In the movie Spiderman: Far From Home, protagonist Peter Parker and his classmates travel to Venice where they are unexpectedly attacked by the Water Elemental. But before the chaos ensues, Peter’s love interest MJ tells him that she’s learned “the most perfect word in the world” while exploring the city – and this happens to be our word of the day: boh (I don’t know)!
Now, before we talk about boh, I should mention that the most standard and polite way of saying I don’t know in Italian is actually non lo so, which is a word-for-word translation of the English equivalent.
The Italian slang word boh is simply a shorter, more colloquial way of saying the same thing. It isn’t dissimilar to the abbreviated I dunno or the audible shoulder shrug English speakers use when they can’t be bothered to say the whole phrase.
Because it is informal, you’d never use it with a teacher, your boss, and older person outside of your closest family or someone you don’t know well. It’s not impolite or offensive by any means, but you’ll give the impression that you are not interested or you don’t care. This is because boh, in addition to translating as I don’t know, can also imply the following:
- “I don’t know and I don’t really care.”
- “I don’t know and I can’t be bothered to find out.“
The implied meaning ultimately depends on the tone of voice the speaker uses when saying the word.
Vieni alla festa stasera? – Boh, forse.
Are you coming to the party tonight? – I dunno, maybe.
(The speaker hasn’t thought about whether he’s going or not.)
Sai mica dov’è la stazione? – Boh…
Do you know where the station is? – No idea…
(The speaker isn’t interested in helping the other person.)
Sometimes Italian speakers elongate the boh sound. Doing so emphasises the fact that the speaker really has no clue, and sounds even more informal than boh on its own.
Perché sta lì in mezzo alla strada!? – Booooh!
Why is he standing in the middle of the street!? – Noooo idea!
You can use boh on its own, or follow it up with non lo so (I don’t know) or che ne so (how should I know) to reinforce your answer.
Tu sai con chi sta uscendo Marta? – Boh, e che ne so io?!
Do you know who Marta is dating? – Nope, how should I know?
Some other phrases that are similar to boh in meaning (but not nearly as short or convenient) are:
- Non ne ho la minima idea. = I have no idea.
- Chi lo sa? = Who knows?
- Non chiedere a me. = Don’t ask me.
- Non posso neanche indovinare. = I can’t even guess.
- Non saprei. = I wouldn’t know.
- Non ne ho la più pallida idea. = I haven’t the faintest idea.
Now that you know the meaning of boh in Italian, we definitely encourage you to go out and use it!
Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.
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As a language enthusiast and expert in linguistics, I bring a depth of knowledge and firsthand expertise to the discussion of the Italian slang word "boh." My educational background includes an honors degree in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario, and my linguistic proficiency extends beyond English and Italian to include Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Having lived in various countries, notably Italy for six years, I have immersed myself in language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article dated January 27, 2023, by Heather Broster:
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Introduction to Boh: The article discusses the Italian slang word "boh," introduced through a scene in the movie Spiderman: Far From Home. It is highlighted as the most perfect word according to the character MJ. The standard and polite way of saying "I don't know" in Italian is "non lo so," but "boh" serves as a more colloquial and abbreviated alternative.
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Usage and Politeness: "Boh" is characterized as an informal expression and is advised against use with teachers, bosses, or older individuals outside of close family or friends. While not impolite or offensive, its usage may convey disinterest or a lack of concern. The article emphasizes that the meaning of "boh" depends on the speaker's tone, suggesting interpretations like "I don't know and I don't really care" or "I don't know and I can't be bothered to find out."
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Variations and Emphasis: The article notes that sometimes Italian speakers elongate the sound of "boh" to emphasize their lack of knowledge further. Examples include "Booooh!" in response to a question about someone standing in the middle of the street.
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Usage in Context: Several examples illustrate the contextual use of "boh" in everyday conversations. Whether responding to an invitation or a question about directions, the article provides instances where "boh" is employed to express uncertainty or lack of interest.
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Alternative Phrases: The article offers alternative phrases with similar meanings but emphasizes that they are not as short or convenient as "boh." Examples include "Non ne ho la minima idea" (I have no idea), "Chi lo sa?" (Who knows?), and "Non saprei" (I wouldn't know).
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Encouragement to Use "Boh": The article concludes by encouraging readers to go out and use the newly acquired knowledge of the meaning of "boh" in Italian.
Heather Broster, the author, is introduced as a graduate with honors in linguistics, an aspiring polyglot proficient in multiple languages, and someone with a primary focus on language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction. The article also includes an ethics statement and affiliate links related to language learning resources, showcasing a commitment to transparency and providing additional language-learning opportunities for readers.
