What does “birichino” mean in Italian?

Birichino (fem. birichina) is the affectionate word for someone who’s cheeky or mischievous — never genuinely bad. It’s what you call a kid getting into harmless trouble, or, flirtatiously, a partner who was un po' birichina ieri, “a bit naughty yesterday.” The tone is warm and smiling, not scolding: English “cheeky,” “naughty,” or “little rascal” capture it. It can also colour an expression — un sorriso birichino is a cheeky grin.

As a noun birichino means a brat, imp, scamp, or monkey — usually a child. A single prank is a birichinata. The word likely comes from the Emilian dialect and may be cousin to briccone, “rascal.” Reach for birichino when “mischievous” needs a layer of fondness — it tells the listener you’re teasing, not telling off.