Breakdown of Che doganiere pignolo che è!
essere
to be
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
il doganiere
customs officer
pignolo
fussy / meticulous (nitpicking)
Questions & Answers about Che doganiere pignolo che è!
Why are there two ches in this sentence?
The first che acts as an exclamatory adjective meaning "what a" (as in "what a customs officer"). The second che is a "pleonastic" (technically unnecessary but grammatically accepted) word used in colloquial Italian to add emphasis and link the exclamation to the verb. It reinforces the emotion of the sentence. While you could technically just say Che doganiere pignolo è!, adding that second che makes it sound much more natural and expressive in everyday conversation.
Could I drop the che è at the end completely?
Yes, absolutely! You will frequently hear Italians use the verbless exclamation Che doganiere pignolo! Dropping the verb makes the exclamation shorter and punchier. However, when you do decide to include the verb (è) to form a complete clause, using that second che is the most natural way to bridge them.
Why isn't there a word for "a" in the Italian sentence, like in the English "What a..."?
Does pignolo just mean "fussy," or does it have a stronger connotation?
Pignolo describes someone who is overly meticulous, pedantic, or obsessed with small details. While it can sometimes be used playfully, it usually has a slightly negative or annoyed connotation, implying that the person's perfectionism is excessive. It is the perfect word for a customs officer who is scrutinizing your luggage a little too thoroughly!
Could I change the word order to Che pignolo doganiere che è!?
No, that would sound unnatural. In Italian, adjectives that classify or distinguish a noun from others (like being "fussy" as opposed to "relaxed") almost always go after the noun. The standard structure for this type of exclamation is Che + noun + adjective + che + verb.
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