SICILIAN PROVERBS

translated into English by Arthur V. Dieli
granfi n.f. Claw, power, clutches.
Megghiu muriri 'ntra li granfi di lu liuni chi sutta la cuda di l'asinu.
Eng. Better to die in the clutches of the lion than under the tail of a jackass.
 
granita n.f. Flavored ices, granita.
La granita custa un carrinu; acqua pri acqua, è megghiu lu vinu.
Eng. A granita doesn't cost much; still it's just water, wine is better.
 
granni n.f. Big, open.
Cu' havi la facci granni si marita.
Eng. A self confident woman will soon be married.
 
grannizzi n.f. Grandness, nobility, excess.
Tutti li grannizzi li cummògghia la terra. Source: Pitrè, III, 99.
Eng. All excesses are interred.
 
grànnuli n.f. Hail.
La scuzzària nun timi grànnuli.
Eng. The turtle is not afraid of hail stones.
 
grapi v.t. 3rd p.sing. Opens.
Diu chiudi 'na porta e grapi un purticatu.
Eng. God closes a door and opens a portico.
 
grasciura n.f. Fertilizer.
Dici la sagra scrittura: unni cc'è erva, 'un ci voli grasciura.
Eng. It is written in sacred scripture: where grass is growing you don't need fertilizer.
 
grassu adj. Fat, fatty, greasy.
Cu' havi un porcu sulu lu fa grassu, Cu' havi un figghiu sulu lu fa pazzu. Source: Pitrè, II, 143.
Eng. Who has only one pig, fattens it, Cu' has only one son, maddens him.
 
grassura n.f. Fertilizer.
Metti grassura cà canciu natura.
Eng. Use fertilizer to change the course of nature.
 
gravusu adj. Grave, heavy.
Ad àsinu vecchiu càrrica gravusu.
Eng. Put a heavy load on an old donkey.
 
graziusa n.f. Gracious.
Megghiu 'na donna niura e graziusa, ca una bianca dissapita.
Eng. Better a woman who is dark-skinned and gracious, than one who is light-skinned and insipid.
 
grecu n.m. Greek.
Si vidi un grecu e un lupu, lassa lu lupu e tira a lu grecu.
Eng. If you see a Greek and a wolf, ignore the wolf and shoot the Greek.
 
gridaci adj. Shouting.
Mugghieri superba e maritu gridaci mai starannu 'n paci.
Eng. An overbearing wife and a shouting husband will never be in peace.
 
groi n.m. Crane.
Quannu passa lu groi, punci lu voi.
Eng. When the crane flies by, prod the oxen on. (Because bad weather is on its way.)
 
grossa n.f. Fat, large, big.
Vacca grossa fa viteddu magru.
Eng. A fat cow makes a skinny calf.
 
grunnusu adj. Sulky, grumpy.
Cani grunnusu e cavaddu allegru.
Eng. You want a grumpy dog and a lively horse.
 
gruppa n.f. Rump, back.
Cui porta 'n gruppa, è cacciatu di sedda.
Eng. Being too obliging is not wise. (Lit. Who carries on his back is thrown from the saddle.)
 
gruppu n.m. Knot.
Cui nun fa lu gruppu a la gugliata, perdi lu' puntu cchiù di 'na vota.
Eng. Who doesn't make a knot at the end of the thread, loses the stitch more than once.
 
guadagna v.t. 3rd p.sing. Earns.
Cui si sagna, guadagna.
Eng. Who bleeds, earns.
 
guadagnatu v.t. past p. Gained.
Lu malu guadagnatu prestu è cunsumatu.
Eng. Wrongful gains are quickly consumed.
 
guadagnu n.m. Gain.
Ognunu pensa a lu propriu guadagnu e si joca accussì a gabba cumpagnu.
Eng. Everyone thinks of his own gain, and plays in this way to deceive his fellows.
 
Guadagnu luntanu arresta pri la via.
Eng. Earnings far away get spent along the way.
 
Pocu servi lu guadagnu, s' 'un si sapi mantiniri.
Eng. Earnings are of little use if one doesn't know how to save.
 
guagghiardu adj. Vigorous, robust, diligence.
Guadagna fa guagghiardu.
Eng. Earnings make for diligence.
 
guai n.m. Misfortune, trouble.
Ognunu havi li so' guai, cui cchiù picca, cui cchiù assai.
Eng. Everyone has his own troubles, some fewer, some more.
 
Cui lassa la via vecchia pri la nova, li guai ch'un va circannu, ddà li trova.
Eng. Who leaves the old way for the new, the trouble not looked for, will be found there.
 
Cu' cchiù havi, havi cchiù guai.
Eng. The richer you are, the more troubles you have.
 
Cu' havi figghi, havi guai. Source: Pitrè, II, 142.
Eng. Who has children, has troubles.
 
guarda v.t. Regard, save, protect.
Di l'amicu fintu mi guarda Diu, cà di lu nnimicu, mi nni guardu iu.
Eng. God save me from false friends, that I may protect myself from my enemies.
 
Diu ti guardi d'omu chi guarda 'n terra e di fimmina chi guarda 'n celu.
Eng. God protect you from the man who looks down at the ground and the woman who looks up to heaven.
 
La morti nun guarda né pìcciuli né granni né pòviri né ricchi.
Eng. Death respects neither young nor old, neither poor nor rich.
 
guardari v.t. To lok at, to regard, to watch.
Fa' zoccu hai di fari e li fatti d'àutru nun guardari.
Eng. Do what you have to do and don't watch what others do.
 
Guarda cu' sugnu e nun guardari cu' era.
Eng. Look at who I am and not who I was.
 
guardau v.t. Guarded, looked after.
Cui bonu si guardau, bonu si truvau.
Eng. To have security, plan ahead.
 
guasta v.t. 3rd p. sing Wastes, spoils, ruins, hurts.
Lu troppu guasta e lu pocu nn'abbasta.
Eng. Too much spoils and too little is not enough.
 
Pedi di ciocca nun guasta puddicinu.
Eng. Hens feet don't hurt the chick.
 
gudiri v.t. To enjoy.
Nun si pò gudiri chistu munnu e chiddu. Source: Pitrè, III, 90.
Eng. You can't enjoy both this world and the next.
 
guerra n.f. War.
A tempu di guerra ogni cavaddu ha soldu.
Eng. In time of need everyone is valuable.
 
Cu' chiù voti a la guerra va, la peddi ci lassa.
Eng. If not this time, then the next time. (lit. One who goes often to war will leave skin there.)
 
Cu' havi terra, havi guerra.
Eng. Owning land is like fighting a war.
 
Jiri a la guerra nè maritari, a nuddu lu cunsigghiari.
Eng. I don't advise going to war or marrying.
 
La guerra pari bedda a cu' nun l'ha pruvata.
Eng. War seems attractive only to the inexperienced.
 
guidata v.t. past p. Managed, regulated, guided.
Nudda cosa pò aviri fini furtunata si di lu Celu 'un è guidata.
Eng. Nothing can end favorably without heavenly guidance.
 
gula n.f. Throat, gluttony.
Gula di mònacu e pitittu di parrinu.
Eng. The gluttony of the monk and the appetite of the priest.
 
gunciari v.t.i. To swell, to inflate.
Senza lu ventu nun guncianu li veli.
Eng. Without the wind the sails don't fill.
 
gustu n.m. Taste, pleasure.
Di guerra, caccia e amuri, pri un gustu milli duluri.
Eng. In war, hunting, and love you suffer a thousand pains for one pleasure.
 
A gustu nun c'è prezzu.
Eng. There's no price for something you like.
 
gustusu adj. Tasty.
Si vuliti vìviri gustusu, ovu di tunnu e carduni spinusu.
Eng. For a taste treat, try tuna roe and thorny cardoons (artichokes).
 
gutta n.f. Gout, drop.
A gutta a gutta si cava la petra.
Eng. Drop by drop the stone is pierced.
 
ha v.t. 3rd p.sing. To have, has.
Cu' ha, è.
Eng. When you have, you are.
 
imbriacari v.t. To be or get drunk.
Cui s'havi a 'mbriacari, di vinu bonu l'havi a fari.
Eng. If you have to get drunk, you must do it with good wine.
 
imbriacu adj. Inebriated, drunk.
Lu 'mbriacu dici sempri la viritati.
Eng. The drunk always tells the truth.
 
imbrugghiatu adj. Entangled, confused.
'Mbrugghiatu com' un scravagghiu 'nta la stuppa.
Eng. Timid as a mouse. lit. Entangled like a crab louse in oakum.
 
impovirisci v.i. To become poor.
Lu galantomu ca 'mpuvirisci, addiventa birbanti. E viceversa: Lu birbanti, quannu arricchisci, addiventa galantomu. Lu birbanti arriccutu, un galantomu; l'onestu 'mpuvirisci, malu nomu.
Eng. The gentleman who gets poor, becomes a rascal, and the rascal who gets rich becomes a gentleman. The rascal enriched, a gentleman; the impoverished honest man, gets a bad name.
 
imprescia adv. Quickly, suddenly.
Megghiu scumunicatu a tortu chi cumunicatu a la 'mprescia.
Eng. Better alive, though wrongfully excommunicated than dead and suddenly receiving last rites.
 
incignusu adj. Ingenious.
La puvirtà fa l'omu 'ncignusu;
Eng. Necessity is the mother of invention. (lit. Poverty makes a man ingenious.)
 
inciùria n.f. Insult, injury, offense.
Summa giustizia, summa 'nciùria
Eng. Summary justice is a summary offense.
 
infernu n.m. Hell.
Si vôi pruvari li peni di lu 'nfernu, lu 'nvernu a Missina e la stati 'n Palermu.
Eng. If you want to experience the pains of hell, spend winter in Messina and summer in Palermo.
 
infirmitati n.f. Sickness.
La 'nfirmitati è visita di Diu.
Eng. Sickness is a visit by God.
 
L'essiri grassu è menza 'nfirmitati.
Eng. Being overweight is being halfway sick.
 
ingannu n.m. Deception, fraud, guile.
Raru guadagnu c'è senza lu 'ngannu.
Eng. There is rarely gain without deception.
 
Senza 'ngannu mèttiti a li patti.
Eng. Make agreements without guile.
 
ingratitutini n.f. Ingratitude.
Gran sirvizziu veni spissu pagatu d' ingratitutini.
Eng. Exceptional service is often paid with ingratitude.
 
L'ingratitutini sicca lu fonti di la misiricordia. Source: Traina, 491.
Eng. Ingratitude dries up the source of mercy.
 
insigna v.t. 3rd p.sing. Teaches.
Cu' ad autru insigna, acquista cchiú sapiri.
Eng. You learn by teaching.
 
Megghiu si 'nsigna cu lu fari chi cu lu diri.
Eng. Experience is the best teacher.
 
L'accattari 'nsigna a vinniri e lu guadagnari a spènniri.
Eng. Buying teaches you to sell and earning teaches you to spend.
 
insìgnanu v.t. 3rd p. pl. Teach, learn.
Li medici si 'nsìgnanu supra li malati.
Eng. Doctors learn on their patients.
 
inùtili adj. Futile, useless.
Cu' accatta cosi 'nùtili, prestu vinni 'u bisugnèvuli.
Eng. Whoever buys useless things will soon be selling his necessities.
 
invernu n.m. Winter.
A la Cannilora, 2 Feb, lu 'nvernu è fora.
Eng. By the feast of Saint Candelora winter is over.
 
invicchiutu v.i. past p. Aged, old, to have put on years, to have lasted a long time.
Quannu lu mali è 'nvicchiutu, mancu Ippocrati cci pò dari aiutu.
Eng. When the sickness is old not even Hippocrates can help.
 
invirnata n.f. Winter time.
A la santa Cannilora, s'un ci nìvica né chiova, la 'nvirnata è nisciuta fora.
Eng. By the festival of Candlemas, if it's not snowing or raining, winter is over.
 
irata adj. Irate, angry.
A facci irata teni la vucca sirrata.
Eng. Before an angry face keep your mouth shut.
 
isca n.f. Enticement, food, bait.
Nun mèttiri l'isca vicinu lu focu.
Eng. Don't put the bait near the fire.
 
Ammàtula si pisca si all'amu nun c'è isca.
Eng. It's pointless to fish if there's no bait on the hook.
 
iuarari v.t. To take an oath, to swear, to pledge.
Lu celu e la terra l'ha ghiuratu chi nun cc'è cosa cui nun s'ha saputu.
Eng. The truth will out. Lit. Heaven and earth have sworn that there is nothing that will not be revealed.
 
jamu v.i. 1st p. pl. We go.
Jamu avanti pri jiri 'nnarreri.
Eng. One step forward and two back. (lit. We go forward in order to go backwards.)
 
jancu adj. White.
Li parrini di niuru ti la jèttanu, di jancu ti carrìanu.
Eng. Priests dressed in black bring bad tidings, in white they take you to the cemetery.
 
jardini n.m. Gardens.
Si Missina avissi jardini, Palermu fôra casalini.
Eng. If Messina had gardens Palermo would be a bunch of poor country houses.
 
Jardinu senza cani, è senza patruni.
Eng. A garden without a dog has no owner.
 
Beatu cu' havi jardinu e cogghi rosi.
Eng. Blessed is the one who has a garden and gathers roses.
 
jènnaru n.m. Son-in-law.
Cui pri jènnari s'ammazza, 'N testa cci sia datu cu 'na mazza. Source: Pitrè, II, 145.
Eng. Who knocks himself out for his in-laws, Should be knocked on the head with a mallet.
 
jiditu n.m. Finger.
Cu' ti duna jiditu, e tu ti pigghi tutta la manu.
Eng. When you're offered a finger, take the whole hand.
 
Li jidita di la manu nun su' pari.
Eng. The fingers of the hand are not equal.
 
jimmu n.f. Bump, defect, fault.
Ognunu si guardassi lu so jimmu.
Eng. Look to your own foibles.
 
Jinnaru n.m. January.
Jinnaru siccu, massaru riccu quannu dicembri metti lu lippu. Jinnaru vagnatu, burgisi consumatu.
Eng. When January is dry, the farm manager is enriched, luxuriating in December. When January is wet, the tenant farmer is ruined.
 
La luna di jinnaru luci comu jornu chiaru.
Eng. The January moon turns night into day.
 
Il jinnaru fici lu piccatu e maju è chiamatu minnali.
Eng. The damage occurred in January but May gets the blame.
 
Cci havi a pinsari Jinnaru quannu havi a chioviri.
Eng. Think ahead. (lit. January needs to consider when it should rain.)
 
jissara n.f. Quarry, hamper, bin.
Mentri la jissara è china, sparagna la farina.
Eng. Conserve the flour while the bin is still full.
 
jiri v.i. To go.
'Ntra festa e Ferragustu nun ci jiri si si' 'n disgustu.
Eng. Don't join in the celebration or holiday if you feel disgruntled.
 
jocu n.m. Play.
Lu beddu di lu jocu è fari fatti e parrari pocu.
Eng. Actions speak louder than words. (lit. The beauty of the play is to do deeds and speak little.)
 
jornu n.m. Day, daybreak, daylight.
Jornu curtu, pisci longu; jornu longu, pisci curtu.
Eng. During the winter eat long fishes, during the summer eat short fishes.
 
Cogghi 'ntra jornu lu meli e la cira e balla e joca 'ntra l'aria la sira.
Eng. Make hay while the sun shines. (lit. Harvest honey and wax in daylight, dance and play in the evening.)
 
Unni càntanu tanti gaddi, nun fa jornu.
Eng. Daybreak depends not on the crowing of roosters.
 
Pri l'annu novu crisci lu jornu quant' un passu d'omu.
Eng. After new year daylight increases as much as a man's stride.
 
Nun veni jornu chi nun veni sira.
Eng. Day doesn't come without night following.
 
Jornu mai fu chi nun scurassi.
Eng. There's never been a day that hasn't darkened.
 
jovidi n.m. Thursday.
Lu jovidi grassu cu' nun havi dinari s'arrusica l'ossu.
Eng. On Fat Thursday, those without money can gnaw on a bone. (tr.n. The next to last Thursday before lent.)
 
Judeu n.m. Jew.
È persu l'ogghiu santu a li judei. Vedi Nun servi. Source: Pitrè, II, 244.
Eng. Jewish faith withstands conversion. Lit. Holy oil is lost on the Jews.
 
Nun servi dari li perni a li porci. Source: Pitrè, II, 244.
Eng. It's useless to give pearls to pigs. Tr. note. Christian enmity ran very deep.
 
judici e jurici n.m. Judge.
Lu bon judici duna a tutti audienza, ma a pocu duna cridenza.
Eng. The good judge give an audience to all, but gives credence to few.
 
Lu judici giustu, cchiù a la giustizia chi all' omini divi aviri riguardu.
Eng. The just judge must have a higher regard for justice than for the opinion of men.
 
Di judici chi pendi, ingiustizia si nni attendi.
Eng. Justice delayed is injustice arrayed.
 
Essiri judici e parti.
Eng. Being the judge and remaining apart.
 
Lu judici avi ad aviri dui oricchi, ovvero l'oricchi eguali.
Eng. A judge needs two ears, or rather ears that are equal.
 
jumenta n.f. Mare.
Voi di vacca jenca, e cavaddu di vecchia jumenta.
Eng. Get your ox from a young cow and your horse from an old mare.
 
juncareddi n.m. Rush, basketweaver.
Cui si metti cu juncareddi, 'un arricogghi bruciareddi.
Eng. If you're with the basket weavers you're not at the harvest.
 
juncu n.m. Reed, bulrush.
Unni cc'è juncu, cc'è acqua. Source: Pitrè, Vol, Page.
Eng. There's water where the bulrush grows.
 
juntu p.part. of juciri Joined.
Un mali 'un è passatu e l'àutru è juntu Source: Pitrè, III, 99.
Eng. One affliction isn't cured before another occurs.
 
juramenti n.m. Oath, promise.
Juramenti d'amuri e fumu di ciminia, l'acqua li lava e lu ventu si li arrìa.
Eng. The promises of love and the smoke of a chimney, washed away by water and blown away by wind.
 
jurnata n.f. Day.
Lu voi ca si mancia la pagghiata, lavura tutta la jurnata.
Eng. The ox that eats the hay, works the entire day.
 
lamintarisi v.i. To lament.
Io mi dogghiu e autru si lamenta.
Eng. I hurt but another laments.
 
Voi stari bonu? Lamentati!
Eng. Do you want to stay well? Then lament!
 
lana n.f. Wool.
È megghiu dari la lana chi la pecura.
Eng. It's better to give the wool than the sheep.
 
Lanuzza n.f. pejor. Know-it-all.
Né 'ntra la casa né 'mmenzu la chiazza, nun stati a fari lu Patri Lanuzza.
Eng. Don't pontificate, neither at home nor abroad.
 
lapi n.f. Bees.
Crapi e lapi, lassa fari a cui nni sapi.
Eng. Stay within your level of competence.
 
lassari v.t. Leave, abandon.
Nun lassari lu picca pri l'assai, chi forsi l'unu e l'àutru pirdirai.
Eng. Don't leave the small for the big, you might very well lose the one as well as the other.
 
latru n.m. Thief.
Latru chi nun pò cchiù, è tuttu di Gesù.
Eng. The thief who can't anymore, has now found Jesus.
 
Ogni latru veni pri arrubbari.
Eng. Every thief comes in order to steal.
 
Latri e sbirri.
Eng. Cops and robbers. Tr. note: The children's game.
 
lavanara n.f. Washerwoman.
A bona lavanara nun manca petra. Source: Pitrè, III, 188.
Eng. The good washerwoman doesn't lack for a washboard.
 
làvasi v.t. Wash.
Cui voli prestu muriri, làvasi la testa e vaja a durmiri.
Eng. If you want to die quickly, go to bed with wet hair.
 
lavuraturi n.m. Worker.
Un bonu lavuraturi, sempri è chiamatu a lavurari. Source: Pitrè, III, 188.
Eng. A good worker is always picked to work.
 
lavuri n.m. Crops, plants, stalks, seedlings.
Tri cosi boni voli lu lavuri: tempu, simenza e lu zappuliaturi.
Eng. Crops need three good things: good seeds, good time, and good hoeing.
 
Quannu si curcanu li lavuri, spincinu la testa li massari.
Eng. When the stalks go to sleep, the farmers awaken. i.e. When the crop ripens and the tops bend with their weight, the farmer begins the harvest.
 
lettu n.m. Bed.
Lu lettu fa lu medicu.
Eng. The sick bed makes the doctor.
 
Gamma a lettu e vrazzu a pettu.
Eng. Bed rest cures a hurt leg and a sling heals a hurting arm.
 
Giugnettu, lu frummentu sutta lu lettu.
Eng. In July, store the grain under the bed.
 
letu adj. Glad, happy.
Né tu letu né iu cunsulatu.
Eng. Neither you happy nor I consoled.
 
leva v.t. 3rd p.sing. Remove.
Cu' havi 'na bona chiusa, ortu e vigna, si leva li crusti cu tutta la tigna.
Eng. With a good farm, garden and vineyard, all your problems will be cured.
 
lialtà n.f. Loyalty.
Unni cc'è la puvirtà, è suspetta la lialtà.
Eng. When there is poverty, loyalty is suspect.
 
libbirtà n.f. Liberty, freedom.
Cui di la propria libbirtà si spogghia, sempri si trova cu affannu e cu dogghia.
Eng. Who rids himself of his own freedom, always finds himself with worry and pain.
 
Giuvintù 'n libbirtà, vicchiaia 'n puvirtà.
Eng. Youth spent freely, old age spent in poverty.
 
libbirtati n.f. Liberty, freedom.
Libbirtati e saluti cui ha, è riccu e nun lu sa.
Eng. Freedom and health, who has them is rich and doesn't know it.
 
licca adj. Delicious.
Cosa licca sà di picca.
Eng. Delicious things satiate little.
 
liga n.f. Bud.
Ciuri di maju e liga di giugnu.
Eng. Flowers in May and budding in June.
 
liggi n.f. Law.
Si nun si' Re nun fari liggi novi; lassa lu munnu comu lu trovi.
Eng. If you're not King don't make new laws; leave the world the way you found it.
 
lignu n.m. Wood.
Tuccannu lignu, è vinu binignu.
Eng. Wooden casks make good wine.
 
Lignu vecchiu megghiu adduma ma cchiù prestu si cunsuma.
Eng. Old wood lights better but burns out quicker.
 
Lu lignu cchiù tintu è, cchiù fumu fa. Source: Pitrè, II, 13.
Eng. The worse the wood, the smokier it gets.
 
lingua n.f. Language, tongue.
Lu specchiu di lu stòmacu è la lingua.
Eng. Your language displays your true identity. (lit. The tongue is the mirror of the stomach.)
 
lippu n.m. Moss.
Petra chi nun fa lippu, lu ciumi si la tira.
Eng. A stone that gathers no moss will be washed away by the river.
 
liuni n.m. Lion.
Ogni cani è liuni a la so' casa.
Eng. A man's house is his castle. (lit. Every dog is a lion in his own house.)
 
livari v.t. To remove, take away.
L'acqua leva la rùggia e no la mola. Source: Pitrè, II, 12.
Eng. Water washes away the residue and not the millstone.
 
livata n.f. Indignation, scorn, alarm.
Diu nni scanza di mali vicini e di livata d'omini dabbeni.
Eng. God save us from evil neighbors and from the indignation of the upright.
 
locu n.m. Place.
Quannu amuri voli, trova locu.
Eng. When love is willing, it finds a way.
 
lodari v.t. To praise.
Bonu vinu, cavaddu e mugghieri, sapi ognunu ca 'un si divi lodari.
Eng. Everyone knows that you mustn't praise a good wine, a good horse and a good wife.
 
luci v.t. 3rd p.sing. Lights, brightens.
La luna di jinnaru luci comu jornu chiaru.
Eng. The January moon brightens like a clear day.
 
lucrusu n.m. Lucrative, profitable.
Frivaru, quann'è chivusu, è assai lucrusu.
Eng. When February is rainy, it's very profitable.
 
ludari v.t. To praise.
Nun ludari la jurnata si nun scura la sirata.
Eng. Don't praise the daylight before it is evening.
 
lumi n.m. Light.
A cu' voli mali Diu ci leva lu lumi.
Eng. God takes the light away from the condemned.
 
luna n.f. Moon.
La luna di marzu règula sei misi.
Eng. The new moon of March rules for six months.
 
La luna di sittèmmiru cuverna setti luni.
Eng. The September moon governs seven moons.
 
Quannu la luna è pàllita, chiovi; quannu è russa, fa ventu e quan'è chiara fa sirinità.
Eng. When the moon is pale, it will rain; when it's red, it will be windy and when it's clear, it will be serene.
 
luni n.m. Monday.
Li spusi di lu jornu di luni si nni vannu a ruzzulani.
Eng. A couple married on Monday is headed for a fall.
 
luntanu adv. Far away, afar.
Luntanu di l'occhi luntanu di cori.
Eng. Out of sight, out of mind. lit. Far from sight, far from the heart.
 
lupu n.m. Wolf.
San Marcu è lu lupu di la campagna.
Eng. St. Mark is the wolf of the countryside. (When the Sirocco blows around April 25, it can damage crops.)
 
Lu lupu vecchiu conusci li voschi. Source: Pitrè, II, 129.
Eng. The old wolf knows the forest.
 
lussu n.m. Luxury.
Lettu di Duminicani, tavula di Cappuccini, lussu di Binidittini.
Eng. The bed of the Dominicans, the table of the Capuccins, and the luxury of the Benedictines.
 
maceddu n.m. Slaughterhouse.
Quannu lu voi è a lu maceddu, tutti cùrrinu cu lu cuteddu.
Eng. When the ox is at the slaughterhouse everyone comes running with their knives.
 
magagna n.f. Fault, defect.
A li corpi di marteddu si conusci la magagna.
Eng. With the hammer's blows the defects become known.
 
màgghia n.f. Scrounge, link of a chain, sweater.
Acqua di celu e sardi a la màgghia. Source: Pitrè, III, 4.
Eng. Rainwater and scrounged sardines. Lit. Water from the sky and scrounged sardines.
 
mai adv. Never, ever.
Megghiu tardu chi mai. Source: Pitrè, III, 185.
Eng. Better late than never.
 
maiali n.m. Pig.
Ni la testa d'un maiali, cc'è chi pigghiari e chi lassari; ni la testa d'un cunigghiu, nenti lassu e nenti pigghiu.
Eng. In the head of the pig there's something to take and something to leave; in the head of the rabbit there's nothing to leave and nothing to take.
 
majulinu adj. May.
La zita majulina nun si godi la curtina.
Eng. The bride does not prefer a May wedding.
 
maju n.m. May.
Acqua di maju assuppa viddani e signuri o galantomini quantu nn'incontra.
Eng. The rains of May drench peasants and nobles alike. (lit. May waters drench peasants and lords or gentlemen, as many as it encounters.)
 
Misi di maju, mèttiti 'n casa ligna e furmaggiu.
Eng. Use your time in May to stock up for winter.
 
majuri adj. Bigger, senior, wise.
Supra lu majuri si 'nsigna lu minuri
Eng. We learn by standing on the shoulders of the wise.
 
malanni n.m. Misfortunes, ailments.
Ddoppu li cinquant'anni, ogn'annu deci malanni.
Eng. Every year after fifty brings ten ailments.
malatu n.m. Sick, patient.
Comu va lu tempu, va lu malatu.
Eng. As the weather goes, so goes the patient.
 
La frevi manteni lu malatu.
Eng. Fever sustains the sick.
 
Lu poviru e lu malatu nun è vulutu di lu parintatu. Variante: Lu poviru e malatu nun havi parintatu.
Eng. The poor and the sick are not wanted by their relatives. Variant: The poor and the sick have no relatives.
 
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