SICILIAN PROVERBS

translated into English by Arthur V. Dieli
stenta n.m. Distress, privation, need, pain.
Sempri stenta cu' mai cuntenta.
Eng. One who is never satisfied is always in need.
 
stentu n.m. Distress, privation, need, pain.
Amuri senza stentu 'un trova locu.
Eng. Love without pain can't be found.
 
stiddi n.f. Stars.
Su' stiddi 'n terra li medici dotti.
Eng. Learned doctors are stars on earth.
 
stima v.t. To esteem, admire, regard, value.
Cui cavarca 'nta la china, o nun è sua la vèstia o nun la stima.
Eng. Whoever rides into the flood, either does not own the animal or doesn't value it.
 
Cui stima, nun accatta.
Eng. Who openly admires, will not buy.
 
Cu' havi dinari ed amicizia, pocu stima la giustizia.
Eng. People with money and friends don't esteem justice.
 
stira v.t. Iron.
Mentri lu ferru è càudu si stira.
Eng. Strike while the iron is hot. (Lit. The time for ironing is while the iron is hot.)
 
stirari v.t. To stretch out, to iron.
Cu' troppu la stira prestu si rumpi.
Eng. If you stretch it out too much it will soon break.
 
stissu pron. Oneself.
Cui travagghiu pr'iddu stissu, 'un stanca mai. Source: Pitrè, III, 199.
Eng. The one who works for himself never tires.
 
stizza n.f. A drop of any liquid, a rain drop.
Pri santa Chiara, 12 agosto, ogni stizza 'na quartara.
Eng. On the feast of St. Clare, August 12, each raindrop is enough to fill a jug.
 
Quattru stizzi chi mèttinu focu.
Eng. A rain shower that's followed by a hot sun.
 
Livarisi di li stizzi e mittirisi a li canali.
Eng. To go from the frying pan into the fire. Lit. Avoiding the dripping and going into the canal.
 
stizzana n.f. A dripping.
La stizzana fa pirtusu.
Eng. The dripping bores a hole.
 
stizzera n.f. A leak, a drip.
Quannu è cuntinua la stizzera junci a pirciari la petra cchiù dura.
Eng. When the dripping is continueous it succeeds in piercing the hardest stone.
 
La stizzera inchi la isterna, e li còccia fannu lu mustu.
Eng. Drop by drop the cistern will be filled and grape by grape the wine is made.
 
stola n.f. Stole.
Lu guadagnu di la pinna e chiddu di la stola, in brevi tempu vola.
Eng. The gains of fame and those of the stole are short lived.
 
stolu n.m. Multitude, crowd.
Unni cc'è oru, cc'è stolu.
Eng. Gold attracts a crowd.
 
stomacu n.m. Stomach.
Stomacu granni e vucca picciridda.
Eng. Listen and be quiet. Lit. a Big stomach and a small mouth.
 
Aviri lu stomacu chinu.
Eng. Being a know it all. Lit. Having a full stomach.
 
straniu adj. Foreigner, stranger, new, unknown.
L'amuri di lu straniu è comu l'acqua 'ntra lu panaru.
Eng. The love of a stranger is like water in a basket.
 
A la to casa straniu nun trasa.
Eng. Don't share your domestic intimacies with strangers.
 
Straniu straniatu si nun ti gabba si' gabbatu.
Eng. Don't give your love to a stranger, for soon he'll leave.
 
strata n.f. Street, road.
Cui simìna a cantu la strata, stracca li voi e perdi la simenza.
Eng. Whoever sows alongside the road, tires the oxen and wastes seed.
 
Tutt' i strati nèsciun' a marina.
Eng. All roads lead to the sea. Tr. note. This is the island's equivalent of the mainland's, All roads lead to Rome.
 
Cu càngia a strata vecchja ccu la nova, cchiù tinta a trova; cu lassa a strata vecchja ppi la nova chiddru c'un cerca trova.
Eng. The new way is worse than the old way you changed from; leaving the old for the new you find what you weren't looking for.
 
Cu' nun voli la strata bona haja la mala.
Eng. Who chooses not the straight and narrow is left with the bad.
 
La strata di 'm menzu è' cchiù sicura.
Eng. The middle of the road is safer.
 
La mala strata nun finisci mai.
Eng. The bad road never ends.
 
strazzu n.m. Tatter.
Li strazzi vannu pri l'aria.
Eng. The weak pay the penalty.
 
strigghiari v.t. To curry a horse with a currycomb.
Cu' strigghia lu so cavaddu nun è muzzuni. Source: Pitrè, III, 198. -->
Eng. One who curries his own horse does not lose his dignity. Lit. One is not a stable hand who curries his own horse.
 
strippari v.i. To spay female animals.
O strippa o fa latti.
Eng. Either spayed or freshened.
 
'struìri v.t. Teach, instruct, educate.
Cu' ad àutru 'nzigna, 'struìsci sè stissu. Source: Pitrè, II, 126.
Eng. EnterEnglishText.
 
stuppa n.f. Course or waste flax prepared for spinning, tow, oakum.
Quannu ti cridi d'aviri ventu 'n puppa, tannu ti trovi la varva di stuppa.
Eng. When you think you have the wind at your back, that's when you'll be disappointed.
 
Lu scravagghiu 'ntra la stuppa, cchiù chi si spidugghia, cchiù cci 'ncappa.
Eng. The crab louse in the oakum, the more it tries to free itself, the more it's caught.
 
Fari la varva di stuppa.
Eng. To trick or deceive someone. lit. to make a beard out of hemp.
 
Stuppa mi dasti e stuppa ti filavi, tu mi tincisti ed eu t' anniricavi.
Eng. You tried to fool me and fooled yourself. Lit You gave me course flax and course flax I spun, you deceived me and I made a fool of you.
 
sturcìu v.t. past p. Twisted.
Lu Signiuruzzu li cosi, li fici dritti, vinni lu diavulu e li sturcìu.
Eng. God made things straight, the devil came and twisted them.
 
stuzzicari v.t. To poke, to prod.
Stuzzicari lu cani chi dormi.
Eng. Prod the sleeping dog.
 
sucari v.t. Suck, suckle, nurse.
'I figghi quannu su' picciuli sucunu 'n matri, quannu su'n ranni sucunu 'u patri.
Eng. Young children depend on ther mother, older children depend on their father.
 
succedi v.i. Happen.
Succedi cosi 'ntra un'ura, chi nun succedi 'ntra cent'anni. Source: Pitrè, III, 98.
Eng. Things happen in an hour that haven't happened in a hundred years.
 
suda v.i. 3rd p.sing. Sweat, perspire.
A santu chi nun suda, nun ti cci addinucchiari.
Eng. Don't kneel in front of a saint who doesn't perspire.
 
Nun è santu chi suda.
Eng. He is a miser. Lit. He's not a saint if he perspires.
 
sudari v.i. To sweat, to perspire.
Io travagghiu e 'n' autru suda.
Eng. I work and someone else sweats.
 
Megghiu sudari chi trimari.
Eng. Better hot than cold. Lit. Better to sweat than to tremble.
 
suffriri v.t. and v.i. To bear, to endure, to suffer.
Bisogna suffriri lu statu prisenti, pri nun aviri lu mali avviniri.
Eng. Put up with your present condition to avoid a bad future.
 
Megghiu muriri ca suffriri.
Eng. Better to die than to suffer.
 
sularu n.m. Attic, loft.
Pruvulazzu di jinnaru càrrica lu sularu.
Eng. Threshing dust of January means a filled loft.
 
suli n.m. Sun.
Suli càuru cu assai ventu, vaju a casa e su' cuntentu.
Eng. A hot sun with a lot of wind, I go home and I am happy.
 
Natali cu lu suli e Pasqua cu lu tizzuni: chissa è la vera staciuni.
Eng. The best of all worlds: A sunny Christmas and a wood fire on Easter.
 
Quannu lu suli ti risplenni, nun ti curari di la luna.
Eng. Don't stress over the little things.
 
Quannu nesci lu suli nesci pri tutti.
Eng. When the sun rises, it shines for all.
 
Quantu lu suli di la cannilora vidi, tantu di nni copri di nivi.
Eng. If February 2nd is clear, it will snow.
 
Suli puncenti cu bedda jurnata, ti renninu piggiuri la 'nvirnata.
Eng. A hot sun with a beautiful day, will produce a worse winter.
 
Lu suli chi ti vidi ti quaria.
Eng. Look with hope to those here and now.
 
Agurari lu suli chi affaccia.
Eng. Welcome the help that arrives.
 
Ognunu adura lu suli chi affacia.
Eng. Everyone adores the one that is helpful.
 
suliri v.i. To be usual, to be normal.
Cu' ti fa zoccu nun ti soli, o ti ha gabbatu, o gabbari ti voli.
Eng. Who does the unusual has either deceived you or is planning to.
 
sullicitu adj. Solicitous, diligent.
L'omu sullicitu nun mori puvireddu.
Eng. The diligent man does not die impoverished.
 
sullicitutini n.f. Solicitude, concern.
La sullicitutini è capu di la ricchizza.
Eng. Concern is the beginning of wealth.
 
sulu adj. Alone.
Pigghiala sula e pìgghiala nuda.
Eng. Take her by herself and take her with nothing.
 
Li canali su misi a facci a buccuni, pi li mariti e mugghieri stari suli.
Eng. Terra cotta roof tiles are positioned interlaced so that husbands and wives can be left alone.
 
Maritati e muli, làssali suli.
Eng. Married people and mules, leave them alone.
 
Diu vi scanza di un pinseri sulu.
Eng. Lord save you from having just a single thought.
 
Si è tintu lu nudu, è cchiù tintu lu sulu.
Eng. If abject poverty is bad, being alone is worse.
 
Megghiu cu autru partiri ca sulu perdiri.
Eng. It's better to join with others than to remain alone.
 
Cu' sulu si cunsigghia sulu si penti.
Eng. Who counsels himself repents alone.
 
sumeri n.m. Donkey, jackass, dunce.
'Ntra maritu e 'ntra mugghieri cui si 'mmisca è un gran sumeri.
Eng. Whoever interferes between husband and wife is a big jackass.
 
superbia n.f. Pride, arrogance.
Quannu la superbia in autu acchiana, accumenza a sbasciari la furtuna.
Eng. When pride increases, it begins to diminish fortune.
 
Si la superbia fussi 'nfirmitati, nni murissimu cchiù di la mitati.
Eng. If arrogance were a sickness, more than half would die.
 
La superbia è scala d'ogni viziu.
Eng. Arrogance is a step of every vice.
 
La superbia è figghia di l'ignoranza.
Eng. Arrogance is the child of ignorance.
 
superbu adj. Proud, arrogant, haughty.
Lu superbu è di tuttu disprizzatu.
Eng. The haughty is scorned by all.
 
Cu' è superbu è pazzu.
Eng. Who is arrogant is crazy.
 
Lu superbu nun havi mai paci.
Eng. The arrogant never have peace.
 
Superbu cu superbu nun fa bona lega.
Eng. The arrogant with the arrognt doesn't make a good partnership.
 
suppa n.f. Soup.
Vo' campari quantu voi? Mancia suppa avanti e poi.
Eng. For a long life, eat soup before and after.
 
suprafari v.t. Prevail, win, overwhelm.
Diu lassa fari, ma no suprafari.
Eng. God allows but doesn't overwhelm.
 
surci n.m. Mouse, mice.
Gattu di fàuda 'un pigghia surci.
Eng. A coddled cat doesn't catch mice.
 
surcu n.m Furrow.
Li pagghiara di lu lavuri sunnu li surchi.
Eng. The furrows are shelters for the seedlings.
 
surdatu n.m. Soldier.
Amuri di surdatu pocu dura; in tuccari tammùru; Addiu, Signura!
Eng. The love of a soldier doesn't last long; when the drum rolls; Goodbye, dear lady!
 
A bon surdatu si duna bona lancia.
Eng. The good weapon goes to the capable soldier.
 
Multi surdati su' boni a la tavula, ma timidi a la guerra.
Eng. Many soldiers are brave at the table but timid at war.
 
surdu adj. and n.m. Deaf.
Cui predica a li surdi, appizza lu sermuni.
Eng. Who preaches to the deaf, wastes the sermon.
 
A ciumi surdi nun cci iri a piscari.
Eng. Don't deal with a person who is uncommunicative. Or: Don't fish in a river that's silent.
 
Fincirisi orvu, surdu, e mutu.
Eng. Use maximum prudence and hide everything. Lit. Pretend that you're blind, deaf, and mute.
 
susìu v.t. refl. 3rd p.sing. of sùsiri Got up.
Cui si susìu, locu pirdìu; cui s'assittau, locu truvau.
Eng. Stay put and get organized. (Lit. Who got up, lost his place, who sat down, found it.)
 
suspirari v.i. To sigh.
Cu' suspira 'nn è cuntenti, cu' santì 'un ha dinari; cu' di vecchi s'innamura si la pinna la vintura.
Eng. One who sighs is not content, who curses has no money, who cosies up to the old has bad intentions.
 
sustanza n.f. Substance, property, wealth, riches.
Cui zappa tirrenu funnu, trova sustanza e beni 'ntra lu munnu. Source: Pitrè, I, 42.
Eng. By cultivating well, you gain substance and goods.
 
sustu n.m. Nuisance, annoyance.
Lu jocu di manu, è sustu di viddanu. Source: Pitrè, III, 321.
Eng. Sleight of hand is the nuisance of the peasant.
 
sutta prep. Under.
Cu' è di sutta non si pò arriminari.
Eng. The poor have short arms. Lit. Who is underneath can't stir.
 
suverchiu adj. Excessive, superfluous, too much.
Lu picca abbasta, l'assai suverchiu.
Eng. A little is enough, a lot is too much.)
 
taccia n.f. Thumbtack.
Nun putiri fari tacci e ferru 'nta 'na vota.
Eng. You can't do two things at once. Lit. You can't make tacks and iron at once.
 
taciri v.i. To be silent, to not speak.
Vidi e taci si beni aviri voi o si vo' campari 'm paci.
Eng. Observe and be silent if you want to live well or live in peace.
 
Assai sapi cui taciri sapi.
Eng. He is wise who knows to be silent.
 
Lu taciri è prudenza.
Eng. Silence is golden. Lit. Silence is prudence.
 
Si divi taciri a tempu e a locu.
Eng. There's a time and a place for silence.
 
Cui taci accunsenti.
Eng. Silence conveys agreement.
 
È megghiu taciri ca malu parrari.
Eng. It's better to be silent than to speak badly.
 
Lu taciri è virtù ma nun è di tutti.
Eng. Silence is a virtue not universally shared.
 
taddarita n.f. Agitated, bat, cloak.
'Mmatula, taddarita, canti e soni, Lu santu ch'è di màrmuru nun suda. Source: Pitrè, III, 186.
Eng. The situation is hopeless. Lit. Being agitated, singing and making music are useless, The saint that's made of marble doesn't perspire.
 
tadduni n.m. Stalk, dried up vine.
Pensa, tadduni, quann' eri sarmentu.
Eng. Think back, old stalk, to when you were a sprout.
 
talentu n.m. Aptitude, gift, talent.
A marzu m'arrifazzu, 'ntr'aprili mi veni a vidiri, e si vidi ca nun ti talentu, ti vinni li voi e accatti lu frummentu.
Eng. In March I catch up, during April come to see me, and if you see that I'm not paying attention to you, then sell your oxen and buy grain. ( Tr. note: This is a plot of ground talking.)
 
talìacci v.t.i. taliari. To look at.
Talìacci lu peri, E vidi di cu' è mugghieri. Source: Pitrè, I, 163.
Eng. Look at her feet and you'll know whose wife she is.
 
tammureddu n.m. Tambourine.
Criva novi e tammureddi pri tri ghiorna sunnu beddi.
Eng. Nothing lasts forever. Lit. a new sieve and tambourines are like new for three days.
 
tana n.f. Den, cave, pit, nest.
Lu pitittu fa nesciri la serpi di la tana.
Eng. Hunger makes the snake leave its den. lit. Appitite makes the snake come out of the den.
 
A surci vecchiu nun si 'nsigna tana. Source: Pitrè, II, 125.
Eng. There's no need to show the old mice the way to their nests.
 
tardu adj. Lazy, slow.
Quannu lu tardu 'mparra pigghia ed ardilu.
Eng. When the slow person learns, praise him warmly.
 
tardu adv. Late.
Tardu vinutu, pri nenti è tinutu.
Eng. The latecomer is valued as nothing.
 
Megghiu tardu ca mai.
Eng. Better late than never.
 
Cu' tardu arriva trova l'ossu, ovvero cu' tardu arriva mali alloggia
Eng. If you arrive late you won't find the comforts that you want. Lit. Who arrives late finds bones, OR, Who arrives late is accomodated badly.
 
tastari v.t. To taste, to sample, to savor.
Cu' tasta nun spinna.
Eng. Who tastes, won't buy.
 
Taurmina place name Taormina.
A Taurmina quantu su' li muntati su' li pinnina.
Eng. At Taormina every climb has its descent.
 
tàvula n.f. Dining table.
A tàvula cci voli facci di mònacu.
Eng. At the dining table you should eat without restraint. (Lit. At the table you need the face of a monk.)
 
A tavulu si scordanu li trìvuli.
Eng. You forget your troubles at the dining table.
 
Quantu si dici in tavula, divi arristari 'ntra la tuvagghia.
Eng. What's said at the dinner table should be left with the tablecloth.
 
A tavula nun s'invecchia.
Eng. One never gets old at the table.
 
La tavula è turtura.
Eng. At the table it's easy to confide to someone.
 
A tavula si mancia senza affruntu.
Eng. At the table you eat without shame.
 
A tavula di povir' omu nun cc'è mai avanzu.
Eng. At the poor man's table there are never any leftovers.
 
A tavula di putruni nè cruci nè benedizioni.
Eng. At the table of the slouch there is no grace or benediction.
 
A tavula e tavulinu si canusci lu galantomu.
Eng. At the table and the game table good maners show.
 
tempu n.m. Time.
Bonu tempu e malu tempu nun dura tuttu tempu.
Eng. Good time and bad time doesn't last for all time.
 
Lu tempu è preziusu.
Eng. Time is money.
 
Missa 'un leva tempu.
Eng. There's always time for Mass.
 
Lu tempu assicuta lu tempu.
Eng. Time marches on.
 
Cogghi lu tempu comu megghiu pôi, tinennu pronti l'aratu e li voi.
Eng. Use your time as best you can, keeping the hoe and oxen at hand.
 
Cui tempu aspetta, tempu perdi.
Eng. Wait for time and lose time.
 
Pigghia tempu e campirai.
Eng. Having time allows you to do what you need.
 
Ogni cosa a so tempu.
Eng. Everything in its' time.
 
Dacci tempu a la quagghia.
Eng. Don't fret, give things their time.
 
Lu tempu è galantomu.
Eng. Time is a gentleman.
 
Lu tempu scopri ogni cosa, o è patri di la verità.
Eng. Time discovers all, or it is the father of truth.
 
Lu tempu porta cunsigghiu.
Eng. Time brings counsel.
 
Lu tempu passa e la vicchizza accosta, o lu tempu vola.
Eng. Time marches on and old age threatens, or time flies.
 
Lu tempu è longu.
Eng. There is enough time.
 
Lu tempu è medicu.
Eng. Time heals all things.
 
A tempu chi lu tempu 'un era tempu.
Eng. Before the world existed.
 
A tempu di li canonaci di lignu o di lu judici surra.
Eng. Ancient times. Lit. At the time of wooden canons or of a speechless magistrate.
 
Lu tempu persu 'un è di nuddu.
Eng. Lost time belongs to no one.
 
Lu tempu persu nun s'acquista cchiù.
Eng. You can't turn time backwards.
 
Lu tempu ogni cosa cunsuma.
Eng. Time will consume everything.
 
Si a tempu tu nun fai zoccu divi, mai cchiui lu ricivi.
Eng. Wasted time is gone forever.
 
Poi lu malu tempu, bon tempu havi a biniri.
Eng. After bad time, good time has to come.
 
Quannu hai bon tempu, navica.
Eng. When you have good time, sail.
 
Cu' havi tempu nun pirdissi tempu.
Eng. Who has time should not lose time.
 
Pigghia lu tempu a tempu comu veni.
Eng. Seize time in time as it comes.
 
Tempu va, tempu aspetta, tempu veni.
Eng. Time comes for all.
 
L'avarizza di tempu è virtù
Eng. Being stingy with time is a virtue.
 
Dissi lu surci a la nuci, dammi tempu ca ti spirtusu.
Eng. The mouse said to the walnut, give me time and I'll pierce you.
 
Lu tempu è chiddu chi li cosi tratta, e cu lu tempu si paga la detta.
Eng. You can do everything if you have enough time.
teni v.t. 3rd p.sing. Keeps, holds.
Cui picca havi, caru teni.
Eng. Meager possessions are highly valued.
 
teniri v.t. To posess, to hold.
Cu' pri bon'omu è tinutu, si fa mali nun è cridutu.
Eng. The misdeed of one who is held to be a good person is not believed.
 
tenta v.t. 3rd p.sing. Tempts.
Fimmina di trenta, lu dimoniu nun la tenta.
Eng. A woman of thirty is not tempted by the devil.
 
tentari v.t. To try, to test.
Tentari nun noci.
Eng. There's no harm in trying.
 
terra n.f. Earth, soil, ground, country, land.
Assai terra, poca terra: poca terra, assai terra.
Eng. The results from your land depend on how you cultivate. (Lit. A lot of land, a little land a little land, a lot of land.)
 
Jetta 'n terra ca Diu cuverna.
Eng. Do the seeding and let nature govern.
 
Terra chi nun fa erva nun fa lavuri.
Eng. If grass won't grow, neither will fodder.
 
Terra niura duna bonu pani.
Eng. Black soil gives good bread.
 
Terra bianca prestu stanca.
Eng. Infertile soil is unproductive. Lit. White soil tires quickly.
 
La terra dici, dunami ca ti dugnu.
Eng. Feed the soil and it will produce. Lit. The soil says, give to me and I'll give to you.
 
Terra vacanti nun paga patruni.
Eng. Empty acreage has no yield. Lit. Empty land doesn't pay the owner.
 
Terra ca nun vesti ad idda nun vesti ad autru, ovvero terra chi nun fa erva nun fa lavuri.
Eng. Land that doesn't yield for one doesn't yield for another. Or. If grass won't grow, neither will fodder.
 
Cu' terra forti lavura, a bon santu s' adura. Or. Cu' simina terri forti, avi certu auguriu e sorti.
Eng. Work the soil well and reap the benefits.
 
Tinta dda terra chi lu so patruni nun vidi, e sta 'mputiri di viddani.
Eng. Woe the land that's not overseen by the owner and relies on the peasant.
 
Terra, sutta terra.
Eng. You need to plough deep.
 
Cu' avi terra avi guerra.
Eng. Who has land has warfare.
 
Tantu vali la terra, quantu l'omu chi la cultiva.
Eng. The land is worth as much as the man who cultivates it.
 
Terra caura nun fa fretta.
Eng. Good soil, no anxiety.
 
Non ogni terra produci ogni cosa.
Eng. Crops need to be rotated. Lit. Not every plot produces every crop.
 
A bona terra chianta la vigna, di bona matri pigghia la figghia.
Eng. On good soil plant the grapevine, from a good mother choose the daughter. Tr. note: If only things were that straightforward.
 
Cu' po ghiri pri terra nun vaja pri mari.
Eng. Take the normal approach when you can. Lit. If you can get there overland don't go by sea.
 
A terra comu vai usa comu trovi.
Eng. When in Rome, do as the Romans.
 
terzu n.m. Third.
Tra du' litiganti lu terzu godi.
Eng. Between two litigants the third one rejoices.
 
terzu adj. Third, ordinal number after second.
A la terza si libbira.
Eng. By the third time it's easy.
 
testa n.f. Head, intellect, good sense.
A cu' nun havi testa cci vonnu boni gammi.
Eng. Think ahead or suffer the consequences. (Lit. Those who don't think will need strong legs.)
 
Pri cunsirvari la saluti nun ti lavari mai la testa, spissu li manu e raru li pedi.
Eng. For good health never wash your head, wash your hands often and your feet rarely.
 
Testa e tistuni e un diavulu chi vi porta.
Eng. Intelligence, money, and good fortune will help you get ahead.
 
Di la testa feti lu pisci.
Eng. The problem starts at the top. Lit. The stench of the fish starts at the head.
 
Dui cosi nun potti addrizzari lu Signuri, cucuzzi longhi e testa di viddani.
Eng. Two things that the Lord could not straighten, the long squash and the head of the peasant. Tr. note: Peasants were thought to be obstinate.
 
Quanni la testa si doli ogni membru si cundoli.
Eng. When the head hurts all the members languish.
 
Testa chi nun parra si chiama cucuzza
Eng. The head that fails to speak is called a pumpkin.
 
La testa di l'omu dottu, morte parra.
Eng. The works of the scholar contine to speak after his death.
 
testamentu n.m. Will, as in last will and testament.
Grossi spisi e magru testamentu.
Eng. A lot of spending and a meagre estate.
 
testimoniu n.m. Witness.
Li testimoni fannu 'impenniri l'omini.
Eng. Judgement is suported by witnesses. Lit. Witnesses make men be hanged.
 
tignusu adj. Bald, stingy, irascible.
Lavari la testa a lu tignusu o all'asinu.
Eng. Helping an ingrate. Lit. Washing the head of the bald or of the jackass.
 
tila n.f. Cloth.
A lustru di cannila, né fimmini né tila.
Eng. By candle light, neither women nor cloth.
 
Fimmina e tila 'un si nn'accàttanu di sira.
Eng. Women and cloth should not be bought in the evening.
 
La tila di la vicina pari megghiu.
Eng. Other's things look better. Lit. The neighbor's woven cloth looks better.
 
Lu linu è curtu e fa la tila longa.
Eng. The raw linen is short yet it makes a long cloth.
 
Cu' voli tila si simina lu linu.
Eng. If you want something adopt the means to get it. Lit. Who wants cloth plants flax seed.
 
timogna n.f. Pile, stack.
Tutti li spichi nun vannu a timogna.
Eng. Not all the spikes of wheat make it to the wheat pile.
 
Finu a Santa Margarita u frummentu crisci nna timogna.
Eng. The grain keeps piling up until Saint Margaret's Day.
 
timpa n.f. Hill, steep slope.
Cu' simina 'nta li timpi, ricogghi tampi.
Eng. Who plants on steep slopes harvests nothing.
 
timpesta n.f. Storm, tempest.
Bunazza nun c'è mai senza timpesta.
Eng. There is never a calm sea without a following storm.
 
Doppu la timpesta veni la calma.
Eng. The calm after the storm.
 
timpuni n.m., pl. timpuna. Difficult terrain, steep, hilly, rocky.
Cu' scippa timpuna, mancia cudduruna.
Eng. Who clears difficult terrain eats good bread.
 
tinciri v.t. To color, to dye, to defraud, to deceive.
Tu mi tincisti ed io ti ngramagghiavi.
Eng. You deceived me and I returned the favor.
 
Fimmina chi t'abbrazza e strinci, o t'ha tinciuto o cerca di tinciriti.
Eng. A woman who hugs and squeezes you has deceived you or is seeking to deceive you.
 
tintu adj. Dyed, not good, bad, inept, corrupt.
Tantu sta la robba tinta 'n chiazza, sina chi veni lu tintu e si l' accatta.
Eng. Bad goods will remain in the stall, until a bad shopper buys it all. (Lit. Poor goods will stay in the square until an inept shopper comes and buys it.)
 
Li fimmini sempri si tennu a lu tintu.
Eng. Women always tend to the bad.
 
Frivareddu è curtuliddu, ma nun c'è cchiù tintu d'iddu.
Eng. February may be short but there's none worse.
 
tirannia n.f. Tyranny.
'Un amari a cu' t'ama è tirannia.
Eng. Not loving the one who loves you is tyranny.
 
tirari v.t. To pull, to tug.
Cu' troppu la tira, prestu la rumpi.
Eng. Excess will harm. Lit. Who pulls too much will break it soon.
 
Megghiu una vota tira tira, ca tanti voti cazza cazza.
Eng. Better one energetic effort than a hundred half-hearted.
 
La carni tira. --o-- Lu sangu tira. Source: Pitrè, II, 149.
Eng. Blood is thicker than water.
 
tirrenu n.m. Terrain, land, soil, ground, area.
È sempri cu l'amaru 'mmiscatu l'amur tirrenu.
Eng. Love is always bittersweet. (Lit. Love's terrain is always mixed with bitterness.)
 
tistardu n.m. Obstinate, stubborn.
Cu' è tistardu, va di mali 'n peju. Source: Pitrè, III, 184.
Eng. A stubborn person goes from bad to worse.
 
tistimonìu n.m. Testimony, witness.
Vali cchiù un tistimonìu di visu, chi centu d'oricchia.
Eng. The testimony of one eyewitness is worth more than the hearsay of a hundred.
 
Li testimoni fannu 'mpenniri l'omini
Eng. Without witnesses there can be no justice. (Lit. Witnesses make men be hanged.)
 
tiurìa n.f. Theory.
La prattica fa cchiù di la tiuria. Source: Pitrè, II, 129.
Eng. You learn more by doing than by listening. Lit. Practice does more than theory.
 
tizzuni n.m. A charred piece of wood, an ember, an Arab.
Nun cc'è tizzuni senza fumu. Source: Pitrè, III, 93.
Eng. Nobody is perfect. Lit. There's no ember without smoke.
 
to' pron. Your.
Li to' si t'arrustinu nun ti mancianu.
Eng. Your relatives can't hurt you as much as strangers.
 
tocca v.t. 3rd p.sing. Draw near, devolve, rightfully have.
L'arma a Diu, lu corpu a la terra e la robba a cu' tocca.
Eng. The soul goes to God, the body to the earth, and the goods to whom they belong.
 
Tocca a tìa difinnìrimi.
Eng. It devolves on you to defend me.
 
tradituri n.m. Traitor.
Lu tradituri è tinutu liali quannu sapi ben parrari.
Eng. The traitor is believed to be loyal when he knows how to speak well.
 
S'ama lu tradimentu ma no lu tradituri.
Eng. Treason is loved but the traitor is not.
 
tradutturi n.m. Translators.
Tradutturi, tradituri.
Eng. Translators, traitors.
 
traficari v.t. To deal, to do, to act.
La notti pri durmiri, e lu jornu pri traficari.
Eng. Night is for sleeping and day is for dealing.
 
tramuntana n.f. North Wind.
Sciloccu chiaru e tramuntana scura, mèttiti a mari senza paura.
Eng. With a clear Sirocco and a dark North Wind, go to sea without concern.
 
Tramuntana o tri jorna o 'na simana.
Eng. The North Wind, either three days or a week.
 
Si si metti a tramuntana, appizza a chioviri pri 'na simana.
Eng. If the North Wind blows, expect rain for a week.
 
Trapani place name Trapani.
Trapani, russi curaddi, lu Munti li picciotti beddi.
Eng. Trapani, red coral, Monte San Giuliano, beautiful children.
 
trappitu n.m. The olive press.
Lupa ppi santu Vitu, puoi chiudiri 'u trappitu.
Eng. A dense fog on the feast of St. Vitus and you can close the olive press.
 
trattari v.t. To deal with, to negotiate.
Tratta cu li megghiu di tia e facci li spisi.
Eng. Deal with those better than you and you'll profit.
 
trattu n.m. Distance, space, tract.
Di lu dittu a lu fattu cc'è un gran trattu.
Eng. It's a long way from the said to the done.
 
Tratti Fiorentini, gesti Rumani, tiri Napulitani e mutti Siciliani.
Eng. Florentine tracts, Roman gestures, Neopolitan allures, and Sicilian mottoes.
 
travagghiari v.t. To work.
Cu' a lu cauru nun voli travagghiari, mori di friddu, o Cu' nun travagghia a tempu caudu, patirà poi a lu tempu friddu. Source: Pitrè, III, 193.
Eng. If you don't want to work in the hot weather, you'll freeze in the cold. Or. Who doesen't work during the hot weather, will then suffer in the cold weather.
 
Cu' a lu càudu nun voli travagghiari, lu 'nvernu mori di friddu.. Source: Pitrè, III, 193.
Eng. Who doesn't want to work in the heat, will die of cold in the winter.
 
Cu travagghia una sardina e cu nun travagghia una gaddina.
Eng. Workers are mistreated.
 
Lu primu menzu di acquistari è lu travagghiari.
Eng. The first half of accumulating is to work.
 
Ammatula fai lu mussu a funcia, prima si travagghia e poi si mancia.
Eng. It's useless to pout, first you work and then you eat.
 
Lassa di manciari, nun lassari di travagghiari.
Eng. Forego eating but don't forgo working.
 
travagghiu n.m. Labor, activity, work.
Di lu picciottu lu travagghiu, di lu vecchiu lu cunsigghiu.
Eng. Get work from the young and advice from the old.
 
Ogni travagghiu lu premiu aspetta, ovvero travagghiu fattu dinari aspetta.
Eng. Every labor awaits its wage. Or. Work done payment awaited.
 
trenta adj. Thirty.
Cui di vinti nun sa, di trenta nun fà, di quaranta nun ha, né mai sapirà, né mai farà, né mai avrà.
Eng. If you don't know by age twenty, don't do by age thrity, don't have by age forty, you will never know, never do, and never have.
 
Cui giudiziu mai ha avutu e di trenta poi nun'nn'ha, certu appressu mai 'nn'avrà.
Eng. Who has never had good sense, and by age thirty still doesn't, certainly will never have it after that.
 
tribbulazzioni n.f. Affliction, tribulation, suffering.
La tribbulazzioni è spiruni pri fari beni.
Eng. An affliction is a spur to do well.
 
trintina n.f. Thirties.
Fimmina trintina, jèttala a la marina.
Eng. A woman in her thirties, throw her in the sea.
 
trippìa v.i. 3rd p.sing. Hops.
Quannu la gatta trippìa, malu tempu.
Eng. When the cat hops around, bad weather is on the way.
 
tristu adj. Unhappy, sad.
Girgenti, bona terra, trista genti.
Eng. Agrigento is a good land with sad people.
 
Cu' è tristu giudica chi tutti su' com' iddu.
Eng. The sad person thinks that everyone is also sad.
 
Iri di tristu a pocu bonu.
Eng. Going from the frying pan into the fire.
 
Cu' pirduna a li tristi, noci a li boni.
Eng. Who condones the sad harms the good.
 
trivuliari v.i. To be troubled, to worry.
Megliu cu picca gòdiri ca cu assai trivuliari.
Eng. Better with too few pleasures than with many troubles.
 
trivulu n.m. Tribulation, distress, suffering.
Lu trivulu e lu beni, cu' l'havi si lu teni.
Eng. Tribulations and blessings, if you have them, keep them.
 
Vui sapitu lu vostru trivulu, e io sacciu lu mio.
Eng. You know your trouble and I know mine.
 
Truvulu cumuni è menzu gàudiu
Eng. A common problem is more easily borne.
 
Trivulu pri trivulu mi tegnu a mè maritu ch'è diavulu.
Eng. Between two evils take the lesser. Lit. One tribulation versus another, I'll stay with my husband who is a devil.
 
trizziatu v.t. past p. Teased.
Vecchiu 'nnamuratu, di tutti è trizziatu.
Eng. When an old man falls in love he is teased by everyone.
 
troja n.f. Sow.
La troja magra sempri si sonna di manciari agghiannari.
Eng. Everyone dreams what they please. lit. The lean sow dreams of eating acorns
 
trubbula v.t. 3rd p.sing. Muddies.
Una stizza di sangu trubbula lu mari.
Eng. A bit of compassion makes all the difference. lit. A drop of blood muddies the sea.
 
truppicari v.i. Stumble.
Truppica un sceccu cu quattru pedi, e nun havi a cadiri chiddu cu dui.
Eng. Wise men err, no doubt we will also.
 
truscia n.f. Bundle.
Quannu lu ventu veni di mari, pigghia la truscia e vattinni a lavari.
Eng. When the wind comes from the sea, pick up your bundle and go to work.
 
truvari v.t. To find, detect, discover.
A lu mari vôi truvari funnu? Source: Pitrè, Vol, Page.
Eng. Is there no end in sight? Lit. Do you want to find the bottom of the sea?
 
tumminìa n.f. Spring wheat.
Tumminìa rara e tardìa, fora di la mia.
Eng. I don't want flour from spring wheat.
 
tunnu n.m. Round, circular, spherical.
Cu' nasci tunnu, nun pò moriri quatratu.
Eng. Who is born crazy cannot be cured. Lit. who is born circular can't die square.
 
tuppulìa v.i. 3rd p.sing. Knocks.
Quannu amuri tuppulìa, 'un lu lassari 'nmenzu la via.
Eng. When loves knocks, be sure to answer.
 
tusari v.t. To shear.
Lu bon pasturi tusa, ma nun scorcia.
Eng. The good shepherd shears but doesn't skin.
 
ubbligatu v.t. Obliged, constrained.
Nuddu è ubbligatu a 'nfamari a sè stissu. Source: Pitrè, II, 233.
Eng. You are not obliged to incriminate yourself.
 
ugnu n.m. Nail.
Di l'ugna si canusci lu liuni.
Eng. You recognize a lion by its nails.
 
ugualità n.f. Equality.
Si 'ntra l'amici nun cc'è ugualità, perfetta amuri nun cci sarrà.
Eng. If between friends there is not equality, there won't be perfect love.
 
ultimu adj. Last, the end.
All' ultimu si cuntanu li peddi.
Eng. At the end you see the consequences. Lit. At the end you count the feet.
 
umbra n.f. Shade, shadow, darkness.
Unni nun cc'è luci, nun cc'è umbra. Source: Pitrè, II, 15.
Eng. Where there's no light, there's no shadow.
 
umiltà n.f. Humility.
L'umiltà abbatti lu rigugghiu.
Eng. Humility counteracts pride.
 
umirtà n.f. Silence, code of silence.
L'umirtà abbatti lu rigugghiu. Source: Pitrè, III, 179.
Eng. The code of silence does violence to pride.
 
unni adv. Where.
Unni tantu assai e unni tantu picca.
Eng. Where much is a lot and where much is a little.
 
unu n.m. One.
Unu sulu nun è bonu mancu 'n paradisu.
Eng. Being alone is not good, net even in paradise.
 
Una paga tutti.
Eng. One misstep can ruin all.
 
Jittari unu e tirari cincu.
Eng. Adopt a strategy to gain. Lit. Throw one and retrieve five.
 
Cu' fa li centu e nun fa li centu ed unu, perdi tuttu e resta dijunu. Source: Pitrè, II, 17.
Eng. The race is won at the finish line. Lit. Who make 100 and can't make one hundred and one, loses all and remains deprived.
 
Quantu l'unu nun voli, li tri nun si sciarrianu.
Eng. When one won't, the three don't fight.
 
ura n.f. Hour.
'Ntra un'ura Diu lavura.
Eng. God would make short work of it.
 
Quannu è junta l'ura nun cc'è medicu nè vintura.
Eng. When it's time to die there are no remedies.
 
Tri uri dorminu li santi, cincu li mircanti, setti li cumuni e novi li putruni.
Eng. Saints sleep three hours, merchants sleep five, ordinary people seven and the lazy sleep nine.
 
Mentri cunti l'uri, lu tempu si nni va.
Eng. Proctastination wastes time.
 
urtima adj. Last.
La prima a tutti li Santi e l'urtima a sant' Andria.
Eng. The first seeding on the feast of All Saints and the last on the feast of Saint Andrew.
 
All' urtimu si cuntanu li peddi. Source: Pitrè, II, 16.
Eng. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Lit. You count the hides at the end.
 
urvicari v.t. To inter, to bury.
Ognunu urvica a so patri comu megghiu pò.
Eng. Each does the best they can. Lit. Each one buries his father as best he can.
 
usu n.m. Common usage.
Usu fa, vinci, o diventa natura.
Eng. Usage sets the norm.
 
usura n.f. Usury.
Guadagnu fattu cu usura pocu dura.
Eng. Earnings from usury don't last.
 
uttazzu n.m. Cask, barrel.
'A puta di marzu inchi lu uttazzu. 'U pazzu s'addicca, ma 'a vigna sicca.
Eng. March pruning fills the cask but damages the vinyard.
 
vacabbunniannu v.i. Vagabonding, roaming.
Cui va vacabbunniannu, Un jornu jirrà dumannannu. Source: Pitrè, III, 199.
Eng. Who goes roaming, will one day go begging.
 
vacca n.f. Cow.
Vacca grossa fa viteddu magru.
Eng. A fat cow makes a skinny calf.
 
Fari comu la mala vacca ca inchi la cisca e poi l'abbucca.
Eng. Do like the unruly cow that fills the bucket and then kicks it over.
 
La vacca o voli fenu o voli pagghia.
Eng. The cow wants forage or it wants hay.
 
Vacchi e voi scippacci quantu poi.
Eng. Cows and oxen, use them to your advantage.
 
San Nicola vacchi dintra e porci fora.
Eng. On St. Nicholas, bring in the cows and let the pigs out.
 
Unni cc'è vacchi cc'è viteddi.
Eng. Where there are cows, there are calves.
 
vacci v.i. 2nd p.sing. of iri Go.
A la vigna vacci, a la putía stacci, dicía Maguni lu cartaginisi.
Eng. As Maguni the Carthaginian used to say: work the vineyard, mind the store.
 
vadduni n.m. Riverbed, ravine.
'Ntra li gran ciumi, scùrrinu li vadduna. Source: Pitrè, II, 14.
Eng. The big rivers carve out ravines. Lit. Among the big rivers run the ravines.
 
vagabbunniari v.i. To wander, to vagabond.
Cu' va vagabbunniannu, un ghornu irrà dimannannu.
Eng. Who goes about aimlessly will one day be begging.
 
vagabunnu adj. Vagabond.
Frati vagabbunnu nun mai dici beni di lu so cunventu.
Eng. A mendicant friar never speaks well of his convent.
 
vagnatu n.m. Wet.
Chioviri supra lu vagnatu.
Eng. Adding insult to injury. Lit. Raining on the wet.
 
vai v.i. 2nd p.sing. of iri. Go.
Tantu vai, pri quantu hai.
Eng. Your value is set by your worth.
 
valanza n.f. Scales, balance.
Unn'è lu pisu, abbucca la valanza.
Eng. The scales tip where the weight is.
 
La valanza nun canusci diffirenza tra l'oru e lu chiummu.
Eng. The scale doesn't know the difference between gold and lead.
 
Lu celu la teni giusta la valanza e lu beni e lu mali lu cumpenza.
Eng. Heaven holds the scales level and rewards the good and the bad.
 
valenti adj. Excellent, skillful, talented, valiant.
Fa lu valenti quannu si' sulu.
Eng. Be valiant when you're alone.
 
Lu valenti mori 'm manu di lu fitenti.
Eng. The valiant dies at the hands of the contemptible.
 
valìa n.f. Value.
Amuri pri forza nun havi valìa.
Eng. Involuntary love is worthless.
 
Li cosi pri forza nun hannu valì, o cosa pri forza nun vali 'na scorza.
Eng. Things that are forced have no value, or a thing that is forced isn't worth a peel.
 
valiri v.i. To value. to be worth.
Centu vrazza non valunu 'na bona testa.
Eng. A hundred arms are not worth as much as a good head.
 
Lu primu corpu vali pri dui. Source: Pitrè, II, 13.
Eng. The first blow is worth double.
 
valora n.f. Ring, clamp, metal tip of a cane.
A li vicchizzi valori.
Eng. To the old, support. Tr. note: Invoked when a task is done later than planned.
 
vampa n.f. Blaze, flash, flame.
Lu mècciu chi s'astuta fa gran vampa. Source: Pitrè, II, 13.
Eng. The wick that goes out makes a big flash.
 
vana adj. Vain.
Fimmina vana, non va cincu grana.
Eng. A vain woman is not worth two bits.
 
vanceliu n.m. Gospel.
Lu muttu anticu è lu vanceliu nicu.
Eng. The ancient maxim is a brief gospel.
 
vanedda n.f Street, alley, blind alley.
'Ntra vaneddi e 'ntra curtigghia tinta dda matri chi cci teni la figghia.
Eng. She's a bad mother who keeps her daughter in a side street or a blind alley.
 
vanga n.f. Shovel, spade.
Vanga e zappuni, nun vannu dijuni.
Eng. You can't dig or hoe on an empty stomach.
 
L' aratru havi la punta di ferro, e d'oru l'havi la vanga.
Eng. The plough's point is from steel mold, the spade's is made of gold.
 
Cu' voli un lavuru dignu, mett 'ntra la vanga multu ferru e pocu lignu.
Eng. If you want a job with dignity, dig diligently.
 
La vanga nun è santu e fa miraculi.
Eng. The spade though not a saint, does miracles.
 
vangari v.t. To dig.
Cu' vanga nun s' inganna.
Eng. Digging is not dishonorable.
 
vanità n.f. Vanity.
Ogni cosa a stu munnu è vanità. Source: Pitrè, III, 92.
Eng. Everything in this world is vanity.
 
vappu n.m. A morose and light-fingered man, a shark, a braggart.
Cu' grapi putia di vappu prestu la chiudi. Source: Pitrè, III, 175.
Eng. A business opened by a shark will soon fail.
 
vara n.f. A platform holding sacred objects and carried in procession.
L'ultima vara è chidda di S. Duminicu.
Eng. The last one. (lit. Saint Dominic's is the last sacred platform.
 
varca n.f. Boat, ship, bark.
La varca è di cu' la cravacca.
Eng. The boat belongs to the one who takes charge.
 
Verta tortu, viaggiu drittu.
Eng. A direct voyage from a difficult start.
 
La varca è rutta, cu' si pò salvari si salva.
Eng. The ship is broken, save yourselves if you can.
 
Varca senza timuni si perdi.
Eng. A ship without a rudder will be lost.
 
varcocu n.m. Apricot tree.
Quannu lu varcocu è grossu è armatu d'ossu.
Eng. When the apricot tree is bountiful it is believed that all the other fruit trees will also be.
 
varduni n.f. Pack-saddle.
A la livata di lu varduni comparìscinu li crustani.
Eng. When you remove the pack-saddle you'll see the sores.
 
variari v.t.i., n.f. Difference, variation, guise.
Pri tantu variari natura è bedda.
Eng. Vive la differance! Lit. Nature is beautiful in all its guises.
 
varrili n.m. Barrel.
Stamu iucannu a scarica varrili.
Eng. We're scraping the bottom of the barrel. Lit. We're playing at emptying the barrels.
 
varva n.f. Beard.
Pocu varva, pocu sennu.
Eng. Small beard, little wisdom.
 
Varva stricata menza livata.
Eng. A shave that's started is half done.
 
Varva ciurita manteni bona zita.
Eng. A vigorous man keeps a good fiancée.
 
La varva nun fa l'omu.
Eng. The beard doesn't make the man. Or, Appearance doesn't equate to substance.
 
varveri n.m. Barber.
Ogni varveri sagna.
Eng. Every barber does bloodletting.
 
Medicu vecchiu, varveri picciottu, e spizziali riccu.
Eng. You want an old doctor, a young barber, and a rich pharmacist.
 
vasari v.t. To kiss.
Cu' du vucchi voli vasari, l'una havi a lassari.
Eng. You can't truthfully love two, you have to leave one. (lit. Who wants to kiss to mouths, has to leave one.)
 
Cui vasa la vucca a li figghi / Vasa lu cori a la matri. Source: Pitrè, II, 146.
Eng. Who kisses the mouth of the children, kisses the heart of the mother.
 
vasata n.f. Kiss.
Soi su' li vasati, soi su' li vastunati.
Eng. Hers are the kisses, hers are the blows. Tr. note: Said of wives in times past?
 
Pri 'na vasata finu a pittineu.
Eng. Allusion to doing too much work for a slight advantage.
 
vascellu n.m. Vessel, ship.
A bon vascellu nun manca timuni.
Eng. A good ship lacks not a rudder.
 
vasciu adj. Low.
A lu muru vasciu tutti si cci appojanu.
Eng. Everyone leans against the low wall.
 
vastasu n.m. Porter.
A bonu vastasu nun manca saccu.
Eng. A good porter doesn't lack a carrier.
 
vastuneddu dim. of vastuni. Stick.
Vastuneddu nsigna garzuneddu.
Eng. The stick teaches the boy.
 
vastuni n.m. Stick, staff, baton, club.
Cu lu vastuni si caccia lu sceccu, cu lu puntuni lu voi, e lu mulu cu la virga, cu lu spruni lu cavaddu.
Eng. You drive a donkey with a stick, an ox with a goad and a mule with a rod, the horse with spurs.
 
A lu cavaddu la virga e spiruni, ed a li figghi un bonu vastuni.
Eng. For the horse a crop and spurs, and for the children a good stick.
 
vecchi n.m. Old people, seniors.
A la prisenza di li vecchi si parra pocu.
Eng. Speak little in the company of the old.
 
Li vecchi addiventanu picciriddi.
Eng. The old become children.
 
Li vecchi sannu assai.
Eng. The old are wise.
 
La vecchia chi mai filava lu sabatu santu si 'ncunugghiava.
Eng. The old woman who had never spun cloth, got set up to spin on Holy Saturday.
 
A li picciotti li puma, a li vecchi lu libbru.
Eng. Give an apple to the little ones, a book to the old.
 
A li vecchi cci màncanu li forzi e cci crìscinu li pititti.
Eng. In old age your strength decreases and your appetite increases.
 
A santi vecchi 'un si cci addùmanu lampi.
Eng. You don't light candles to old saints.
 
Ascuta a li vecchi cà 'un ci la sgarri.
Eng. Listen to the old and you won't be mistaken.
 
Cu li vecchi nun c'è nuddu guadagnu, si cci appizza lu ramu cu lu stagnu.
Eng. You're wasting your time trying to interest the old in new endeavors.
 
Li vecchi si divinu rispittari.
Eng. The old must be respected.
 
vecchia n.f. Old lady, old woman.
La vecchia 'un voli jocu, voli pani, vinu e focu.
Eng. The old woman doesn't want fun, she wants bread, wine, and fire.
 
vecchiu n.m. Old, venerable.
Lassa fari a Diu ch'è santu vecchiu.
Eng. Let God handle it, He's a venerable saint.
 
L'omu vecchiu è comu la quadara vecchia, chinu di vozzi, laccuna e pirtusa.
Eng. Old age is fraught with problems. Lit. An old man is like an old kettle, covered with dents, worn, and leaky. Tr. note: 2009, how times have changed!
 
Vecchiu è cu' mori.
Eng. The old is the one who dies.
 
Vecchiu 'nnardutu.
Eng. An old curmudgeon.
 
velenu n.m. Poison, venom.
Lu peju velenu è chiddu di la lingua.
Eng. The worst poison is that of the ill spoken word.
 
Cu' cumponi lu velenu, la prima tazza è la sò.
Eng. Who compounds a poison, drinks the first cup. Tr. note: Pope Alexander VI Borgia poisoned himself instead of the intended victim.
 
veniri v.i. To come, to arrive, to reach.
Ben vegna cu' beni porta.
Eng. The bearer of gifts is welcomed.
 
vènniri n.m. Friday.
Cu' ridi lu venniri, chianci la duminica.
Eng. The evil doer will pay. Lit. He who laughs on Friday, will cry on Sunday.
 
Di venniri e di marti non si spusa e non si parti.
Eng. Don't marry on a Friday or start a trip on a Tuesday. Tr. note: An old fashioned superstition that is laughable today.
 
ventri n.m. n.f. Stomach, belly, womb.
Basta chi lu ventri sia chinu, o di pagghia, o di vinu.
Eng. It's enough when the stomach is full, be it of hay or of wine.
 
Ventri affamatu non senti raggiuni.
Eng. Hunger doesn't listen to reason. tr. note A person who hungers may sometimes engage in risky behavior.
 
Figghi di la tò ventri, dinari di la tò vurza. Source: Pitrè, II, 148.
Eng. Children from your own womb, money from your own purse.
 
ventu n.m. Wind.
Mentri hai bon ventu nàvica, cursaru.
Eng. Corsair, sail while you have a good wind.
 
Bisogna navigari cu bonu ventu.
Eng. You need to sail while you have a good wind.
 
Nun si pò navigari senza ventu.
Eng. You can't sail without wind.
 
Quannu lu ventu veni di susu vatti a nfilari nta lu pirtusu.
Eng. Go find shelter when the wind glows from above.
 
Mentri hai lu ventu 'm puppa, naviga.
Eng. Sail while you have the wind at the stern.
 
Ventu all'ura lu massaru spagghia.
Eng. When the wind blows the steward will winnow.
 
Cu' chiama ventu lu granu cci spagghia.
Eng. Called forth, the wind will winnow the grain.
 
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