During my coffee break at Leo ( roughly 8AM-3PM), I read an article about President Obama's problems with his Lefty base. I saw this photo attached to the article and thought - the President is a CheeseKnife? No. Could he be a Mason? The poor man has enough problems with that whole Muslim thing.
Then, I remembered a recent poll that showed Italian American New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ( Fuggedaboudid!) to be much more popular than our current POTUS. Governor Christie is the Fiorllo La Guardia of our age. He is a good guy who looks like Bobby Baccala on The Sopranos. Janet Napolitano looks like Paulie Walnuts, but Hey Fuggedaboudid! Perhaps, Dave Axelrod decided to spin the Compelling Narrative President with some real “Gabbagul” Italian. You didn't hear it from me! I'm just sayin'.
Here ( above) is the President doing the mano cornuta to ward off the Malocchio - Hey, I'm just sayin' . . .no disrespect.
Next, we may hear any combinations of the following coming from Caporegime Obama, which would open the gates to regular guys from the Heart of Italy in Chicago ( 24th & Oakley) to Cherry Street in Manhattan.
aduzipach/aduzipazz – you’re crazy (ma tu sei pazzo) [aa-DOO-zee-PAACH]/[aa-DOO-zee-PAATS]
afanabola!/vafanabola!/a fa napule – go to hell! – Note: Literally means “go to Naples” (a fa Napoli!) [aa-faa-NAA-boe-laa]
agita – heartburn/indigestion (aciditá) [AA-jih-tuh]
ammonini! – let’s go! (andiamo!) [aa-moe-NEE-nee]
andosh – nickname for “Anthony” (Antonio) [aan-DOESH]
awunda? – where? (awundi?) [aa-WOON-duh]
awunda ciunca? – where does it hurt? (awundi ciunca?) [aa-WOON-duh-CHOON-kuh?]
assai – a lot (molto) [aah-SYE]
bacous’/bacouz – bathroom (backhouse) [buh-KOWZ]
bash/basc’ – down/downstairs (bascia) [BAASH]
bada bing! – bam!; Note: Popularized in the 1970s by The Godfather character Santino Corleone
biangolin’ – bleach (bianco lino) [byaan-GO-leen]
bicuridu – my little boy/my little baby (piccolo bambino) [BEECH-oo-REE-doo]
boombots – nickname for an idiot; Note: As in “Vinnie Boombots” [boom-BAATS]
boxugeddu – box (box per oggetti) ["box"-oo-JED-oo]
braggiol’ – meat and sauce/male anatomy (bracciole) [BRAAJH-oel]
brosciutt’/prosciutt’ – italian ham (prosciutto) [BRAAJH-oot]/[PRAAJH-oot]
buttagots/buttagats – annoying idiot (buttana u’ cazzo) [boo-taa-GAATS]
buttann’/puttann’ – bitch/whore (putanna); Note: more mild than “shockwadell” [boo-TAAN]
calabres’ – Calabrian (calabrese); Note: can refer to people, objects, customs, etc. [caal-uh-BRAYZ]
calamad’ – fried squid (calamari) [caal-uh-MAAD]
capidan/capitan – captain (capitano/capitan) [caap-ee-DAAN]
cendann’/centann’ – a hundred years (cento anni); Note: said before a toast [chen-DAAN]
che cozz’? – what the f—- are you doing? (che cazzo fai?) [KAY-kaatz]
chefai? – what are you doing? (che cosa fai?) [ke-FYE]
chepreca! – what a shame! (che peccato!) [kay-preh-KAA]
chiove – raining (fa piove) [KYOH-vay]
chiove tropp’assai – it’s raining very hard (fa piove molto) [KYOH-vay-TROAP-aa-SAI]
chooch – jackass (ciuccio) [CHOOCH]
chunka – injured (ciunca) [CHOON-kuh]
cing-u-bezz/cingubezz – five dollars apiece (cinque u pezzo) [cheeng-oo-BETZ]
ciuri – flowers (fiori) [CHOO-ree]
colghioni/cogliones/gulgliones – balls (colghioni) [coal-YOANZ]/[gool-YOANZ]
cornuto – unfaithful husband [coar-NOO-toe]
cuore stuppau – heart stopped [KWOAW-ray-staa-POW]
dzapp’ – gardening hoe (zappa) [DZAAP]
edi-conosc’? – do you know me?/do you know who I am? (e mi conosci?) [EE-dee-GAA-noesh]
facciabrutt’ – ugly face (faccia brutta) [FA-chuh-broot]
faccia di katzo – ball face (faccia di cazzo) [FAA-chaa-dee-KAA-tsoe]
facciu fridda – it’s cold (fa freddo) [FAA-choo-FREE-daa]
fugeddaboudit – forget about it; Note: English in origin
fanabola! – shit! (a fa Napoli) [faa-NAA-boe-laa]
fatti gatti due!/vatoli vatoli due! – mind your own f___ing business! (fa ti cazzi tuoi) [FAA-tee-GAA-tee-doo-yay]
fattu napiridu – I farted [FAA-too-naa-pee-REE-doo] (ho fatto napiridu)
‘ffangul’! – go f___ yourself! (vai a fare in culo) – [faan-GOOL]
finoicc’/fenucc’ – fennel (finocchio) [fin-OIK]
fraggiol’ – beans (fraggiole) [FRAA-joal]
fratu – brother (fratello) [FRAA-too]
fugazi/fagazi – fake; Note: likely English in origin
fuidi dogu! – get down from there! [FWEE-dee-DOW-goo]
gab’ – head (capo) [GAAB]
gabbadost’ – - hardhead (capa dura/capa tosta)
gabbagul/gabagul – type of italian meat/food/idiot/fool (capicola/capocollo/capacolla) – [gaa-baa-GOOL]
gabbaruss’/gab’ russ’ – redhead (capo rosso) [gaa-baa-ROOS]
gabbadeegats – ballface (capo di cazzo) [gaa-baa-dee-GATS]
gabish’?/capish’? – (do you) understand? (capisci?) [gaa-PEESH]
gaguzz’ – muscles/idiot/money/pumpkin (cucuzza) [gaa-GOOTS]
gaguzzalonga – big muscles (cucuzza lunga) [ga-GOOTS-aa-LOWN-gaa]
ganol’ – cannoli [gaa-NOAWL]
gavadeel’ – italian pasta (cavatelli) [gaa-vaa-DEEL]
gavone – gluttonous eater (cafone) [gaa-VOAN]
giambott’ – Italian stew (giambotta) [jaam-BAUWT]
giamoke – idiot (giamope) [jaam-OAK]
gibude – onion (cipolla) [jaa-BOOD]
gomesegiam’?/comesegiam’? – how do you say?/whatchamacallit? (come si chiama?) [go-maa-say-GYAM]
goombah – countryman/fellow comrade/godfather (compare) [goom-BAA]
gopp’ – up/top (coppa/capo) [GAAP]
guacarunno – someone (qualcuno) [gwaa-kaa-ROO-no]
gul’/cul’ – ass (culo) [GOOL]
gumad – mistress/girlfriend (cumare) [goo-MAAD]
guppin – ladle (coppino) [goo-PEEN]
guyasabbu? – who knows? (chissa?) [goo-yaa-ZAA-boo]
giacchieron’ – blabbermouth (chiacchierone) [gyaa-kyaa-ROAN]
gidrul’ – stupid person (cetriolo) [jih-DROOL]
gistu/chistu – this (questo) [GEE-stoo]
haicapid – do you understand? (hai capito) [eye-kaa-PEED]
how’ya doin? – how are you doing?; Note: English in origin
‘iamo – let’s go! (andiamo) [YAA-moe]
idu – he (lui) [EE-doo]
imalano-miau! – I can’t believe it! (che malanova mi hai) [EE-maa-laa-no-mee-auw]
issu – she (lei) [EE-soo]
cazzo – balls [KAA-tso]
lascialui! – leave him alone! (lascilo!) [laa-shaa-LOO-ee]
lasordida!/asodida! – your sister!/your sister’s a _____! (la sorella!/tua sorella (è una putana)!) [laa-SA-dih-daa]
la vesa gazi – swear word [laa-VAY-zaa-gaa-ZEE]
ma che cozz’u fai?! – what the heck are you doing?! (ma che cozzo fai?!) [maa-KAY-kauwtz-oo-fai]
ma che bell’! – why, how beautiful! (ma che bella) [maa-KAY-bell]
ma che quest’? – what is this? (ma che cosa è questo?) [maa-KAY-quest]
maddiul’ – fool [maa-dee-OOL]
maliocch’ – the evil eye [maal-YOAK]
mamaluke – idiot/fool (mamalucco) [maa-maa-LOUK]
mannaggia – damn/cursing (male ne abbia/male ne aggia) [MAA-NAA-juh]
managgia dial – curse the devil (male ne aggia il diavolo) [MAA-NAA-juh-dee-owl]
mannaggia la mort’ – cursing death (male ne aggia la morta) [MAA-NAA-juh-dee-owl]
mannaggia la miseria – cursing misery (male ne aggia la miseria) [MAA-NAA-juh-MEE-seh-ree-uh]
manigott’ – italian pasta (manicotti) [maa-NEE-gauwt]
mappin’ – napkin/towel (moppina) [maa-PEEN]
maron’! – damnit (madonna) [maa-ROAN]
maronna mia! – oh my God! (madonna mia!) [maa-ROAWN-aa-MEE-uh]
menzamenz – half and half (mezza mezza) [mehnz-AA-mehnz]
mezzamort’ – half-dead (mezzo morto) [METZA-moart]
minch’ – wow! (minchia) [MEENK]
mortadell’ – Italian sausage/loser (mortadella) [moart-aa-DELL]
mortadafam’ – really hungy/starving (morta da fame) [moart-aa-daa-faam]
muccatori – tissue (fazzoletto) [moo-kaa-TOE-ree]
mudanz – pajamas [moo-DAANZ]
mulignan – eggplant (melanzana) [mool-in-YAAN]
murudda – without a brain [moo-ROO-daa]
musciad – mushy (musciata/ammosciato) [moo-SHYAAD]
moosh-miauw – very mushy (musciata miau) [moosh-meow]
muzzarell’/muzzadell’ – Italian cheese (mozzarella) [mootz-aa-DELL]
medigan’ – non-Italian american/Italian who has lost his roots (americano) [meh-dee-GAAN]
numu fai shcumbari! – don’t embarass me!/stop embarrasing me! [NOO-moo-FAI-shkoom-baa-REE]
oobatz’/patz’ – crazy person (un pazzo/u’ pazzu) [oo-BAATZ]
paesan’ – fellow Italian countryman (paesano) [pai-ZAAN]
panzagin’! – I’m full! [paan-zaa-GEEN]
pasta vasul’ – Italian soup (pasta fagioli) [pasta-faa-ZOOL]
pastin’ – small, star-shaped pasta (pastina) [paa-STEEN]
pizzagain’ – Italian meat pie (pizzagaina) [pizza-GAIN]
pizzolino – afternoon nap (pisolino) [peetz-o-LEE-no]
pucchiach’/bucchiach’ – b–ch (pucchiacha) [poo-KYAAK]
rigott’ – Italian cheese (ricotta) [ree-GAUWT]
salud’/salut’ – be in good health (salute) [saa-LOOD]
shape-la-tass’ – shape of a cup (shape of la tazza) [shape-aa-laa-taatz]
scharol’/scarol – escarole/money (scarola) [shkaa-ROAL]
schif’/shkeeve – to be disgusted by something (schifo) [SHKEE-fo]
schifozz’ – disgusting thing (schifosa) [shkee-VOATZ]
skorchamend’/scocciament’ – a pain in the ass (scocciamento) [scorch-aa-MEND]
scooch – pest/move over
scoochi-di-bandanz – a real pain [scooch-ee-dee-baan-DANZ]
scustumad’ – stupid person (scostumato) [skoo-stoo-MAAD]
sciumara – river (fiumara) [shoo-MAA-raa]
scoba – broom (scopa) [SKO-baa]
scobendo – to sweep the floor (scopare) [sko-BEN-doe]
scubata/scupata – get laid (scopato) [SKOO-baa-taa]
sculabast’ – pasta strainer (scola la pasta) [skoo-laa-BAAST]
scungill’/scongigl’ – cooked snail (sconciglio) [skoon-JEEL]
sedeti/sededi – sit down (sedeteti) [SEH-daa-dee]
sesenta fame? – do you feel hungry?/are you hungry? (sei senti fame?) [seh-SEHN-taa-FAA-may]
sfaccimme – bad person/sperm [SVAH-CHEEM] [svaa-CHEEM]
sfogliadell’ – italian pastry (sfogliatella) [SHVOHL-ya-dell]
shockwadell’ – whore (sciacquata) [shock-wa-DELL]
shcumbari – disheveled [shkoom-baa-REE]
sigilian’ – Sicilian (siciliano) [sih-jeel-YAAN]
sorda – money (soldi) [SOAL-dee]
sorda – sister (sorella) [SOAR-duh]
spasciad’/scasciad’ – not talking (to someone) (spasciau) [spaa-SHAAD]
strunz’ – sh_t (stronzo) [STROONZ]
stanna mabaych – son of a b____ (mispronounced “son of a b____”) [STAA-naa-maam-BAYCH]
statagitt’! -be quiet! (stai zitto) [stah-tuh-JEET]
stendinz – intestines/guts [stehn-DEENZ]
stugots/stugats – f___ it (questo cazzo/questu cazzu/’stu cazzu) [stoo-GAATS]
stunad – moron (stonato) [stoo-NAAD]
struppiau – extremely dimwitted (stupido) [stroo-pee-YAOW]
stuppiau – very dimwitted (stupido) [stoo-pee-YAOW]
stuppiad – dimwitted (stupido) [stoo-PEE-yaad]
stuppau – stopped [stoo-PAOW]
suscia – blow (soffia) [SOOSH-yaa]
te fugo! – f___ you! [tay-FOO-go]
ti voglio tropp’assai – I love you so much (ti voglio bene) [tee-VOAL-yo-TROAP-aa-SAI]
un ada oda – another time (un altra volta/un altra ora) [oon-AA-daa-O-daa]
ue, goombah! – hey, man! (ue, compare!) [way-goom-BAH]
ufratu – your brother (il fratello/tuo fratello) [oo-FRAA-too]
umbriag’/umbriacc’ – intoxicated (umbriago) [oom-bree-YAAG]
usorda – your sister (la sorella/tua sorella) [oo-SOAR-daa]
vaffangul’!/baffangul’!/ – fuck you! (vai a fare in culo); Note: Literally means “Go stick it up your ass!” [vaa-faan-GOOL]
vangopp’ – go up/go upstairs (fa in coppa) [vaan-GOAP]
veni ca/vieni qua – come (over) here (vieni qui) [veh-nee-KAA]
vidi cachunka! – watch out, you’re gonna get hurt! (vedi la ciunca?) [vee-dee-kaa-CHOON-kaa]
walyun/wayo – young man (vuaguone) [waal-YOON]
warda!/uarda - look! (guarda!) [WAAR-daa]
warda cachunka! – watch out, you’re gonna get hurt! (guarda la ciunca!) (WAAR-daa-laa-CHOON-kaa]
zutt’ – down/downstairs (sotto) [zoot]
zutt u’ basciament – down to the basement (sotto u’ basement) [zoot-oo-baa-shaa-MENT]
unknown:
shake-a-la-dots/scumanegats
gita schlamorta gita mort
fanabola te parida angula sord’
“Gabbagul-Italian,” or “Goombah Italian,” is an Italian-American dialect developed in the early 20th century by Italian immigrants settling in American cities. It is based on the Italian language, and it contains a mixture of Sicilian- and Neapolitan-inspired dialect words. The dialect was prominent in East-Coast US cities, such as Newark, Paterson, New York City (especially Manhattan and Brooklyn), and Boston. It was mostly spoken in tightly-knit Italian communities and neighborhoods, especially those with heavy Sicilian populations. “Gabbagul” isn’t the official name of this dialect; many names could signify it, including “American-Italian,” “New Jersey-Italian,” “New York-Italian,” “Calabrese-Siciliano-Italian,” etc. Many words are taken from other dialects, and different Italians in different areas spoke their dialects differently. For example, my great-grandmother spoke in Italian, with mixed in English, Sicilian, and Calabrese words. Some words, such as “awunda” and “cachuncka,” are completely made up words, sometimes with English-language origins.
I am attempting to recreate a dictionary of this Italian dialect. Much of this comes from memory and familial recollection. Putting this together in one succinct place was very fun, and I hope it is helpful. This dictionary will be updated, as it is an ongoing process.
In this dictionary you will find tons of Italian-American slang words and their Italiano/Calabrese/Siciliano origins.
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Obama, Bromance, Bellig and fomo make latest slang dictionary
This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 at 10:02 PM and is filed under Italian and Italian American Slang. Tagged: agita, bensonhurst, brooklyn, butann, calabrese, capish, corleone, dialect, gabagul, gabbagul, godfather, goodfellas, goomba, goombah, guido, Italian, italian dialect, italiano, italy, made man, manhattan, neapolitan, pesci, sicilian, siciliano, slang, sopranos. You can feed this entry. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Hey, Eye Wunner, if the Prez'll star' wearin' Wife Beaters?
Braggiol’ ? I think not.
Could be he's telling the deaf stugots " I Love you." - I'm just sayin'!
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