champions, Italy, competing for the cup.
Why Learn Italian Football Terms?
Even if football isn’t your usual idea of fun or you don’t support a European team, it’s worth noting that football is hugely popular in Italy. Impress your Italian friends by learning a few key words and phrases. Italians take their football very seriously, as evidenced by the national team captain Gianluigi Donnarumma’s statement: “We are here to defend our title, we want to do the maximum to get into the finals again.”
Essential Italian Football Vocabulary
The Game
- Football/soccer – il calcio
- Match – la partita
- First half – il primo tempo
- Second half – il secondo tempo
- Half time – l’intervallo
- Overtime – il tempo supplementare
The Team
- The Italian national team – la nazionale italiana
- Team – la squadra
- Footballer/soccer player – il calciatore
- Captain – il capitano
- Defender – il difensore
- Goalkeeper – il portiere
- Striker – l’attaccante
- Midfielder – il centrocampista
- Left winger – l’ala sinistra
- Right winger – l’ala destra
- Substitute – il sostituto
- Referee – l’arbitro
- Coach – l’allenatore
The Pitch and Stadium
- Pitch – il campo
- Stadium – lo stadio
- Football – il pallone
- Flag – la bandierina
- Penalty box – l’area di rigore
- Goal – la porta
- Fans – i tifosi
- Yellow/red card – il cartellino giallo/rosso
The Plays and Passes
- Foul – il fallo
- Free kick – il calcio di punizione
- Tackle – il contrasto
- Header – il colpo di testa
- Corner kick – il calcio d’angolo
- Penalty shootout – i rigori
- Goal – il gol
- Own goal – l’autogol
The Results
- Win – vincere
- Lose – perdere
- Draw – pareggiare
Common Phrases
- “What a save!” – “Che parata!”
- “Penalty!” – “Rigore!”
- “Offside!” – “Fuorigioco!”
- “Who do you support?” – “Per chi tifi?”
- “Who is playing?” – “Chi gioca?”
- “Are you joking, ref?!” – “Stai scherzando arbitro?!”
- “What a goal!” – “Che gol!”
- “Come on!” – “Dai!”
- “Come on you blues!” – “Forza gli Azzurri!”
Conclusion
Learning these Italian football terms can enhance your enjoyment of the Euros and help you connect with Italian friends and fans. For more exciting updates and information on where to watch the matches, stay tuned!
