The Italian expression che cavolo! is a mild and common way to show surprise, annoyance, frustration, or disbelief.
Literally, it means “what cabbage,” but Italians use it similarly to saying:
“What the heck?”
or
“What on earth?”
Example:
“Che cavolo stai facendo?”
What the heck are you doing?
It is softer and more polite than stronger expressions and is often used in everyday conversations.
Learn practical Italian expressions and how Italians naturally speak in real life.