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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Shish” is an epic card of the Italian Memes pack, number 37 of the collection, and the 26th best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Shish” meme mean?
Italians quote “shish” when someone launches into confused, hesitant or half-invented English, especially in a speech or a presentation. It is gentle mockery, and people also aim it at themselves when they know they are winging it.
Where does the “Shish” meme come from?
In July 2014, Matteo Renzi, who had become prime minister in February, spoke English at Digital Venice, in Venice, about the Berlin Wall and Europe’s future. His hesitations and pronunciation led internet users to chop the audio into loops. The Local reported that the video “Shish is the Word” turned his unintelligible words into a jingle, set against scenes from Grease and Family Guy, and passed 1.2 million views, while a phonetic translation of the speech reached 880,000. Rolling Stone Italia even built a small game around it called “Shisher”.
- 2014In July, Renzi gives his English speech at Digital Venice; the “Shish is the Word” remixes spread within days.
How to use the “Shish” meme
- She pitched the whole thing in English without taking a breath. Pure shish.
- The intern opened the meeting with a masterful shish and nobody understood half of it.
- Before my English exam I know I’ll end up in Renzi mode: shish, shish, now is time to to to.
Also searched as
- Shish is the Word
- Shisher
- now is time to to to
- Renzi shish meme
- Renzi English speech Digital Venice
- Shish is the Word Renzi
- Renzi now is time to to to
- Renzi bad English video
The “Shish” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 037 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Epic |
| Collection | Italian Memes pack |
| Fame | 70/100 · #26 of 300 |
| Recycle value | 20 MemeCoins (60 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Shish” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Shish comes out of the Italian Memes pack as an epic card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 20 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Shish”
More cards of the Italian Memes pack
Frequently asked questions
What does “shish” mean in the Renzi meme?
It is the sound picked out of remixes of Matteo Renzi’s English speech, used to mock confusing English.
Where did Renzi give the speech?
At Digital Venice, in Venice, in July 2014.
Which video started the meme?
“Shish is the Word”, a remix that turns the speech into a jingle and passed 1.2 million views according to The Local.
How do I get the Shish meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Shish” is an epic card of the Italian Memes pack. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Shish card?
It is an Epic card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: The Local : Italian prime minister’s bad English goes viral · checked on November 6, 2026.
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Want Shish in your collection?
Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.