Verbs & Commands

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• Camia

  Come here

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  Camia

  /KAH-mee-ah/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  Come here: the all-purpose family summons, in a tone that makes it clear you’re already in trouble. The command that stops any ball game. Been called?

  "Camia ccà, subitu!"

  "Come here, right now!"

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• Frizare

  Freeze

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  Frizare

  /free-ZAH-reh/

  Verb[Era 1 & 2]

  To freeze: what a New York winter does to your fingers, your pipes and the car, and what Nonna does to the leftovers on purpose. One word of shivering, in Siculish. Is it cold?

  "Chi friddu, mi sta frizannu!"

  "How cold, I’m freezing!"

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• Non fare una ammessa

  Don't make a mess

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  Non fare una ammessa

  /non FAH-reh OO-nah ahm-MEHS-sah/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  Don’t make a mess: the all-purpose warning shouted at anyone near a clean floor, a pot of sauce or a freshly ironed shirt. Ammessa is a mess dressed in Sicilian vowels. About to cook?

  "Mi raccumannu, non fare una ammessa!"

  "I’m begging you, don’t make a mess!"

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• Non badare

  Don't bother

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  Non badare

  /non bah-DAH-reh/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  Don’t bother: said with a wave of the hand when someone offers to help, to carry or to cook. Politeness, Sicilian style: you say don’t bother and they bother anyway. Offering a hand?

  "Non badare, ci pensu iu."

  "Don’t bother, I’ll take care of it."

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• Pusciari

  Push

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  Pusciari

  /poo-SHAH-ree/

  Verb[Era 1 & 2]

  To push: what you do to the car, the cart, the door, your luck and sometimes your cousin. Always with both hands. Stuck?

  "Pùscia, ca nun si movi!"

  "Push, it won’t move!"

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• Chiccari

  Kick

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  Chiccari

  /keek-KAH-ree/

  Verb[Era 1 & 2]

  To kick: soccer in the street, with a ball older than you. Also what a stubborn mule does. Aim carefully. Playing?

  "Chicca a palla! Gol!"

  "Kick the ball! Goal!"

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• Cciànza

  Chance

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  Cciànza

  /CHAHN-tsah/

  Noun[Era 1 & 2]

  A chance: what the whole journey across the ocean was about, one small, brave opportunity. Give it, take it, never waste it. Got one?

  "Dammi na cciànza, ti prumettu ca ti fazzu orgogghiusu."

  "Give me a chance, I promise I’ll make you proud."

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• Azzolla

  That's all

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  Azzolla

  /ah-TSOH-lah/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  That’s all: the full stop at the end of a Sicilian sentence. No more, no less, and not up for discussion. Finished?

  "Hai finutu? Azzolla!"

  "Are you done? That’s all!"

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• Roscia

  Rush

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  Roscia

  /ROH-shah/

  Verb[Era 1 & 2]

  To rush: the feeling of always being late for something that starts without you anyway. Fast feet, slow results. In a hurry?

  "Roscia, ca u trenu parti!"

  "Hurry, the train is leaving!"

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• Faito

  Fight

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  Faito

  /FAH-ee-toh/

  Noun[Era 1 & 2]

  The fight: the loud, passionate disagreement that sounds like war and ends with dessert. Usually about nothing. Arguing again?

  "Quantu faito pi nenti!"

  "What a fight over nothing!"

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• Dezzì

  That's it

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  Dezzì

  /deh-TSEE/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  That’s it: the verdict. Used when a story is finished, a discussion is over or the pasta is gone. Nobody argues with dezzì. Have the last word?

  "Aiu dittu: dezzì!"

  "I said: that’s it!"

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• Ficheribbàri

  Forget about it

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  Ficheribbàri

  /fee-keh-ree-BAH-ree/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  Forget about it: the great Italian-American shrug, turned into a verb. It covers everything from don’t worry to absolutely not. Said with a hand wave. Trouble?

  "Ficheribbàri, nun è nenti."

  "Forget about it, it’s nothing."

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• Attsurrài

  It's all right

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  Attsurrài

  /aht-soo-RAH-ee/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  It’s all right: the calming phrase for scraped knees, burnt sauce and bad news. Spoken softly, with a hand on the shoulder. Worried?

  "Nun ti preoccupari, attsurrài."

  "Don’t worry, it’s all right."

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• Gherari

  Get out

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  Gherari

  /geh-RAH-ree/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  Get out: said to a stray cat, a nosy neighbor or a teenager who finished the cannoli. Not gentle, not negotiable. Who’s in the way?

  "Gherari di ccà!"

  "Get out of here!"

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• Tichirìsi

  Take it easy

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  Tichirìsi

  /tee-kee-REE-zee/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  Take it easy: the best advice from a man who has never relaxed, delivered while stirring a pot or fixing a roof. Stressed?

  "Tichirìsi, ca nun è tantu gravi."

  "Take it easy, it’s not that serious."

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• Vozzimmari Vicciu'

  What's the matter with you?

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  Vozzimmari Vicciu'

  /voh-tsee-MAH-ree VEE-choo/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  What’s the matter with you? The all-purpose scolding, shouted across the kitchen at anyone, for anything, followed by a hand gesture and a prayer. Did something happen?

  "Vozzimmari Vicciu’? Chi hai fattu?"

  "What’s the matter with you, Vicciu’? What did you do?"

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• Parchiavi ku carru nillu strittu

  I parked the car in the street

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  Parchiavi ku carru nillu strittu

  /pahr-KYAH-vee koo KAR-roo NEEL-loo STREET-too/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  A whole story in six words, the kind of sentence only a Siculish speaker could build. Part English, part Sicilian, entirely clear. Where did you leave the car?

  Don't say

  "I parked the car in the street."

  Say

  "Parchiavi ku carru nillu strittu."

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• Locka the door

  Lock the door

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  Locka the door

  /LOK-ah the DOR/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  Lock the door: half Sicilian, half English, all grandmother. Said every night, usually twice, and checked in person. Last one in?

  Don't say

  "Please lock the door."

  Say

  "Locka the door!"

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• Washa the dishes

  Wash the dishes

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  Washa the dishes

  /WOH-shah the DISH-es/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  Wash the dishes: the order that goes out right after dinner, in a voice that doesn’t ask. Everyone gets a turn. Eventually. Whose turn is it?

  Don't say

  "Please wash the dishes."

  Say

  "Washa the dishes!"

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• Parkagiamo

  Let's park

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  Parkagiamo

  /par-kah-JAH-moh/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  Let’s park: the American way to park, dressed in a Sicilian ending. The hunt takes forty minutes, the argument longer. Found a spot?

  Don't say

  "Let’s park here."

  Say

  "Parkagiamo ccà!"

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• Bi carfullo

  Be careful

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  Bi carfullo

  /bee kar-FOOL-loh/

  Phrase[Era 1 & 2]

  Be careful: the blessing every Sicilian mother shouts out the window. It applies to cars, ice, boys and soup. Heading out?

  Don't say

  "Be careful, there’s ice!"

  Say

  "Bi carfullo, ca c’è u ghiazzu!"

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