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beffa

mockery, trick, jest

noun BEF-fah Rare
Mind & Emotions Attitudes

Origin: Origin uncertain; possibly from a Germanic root meaning 'to mock'.

Usage Note

Beffa describes a mean-spirited joke or trick played on someone — closer to 'hoax' or 'mockery' than a lighthearted scherzo. The phrase la beffa più grande suggests an especially cruel irony or twist. Beffare is the verb (to mock, to trick); beffarsi di means 'to make fun of'. Plural: beffe.

Examples

"Quella sconfitta è stata una beffa."

Natural Translation

That defeat was a cruel joke.

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