Vehicles & Travel
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Carru
Car
Carru
/ˈkar·ru/
Noun[Era 2]
Any four-wheeled motor vehicle. But also a linguistic mix of car and the traditional wooden cart once pulled by donkeys.
← Tap to flip back"Accattai un càrru novu!"
"I bought a brand new car"
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Bussu
Bus
Bussu
/ˈbus·su/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
The American bus... with a Sicilian passport! Instead of learning how to pronounce "bus", our grandparents doubled the "s" and added a final "u" by birthright, because English without a vowel at the end simply makes no sense.
← Tap to flip back"Curri chi stamo pirdenno u bussu!"
"Run or we're going to miss the bus!"
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Ferri-bottu
Ferry Boat
Ferri-bottu
/fèr·ri·bòt·tu/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
Literally, the ferry. Even though it sounds like a loud metal crash (ferro + botto), it's just the boat. Today, it is also hilariously used to describe a loud, rusty, gas-guzzling old car that somehow still runs.
← Tap to flip back"Ma unni vai cu stu ferri-bòttu?"
"Where are you going with that old bucket car"
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Truccu
Truck
Truccu
/TROO-koo/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
The truck: the loud, rusty workhorse that carried bricks, tomatoes and half the neighborhood’s furniture. Dented, but never broken. Need to move something?
← Tap to flip back"Mi pristasti u truccu pi dumani?"
"Can you lend me the truck for tomorrow?"
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Stritticarru
Streetcar
Stritticarru
/stree-tee-KAR-roo/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
The streetcar: street plus car, the rattling ride that carried a whole generation to work, to church and to Coney Island. A tram with a Sicilian soul. How do you get to work?
← Tap to flip backDon't say"I take the streetcar."
Say"Pigghiu u stritticarru."
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Flattai
Flat Tire
Flattai
/flah-TAH-ee/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
A flat tire, flat-out Siculish. It always happens on the day you’re late and the whole family is in the car. Stranded?
← Tap to flip back"Appi nu flattai, vegnu dopu."
"I got a flat tire, I’ll be late."
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Tracca
Train Track
Tracca
/TRAH-kah/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
The train track: the line that split the neighborhood into this side and that side, and decided where your cousins lived. Where do you live?
← Tap to flip back"Abbitu darreri â tracca."
"I live behind the train tracks."
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Rruddu
Road
Rruddu
/RROO-doo/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
The road, with a rolling Sicilian R. Long, bumpy and always leading to a relative. On your way?
← Tap to flip back"Sugnu ntô rruddu, arrivu subitu."
"I’m on the road, I’ll be there soon."
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Tichetta
Ticket
Tichetta
/tee-KET-tah/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
A ticket: the little piece of paper that carried millions across an ocean and, later, bought a lottery number every Friday. Small, but it changes everything. Got yours?
← Tap to flip back"Accattai a tichetta pû trenu."
"I bought the ticket for the train."
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Purtu
Port
Purtu
/POOR-too/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
The port: where the boats arrived, the names got shortened and a whole new life started with a stamp. The first place in America. Where did they land?
← Tap to flip back"Arrivàru ô purtu di Nova Jorca."
"They arrived at the port of New York."
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Ponti
Pound
Ponti
/PON-tee/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
The pound: the unit of everything at the market, from cheese to cold cuts to wishful thinking. Never less than two. How much do you want?
← Tap to flip back"Dammi dui ponti di furmaggiu."
"Give me two pounds of cheese."
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Aiuvè
Highway
Aiuvè
/ah-ee-oo-VEH/
Noun[Era 1 & 2]
The highway, where Sunday traffic meets Sicilian driving philosophy: honk first, ask later. Fast road, slow arrival. Stuck?
← Tap to flip back"Ntô aiuvè c’è tantu traficu."
"There’s so much traffic on the highway."