The language
your grandparents
invented

Siculish is the revival of the hybrid words born of necessity among Sicilian immigrants in America and beyond.

Wear the language →

The Collection

Words worth wearing
Paroli ca vali a pena purtari

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Era 1 · 1880–1930 · The Crossing

Bissinissi

/bee-sih-NEE-see/

Noun[Era 1]

Business. The serious matters of survival and success, spoken with Sicilian weight.

Used when you want to sound busy, important, professional... and a little mysterious. Need a haircut? Pay a bill?

Don't say

"I have things to do."

Say

"Oggi nun pozzu, fazzu bissinissi."

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Era 1 · 1880–1930 · The Crossing

Nova Jorca

/NOH-vah YOR-kah/

Noun[Era 1]

New York. The city that renamed itself in their mouths — where they built a new world.

The Siculish way to call New York — the city your grandparents conquered without ever fully learning how to pronounce it. Packing your bags for the big city?

Don't say

"I'm going to New York."

Say

"Staiu jennu a Nova Jorca."

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Era 1 · 1880–1930 · The Crossing

Giobbu

/JOH-bboo/

Noun[Era 1]

Job. The work that built America—spoken with the accent of those who made it happen.

A job, with a Sicilian accent. It paid the bills, opened the shops and sometimes even bought the first espresso machine. Need to tell someone you found work?

Say

"Truvai nu giobbu."

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Era 2 · 1945–1980 · Establishment & Return

Aiscrima

/ah-ee-skrèe-mah/

Noun[Era 2]

Ice cream. The sweetness of belonging—a taste of prosperity and place.

What happens when you try to order ice cream but your DNA is 100% Sicilian. It's not just a dessert... it's a cultural bridge built with sugar, cream, and a heavy accent.

Say

"Eat your dinner first, then Nonna will give you n'aiscrima. But don't tell your mother!"

(Mangia prima la cena, poi nonna ti darà il gelato. Ma non dirlo a tua madre!)

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Era 2 · 1945–1980 · Establishment & Return

Brucculinu

/broo-koo-LEE-noo/

Noun[Era 2]

Brooklyn. The place that became home—bent through their language into something entirely their own.

Brooklyn, with a Sicilian accent. The borough that became a second Sicily: same loud dinners, same nosy neighbors, just colder in December. Need to say where you're from?

Don't say

"I'm from Brooklyn."

Say

"Sugnu di Brucculinu, capisc'?"

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Era 2 · 1945–1980 · Establishment & Return

Carru

/KAHR-roo/

Noun[Era 2]

Car. The vehicle of freedom and possibility—transformed into their own word.

Any four-wheeled motor vehicle. But also a linguistic mix of car and the traditional wooden cart once pulled by donkeys.

Say

"Accattai un càrru novu!"

(I bought a brand new car)

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Coming Soon

Era 3 · 2026 → · Neo-Siculish

Strissatu

/stree-SAH-too/

Adjective[Era 3]

Stressed. The modern feeling—named with the language they never left behind.

Stressed, Siculish style: part stressed, part dragged down by the day. You'll feel it at least four times a day, usually seconds after checking your phone. Need to say you can't take any more?

Don't say

"I'm so stressed."

Say

"Sugnu accussì strissatu ora."

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Coming Soon

Era 3 · 2026 → · Neo-Siculish

Karmati

/kar-MAH-tee/

Noun[Era 3]

Karma + Calmati. When the universe owes you one — and you wait for it.

Karma meets calmati ("calm down"): the word for the exact moment someone who wronged you gets exactly what's coming, right on schedule. Need to say the universe just settled a score for you?

Don't say

"Karma got them."

Say

"Chissu è Karmati, amicu miu."

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Coming Soon

Era 3 · 2026 → · Neo-Siculish

Maccarunni

/mah-kah-ROO-nee/

Exclamation[Era 3]

Where is the pasta? A Sicilian's essential question—where hunger meets home.

Macaroni, shouted like a verdict. Used the second you walk into Sunday dinner and don't immediately see the one dish that actually matters. Table set, nonna smiling, no pasta in sight?

Don't say

"Where's the pasta?"

Say

"Maccarunni?!"

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View the collection →Explore all words →

Dress the language. Build its future.

Every piece funds Sicilian oral history, so the voices of our grandparents echo for generations to come.

The languageyour grandparentsinvented

Words worth wearingParoli ca vali a pena purtari

Bissinissi

Nova Jorca

Giobbu

Aiscrima

Brucculinu

Carru

Strissatu

Karmati

Maccarunni

Dress the language. Build its future.

The language
your grandparents
invented

Words worth wearing
Paroli ca vali a pena purtari