Francesco Stefanelli

Articles by the author

ART + CULTURE

Volata, Borda, Tattameo

Volata: Fit of rage or anger. To freak out.   Example: ‘Se un tu la smetti di fare confusione piglio una volata di quelle che tu te ne ricordi!’ (‘If you don’t stop messing around I am going to freak out so bad that you&

THINGS TO DO

Buzzurri, Stonfo, Palletico

Buzzurri: Name for the Swiss citizens who would go south into Italy during the winter to sell polenta and roasted chestnuts   Stonfo: A loud bang   Example: ‘Maremma, che stonfo hanno picchiato quelle du’ macchine!’ (‘Damn, what a loud bang those cars made when they

Lifestyle

Cinta, Aradio, Pettata

Cinta: Belt Example: ‘Che te la se’ messa la cinta? Tu perdi i calzoni!’ (‘Did you put on your belt? Your pants are falling down!’)     Aradio: Radio Example: ‘Allora, spegni l’aradio, un si dorme!’ (‘Oh, turn off the

Lifestyle

Partire, Andito, Spengere

Partire: To divvy something up (bread, wine, meat, etc.); to give out   Example: ‘O nìni, parti i’ pane così e s’inizia a mangiare.’ (‘Little one, divvy up the bread so we can start eating.’)     Àndito: Entranceway

Lifestyle

Sfavato, Cimbardosa, Va’ par che torni

Sfavato: Bored to death, unmotivated, unenthusiastic.   Example: ‘Icchè t’hai oggi? Ti vedo sfavato.’ (‘What’s wrong with you today? You look totally bored to death.’)     Cimbardosa: A gossip, big mouth, windbag.   Example: ‘Quella cimbardosa di’ piano

ART + CULTURE

Essere un muso, Troiaio, Sbrindelloni

  Essere un muso: To be a tough guy. One who has a large set of certain male attributes. In polite company, we might use the expression ‘to have guts.’ ...

FOOD + WINE

Ciantelle, Ischerzo, Portonno

Ciantelle: House shoes; slippers.   Example: ‘Ahh guarda, io appena entro in casa e mi metto subito le ciantelle!' (‘Oh as soon as I get home I'm putting my slippers on!')     Ischerzo: A joke.   Example: ‘O nini, un lo dire nemmeno pe' ischerzo!' (&

Lifestyle

Si rassega, Denti bacati, Trence

Si rassega: Literally, to congeal from the cold. To freeze.   Example: ‘O nini, senti che freddo e si rassega!' (‘Oh, little one, feel how cold it is! We'll freeze!')     Denti bacati: Teeth with cavities.   Example: ‘I' mi' nipote un fa che mangiare

Lifestyle

Ugnelli, Ziba, A buco

Ugnelli: Claws. Example: ‘I' gattaccio che tù c'hai in casa m'ha graffiato con l'ugnelli!'(‘That old cat you have scratched me with his claws!')   Ziba: Old maid. Example: ‘Sieee, la Marcella brutta come llè, rimane ziba tutta la vita!' (‘As

NEWS

Bussata, Giueee!, Tono, Ringambone

Bussata: Downpour. Example: ‘Eccoci! Guarda che nero, ora tu vedrai che si piglia una bussata d'acqua!' (‘Here we go! Look how dark it is; we're going to have a downpour!')   Gìueee!: Exclamation used to express alarm. Example: ‘Gìueeee! E cascano

COMMUNITY

Formicola, Gaga, Impappinarsi, Trattore

Formicola: Ant. Example: ‘O Madonna!! La cucina l’è piena di formicole!!’ (‘Mother of God! The kitchen is full of ants!’)   Gagà: A friendly way to describe a well-dressed person. ...

COMMUNITY

Ficoso

Ficoso: Squeamish.   Example: "Che la smetti di fare i' ficoso!? Mangia dai!" (Quit being squeamish and eat already!)    Gnègnero: Good sense.   Example: "Le' l'ora che tu metta un pò di gnegnero in codesta testaccia!" (It's high time you got some sense

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