Mercutio (/mɜːrˈkjuːʃioʊ/ mur-KEW-shee-oh; Italian: Mercuzio [merˈkuttsjo]) is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's 1597 tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. He is a close friend to Romeo and a blood relative to Prince Escalus and Count Paris. As such, Mercutio is one of the few characters in the play who can mingle with people from both of the feuding Montague and Capulet families. The invitation to Lord Capulet's party states that he has a brother named Valentine.
Though often fun-loving and witty, the latter demonstrated in his Queen Mab speech in the first act, Mercutio's sense of humour can at times be facetious or even coarse, much to his friends' annoyance. He is also moody and given to sudden outbursts of temper, one of which sets a key plot development in motion.