Skip to content

malizioso

mischievous, sly

adjective mah-leets-YOH-zoh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Personality

Origin: From Latin 'malitiosus', from 'malitia' (malice).

Also means

malicious, wicked

Usage Note

Malizioso spans a wide register: in mild contexts it means playfully mischievous or sly (un sorriso malizioso = a knowing, cheeky smile); in stronger contexts it means truly malicious or wicked. Context determines the weight. It is a false friend for English 'malicious' in casual speech — Italians often use it for harmless cunning rather than genuine ill intent. Agrees in gender: malizioso, maliziosa.

Examples

"Mi ha lanciato uno sguardo malizioso."

Natural Translation

She gave me a mischievous look.

Explore Italian by topic