cricca
clique
noun KREEK-kah Rare
Origin: From French clique, related to the verb cliquer ('to click, clap').
Also means
gang
Usage Note
Cricca carries a strongly negative connotation — it refers to a closed, self-serving group that operates outside normal rules, much like an 'inner circle' or 'cabal'. Unlike the neutral gruppo, cricca implies corruption or exclusivity. The plural is regular: cricche.
Examples
"Una piccola cricca controlla tutti gli appalti."
Natural Translation
A small clique controls all the contracts.
Related Words
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