Breakdown of Questo ragazzo è un cattivaccio e io lo odio.
essere
to be
io
I
un
a / an (masculine)
il ragazzo
the boy
e
and
questo
this (masculine)
lo
him/it (direct object)
odiare
to hate
cattivaccio
nasty / really mean
Questions & Answers about Questo ragazzo è un cattivaccio e io lo odio.
How does the suffix -accio change the meaning of cattivo in cattivaccio?
The suffix -accio is a pejorative, meaning it adds a negative, nasty, or ugly nuance to a word. Since cattivo already means "bad" or "mean," turning it into cattivaccio intensifies it, making him not just bad, but a truly nasty or despicable guy.
Why does the sentence say un cattivaccio instead of just using it as an adjective?
Italian usually drops subject pronouns. Why is io included before lo odio?
You are right that subject pronouns are usually dropped. Including io here adds strong emotional emphasis. The speaker is actively highlighting their personal, intense reaction to the boy's bad behavior, making it sound more like "and I hate him!"
Learn Questo ragazzo è un cattivaccio e io lo odio and more in Italian
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free