Italian · Adjectives
bad / naughty
Of poor quality or a low standard; morally wrong.
Il bambino è stato cattivo oggi.
The child was naughty today.
'Cattivo' comes from the Latin 'captivus,' which translates to 'prisoner' or 'captivated.' Its connotation shifted over time to imply something morally wrong or undesirable.
'Cattivo' is primarily used in informal contexts, mainly in spoken language, though it can appear in literature. The term is understood across different regions in Italy.