sciocchi

Sciocchi is the plural form of the Italian adjective sciocco. In Italian, sciocco describes someone who is foolish, naive, or lacking common sense, or it can refer to actions or statements judged as foolish. As a noun, gli sciocchi means “the fools.”

As usage: sciocco functions as an everyday descriptor and can describe both people and ideas. Common related terms include sciocchezza, meaning a foolish thing or nonsense, and the plural sciocchezze. Phrases such as “Hai detto una sciocchezza” (You said a foolish thing) and “Che sciocchezza!” (What nonsense!) illustrate typical usage. The word can carry mild, humorous, or mildly insulting connotations depending on context and tone.

Etymology and notes: the term originates in standard Italian and has been part of the language for centuries. The precise historical development is not always clear, but sciocco and its related forms are widely understood across Italian-speaking regions. In modern Italian, sciocchi can appear in literature, journalism, and everyday speech, retaining a flexible range from playful teasing to sharp disagreement.

See also: sciocco, sciocchezza, sciocchezze.