An interactive lesson guiding you from key takeaways to expert insights. Comes with Q&A, useful vocabulary, interactive audio, quizzes and games.
Published Sep 18, 2021
Updated Aug 11, 2024
- Italian words
Written by
Stefano
Italian language tutor, course author. MEng, MBA. Member of the International Association of Hyperpolyglots (HYPIA). After learning 12 languages, I can tell you that we all master languages by listening and mimicking. I couldn’t find an app to recommend to my students, so I made my own one. With my method, you’ll be speaking Italian from Lesson 1.
Reviewed by
Martina
A linguist specializing in psycholinguistics and Italian language education. I hold a Research Master’s in Linguistics and teach Italian, passionately connecting research with practical teaching.
Key Takeaways
Discover the meaning and usage of the Italian interjection boh, and how it reflects a laid-back attitude in everyday conversations.
- Meaning: Boh is an informal way to say “I don’t know” in Italian, similar to “dunno.”
- Usage: It can also express indifference or reluctance, like “I don’t care” or “I don’t want to talk about it.”
- Gesture: Italians often accompany boh with a specific gesture: thrusting the chin forward and pulling the lips down while opening the arms.
- Philosophy: The word embodies a relaxed, go-with-the-flow attitude, encapsulating various emotions in one syllable.
Quick facts
What does "boh" mean in Italian?
"Boh" is an informal way to say "I don't know."
Is "boh" a real Italian word?
Yes, it's an interjection used to express indifference or uncertainty.
Can "boh" be used in other languages?
Italians often use "boh" even when speaking other languages, causing confusion.
How do Italians express "boh" non-verbally?
They thrust their chin forward, pull lips down, and open arms.
What emotions does "boh" convey?
It conveys indifference, reticence, and a lack of preference.
How can "boh" indicate not caring?
It can mean "I don't care" or "I don't want to talk about it."
Can "boh" mean "I have no preference"?
Yes, it can be used to express having no preference.
How might "boh" reflect a lifestyle?
It embodies a laid-back attitude towards uncertainty and challenges.
Is "boh" only used in casual conversation?
Yes, "boh" is typically used in informal, conversational contexts.
How is "boh" perceived in Italian culture?
It's seen as a versatile, peaceful expression encapsulating multiple emotions.
Audio images
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Main Article
What’s the meaning of boh? Is it even a real Italian word?
Well, you could consider it as such, although it would be fairer to call it an interjection – an exclamation used to express sudden emotions, like: “Ouch!” or “Hey!”.
For many Italians, boh is such an instinctive reaction that they use it even when speaking in other languages, confusing everyone else.
So, what should you deduce when you hear someone saying it? Let’s find out!
How do you use Boh in Italian? | Dunno in Italian
The meaning of boh is easily explained: boh is the most informal way to say “I don’t know” in Italian. It’s kind of like when we say “dunno.”
A: “Dove sarà Grazia ora?” B: “Boh. L’ultima volta che l’ho sentita viveva a Berlino”
A: “I wonder where Grazia is now” B:” Dunno. Last time I’ve heard from her, she was living in Berlin.”
Boh can also mean “I don’t care” or “I don’t want to talk about it” – always in a conversational way. More generally, it means that the speaker is feeling some kind of indifference or reticence.
A: “Che film vuoi vedere stasera?” B: “Boh… tu hai qualche idea?”
A: “Which movie do you want to see tonight?” B: “I have no preference. Do you have any ideas?”
“Boh… io ti ho dato il mio consiglio, ora fai come ti pare.”
“Dunno… I’ve given you my advice, now do what you want.”
Italians even have a gesture to say boh. It consists of thrusting the chin forward and pulling the lips down while opening the arms. Surely you’ve seen this before in some movie or in real life.
Living the Boh Life
The meaning of boh wraps so many words and emotions into one single syllable – how awesome is that?
And it has such a peaceful sound….
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Boh isn’t just a word, interjection, or whatever – it’s a way of life:
- “Am I good enough for this? Boh…I’ll find out as I go.“
- “What happens if I fail? Boh…but I’ll get through it!“
- “When will the next post come ou… – no, wait! This example doesn’t fit. 😀
I’ll be back very soon to teach you new Italian words, so don’t forget to check this blog. See you next time!
Learn more about the Italian word Tesoro.
Test your knowledge in 10 quick questions
Words
bohI don't know
perchéwhy
comehow
dovewhere
cosawhat
quandowhen
chiwho
qualewhich
quantohow much
perfor
Phrases
bohI don't know
come staihow are you
buongiornogood morning
per favoreplease
graziethank you
scusaexcuse me/sorry
dov'è il bagnowhere is the bathroom
quanto costahow much does it cost
non capiscoI don't understand
a che oraat what time
Match the Phrases
Memory game
Flip the cards to find matching pairs!
Crossword
Across
Down
Answers
Sentences
Non lo so.
I don't know.
Boh, forse sì, forse no.
I don't know, maybe yes, maybe no.
Che cosa significa "boh"?
What does "boh" mean?
Lui ha detto "boh" e se n'è andato.
He said "boh" and left.
Quando non sai cosa rispondere, puoi dire "boh".
When you don't know what to answer, you can say "boh".
FAQs
What does "boh" mean in Italian?
"Boh" is an interjection used to express sudden emotions, and it is the most informal way to say "I don't know" in Italian. It can also mean "I don't care" or "I don't want to talk about it" in a conversational way.
Is there a gesture associated with saying "boh" in Italian?
Yes, there is a gesture that consists of thrusting the chin forward, pulling the lips down, and opening the arms.
Comments
Italian word of the day
capisci
Example
Capisci? Sì, capisco.
Do you understand? Yes, I understand.
See more examples
