SICILIAN PROVERBS

translated into English by Arthur V. Dieli
pecca v.i. 3rd p. sing. it. Sins.
Unu pecca e 'n tronu è misu, l'àutru pecca, è crucifissu.
Eng. One sins and is enthroned, another sins and is crucified.
 
pecura n.f. Sheep.
Cui pecura si fa, lu lupu si la mancia.
Eng. Who makes himself a sheep, will be eaten by the wolf.
 
pècuri n.pl. Sheep, sheepfold.
Lu diàvulu non avi pècuri e vinni lana.
Eng. Something's fishy. (lit. The devil has no sheep and he's selling wool.)
 
Tutt'i pècuri non zu dû lupu.
Eng. Not all miscues end unfavorably. (lit. The wolf doesn't get all the sheep.)
 
Quannu vai a pècuri e t'arrinesci, pigghia la grossa cà la nica crisci.
Eng. When you're taking from the sheepfold and you're succeeding, take a big one because the small one will grow (and you can take it next time).
 
peddi n.f. Skin.
Jinnaru fa l'agneddi, frivaru fa li peddi.
Eng. In January you slaughter the lambs in February you work the skins.
 
pedi n.m. Foot, feet.
Cui va a pedi 'ntra aprili e maju, va a cavaddu tuttu l'annu.
Eng. Whoever goes on foot during April and May, goes on horseback the rest of the year.
 
Quannu l'ossu è 'n pedi, la carni va e veni.
Eng. As long as you're able to walk you can always regain your health.
 
Pedi di ciocca nun scaccia puddicini.
Eng. Those who have ability or empathy rarely make mistakes. (Lit. The foot of the hen doesn't squash the chicks.)
 
peju n.m. inv. the worse, the worst.
Tutti li cosi vannu a lu pinninu ed a lu peju si cci 'nclina ognunu.
Eng. Everything slides down a slope and everyone is inclined to the worst.
 
peni n.f. Pain, sorrow, anxiety, trouble.
Li peni cu' lu pani nun su' peni, li veru peni sunnu senza pani.
Eng. While you still have bread, troubles are not troubles, they're truly troubles when you're without bread.
 
penni v.i. 3rd p.sing. Hangs.
Di jùdici chi penni, 'ngiustizia s'attenni.
Eng. Justice that's pending is injustice attending.
 
pensa v.i. 3rd p.sing. Thinks.
Si jinnaru 'un jinnaría, frivaru malu pensa.
Eng. If it isn't wintry in January then expect the worst in February.
 
penti v.refl. 3rd p.sing. Repents, regrets, is contrite.
Quannu di lu piccatu nun si penti, la confissioni nun servi a nenti.
Eng. Confession without contrition serves no purpose. (lit. When he regrets not the sin, the confession serves for nought.)
 
persu adj. Lost.
Cunfissioni senza duluri e orazioni senza 'ntinzioni, è tempu persu.
Eng. Confessions without contrition, and prayers without intentions are time lost.
 
pettu n.m. Chest.
Mànica di mònacu e pettu di parrinu.
Eng. Capacious as the sleeve of a monk and patient as the priest with his arms across his chest.
 
piccatu n.m. Sin.
Piccatu vecchiu, sintenza nova.
Eng. An old sin, a new sentence.
 
Un gran piccatu nun po' stari cilatu.
Eng. A deadly sin can't be concealed.
 
Cu' arrobba fa un piccatu, nni fa centu cu' è arrubbatu.
Eng. Who robs commits a sin, who is robbed commits a hundred.
 
Jinnaru fa lu piccatu e maju nn'è 'nculpatu.
Eng. January commits the sin and May gets blamed.
 
picciotti n.pl. Children.
Picciotti e surdi, castigu di Diu!
Eng. Children and the deaf are the punishment of God.
 
picciriddi n.pl. Little children.
Cosi di picciriddi, puma, mènnuli e nuciddi.
Eng. Things for little children; apples, almonds and hazel nuts.
 
picurinu adj. A sheep's wool sky.
Ariu picurinu o Livanti o Punenti o Sciloccu finu.
Eng. A sheep's wool sky means wind's to follow, either a Levant or a West wind or a Sirocco.
 
Celu picurinu, s'un chiovi oj, chiovi a lu matinu.
Eng. When you see a sheep's wool sky you know, if it doesn't rain today, it will rain in the morning.
 
Aria picurina, si non duna acqua la sira la duna a la matina.
Eng. With a sheep's wool sky, if it doesn't rain tonight, it will rain in the morning.
 
pigghiari v.t. To get, to take, to seize, to have.
Sigreti a tò mugghieri 'un cunfidari, casi cu prèguli 'un adduari, cumpari sbirri nun pigghiari.
Eng. Don't confide secrets to your wife, don't rent a house if it has a pergola, don't have cops as a godfathers.
 
Pilatu Roman official Pilate, Pontius.
Pilatu, nè sarvu nè dannatu.
Eng. Pilate was neither saved nor damned.
 
pinatu adj. Gravely troubled, anxious.
Omu arrinnatu campa pinatu. Oppure: Rinnati, ricchi di 'nvernu e poviri di stati.
Eng. The man with a fixed income lives with anxiety. Or: On a stipend you're rich in the winter and poor by summer.
 
pinìa v.i. 3rd p. sing. Suffers.
Si marzu nun marzía, giugnu pinía.
Eng. If March is late in coming, June will suffer.
 
pinni n.f. pl. Fethers.
Quannu tutti cosi vannu 'n paru, l'omu metti pinni.
Eng. When everything is going smoothly, a man tends to get cocky.
 
pinsirai v.t. fut. 2nd p. sing. Think.
Amatu nun sarai si a tia sulu pinsirai.
Eng. You will not be loved if you only think of yourself.
 
pinsirusu adj. Attentive, diligent, pensive.
Omu dinarusu, omu pinsirusu.
Eng. A wealthy man is a pensive man.
 
pintimentu n.m. Regret, repentance.
Lu pintimentu lava lu piccatu.
Eng. Repentance washes away sin.
 
pira n.f. Pear.
Annata di pira, annata di suspira.
Eng. A bountiful pear harvest means shortages of everything else.
 
pirciati v.t. past p. Perforated, pierced.
Li fimmini hannu li vudedda pirciati.
Eng. Women can't keep secrets. (lit. Women have perforated bowels.)
 
piriculari v.t. Jeopardize, imperil.
Donna, focu e mari fannu l'omu piriculari.
Eng. Woman, fire, and the sea are perilous for man.
 
pirirà v.i. fut. 3rd p. sing. Disapear, discourage, die, perish.
Pri la suverchia cummudità la riligioni pirirà.
Eng. Religion will perish because of excessive comforts.
 
piru n.m. Pear.
Quannu lu piru è maturu, cadi sulu.
Eng. When the pear is ripe it falls by itself.
 
pisci n.m. Fish.
Quannu nun trovi pisci pigghji vopi.
Eng. When you can't do as you want, do as you can. (Lit. When you can't find fish go for perch.)
 
pista v.t. 3rd p. sing. Batters, pounds.
Cui dintra lu murtaru l'acqua pista, culi stizzi si vagna e stancu resta.
Eng. Who pounds the water in the mortar, will get wet from the splashing and will end up tired.
 
pistilenzia n.f. Pestilence, plague.
Medicu nuveddu, pistilenzia di patria!
Eng. A new doctor is a plague on the country.
 
pisu n.m. Weight, load, burden.
Lu pisu di l'anni è lu pisu cchiù granni.
Eng. The weight of years is the heaviest burden.
 
pitanza n.f. Portion, course, dish, share.
Si vuliti l'osservanza, dàtinni la pitanza.
Eng. If you want a celebration provide the means.
 
pititti n.m. Appetite, desire, need.
Si diventi riccu di dinari, diventi poviru di pititti.
Eng. The rich man has little need.
 
pitittu n.m. Appetite, desire, need.
Privazioni fa pitittu e fa duci pani schittu.
Eng. Hunger never saw bad bread. (lit. Privation whets the appetite and makes plain bread pleasing.)
 
pitrusinu n.m. Parsley.
A san Franciscu si simìna lu pitrusinu.
Eng. On St. Francis Day, October 4, you sow parsley.
 
pitturina n.f. The bodice of an apron.
Pira, jinchitinni la pitturina; prunu, màncianni unu.
Eng. Pears, fill the bodice; prunes, eat one.
 
pizziddu n.m. Chicken's beak.
Dici la gaddinedda: dammi di lu pizziddu, ca ti dugnu di lu pirtusiddu.
Eng. The laying hen says: give me feed to fill my beak and I'll give you eggs.
 
pizzu n.m. Beak.
Palumma, palummedda, di lu pizzu pari bedda!
Eng. Pigeon and chick, you're pretty from the tip of your beak.
 
poco adj. Little.
Vôi sapiri qual'è lu megghiu jocu? Fa' beni i parra poco.
Eng. Do you want to know the best ploy? Do good and speak little.
 
ponnu v.i. Able to, can.
Li ricchi comu vonnu e li poviri comu ponnu.
Eng. The rich do as they want, the poor do as they can.
 
porcu n.m. Pig.
Megghiu porcu magru ca gaddina grassa.
Eng. A skinny pig is better than a fat chicken.
 
porta n.f. Door. v.t. 3rd p. sing. Brings, bears.
Aperta è la porta pri chiddu chi porta.
Eng. The door is always open to the bearer of gifts.
 
L'omu è comu lu mari: s'un porta oi, porta dumani.
Eng. Man is like the sea: if he doesn't produce today, he'll produce tomorrow.
 
portu n.m. Harbor, port.
Cui voli manciari pisci di portu, nun voli aviri lu vurzuni strittu.
Eng. If you want to eat freshly caught fish, you don't want to have a tight purse.
 
Si Catania avissi portu, Palermu saria mortu.
Eng. If Catania had a port, Palermo would be dead.
 
potenti adj. Potent, Mighty, strong.
Lu dèbbuli chi fa càusa cu lu potenti, è comu la quartara chi truzza cu lu muru.
Eng. The weak who opposes the strong, is like the jug that collides with the wall.
 
poviru adj. Poor
Nun è poviru cu' havi quantu cci basta.
Eng. You're not poor if you have as much as you need.
 
Lu poviru 'un avìa e limosina facia.
Eng. The poor didn't have but gave to charity.
 
Lu poviru 'un è crittu. Variante: Nè crittu nè 'ntisu lu poviru offisu.
Eng. The poor is not believed. Varient: The poor offended man is neither believed nor understood.
 
predica n.f. Sermon.
Nun c'è tavula senza vinu, nè predica senza Agustinu.
Eng. There is no table without wine nor a sermon without Augustine.
 
prestu adv. Quickly, hastily, promptly, at once.
Cu' duna prestu, duna du' voti.
Eng. Giving promptly is like giving twice.
 
La cosa prestu fatta, prestu è disfatta.
Eng. Haste makes waste. (lit. The thing don hastily is quickly undone.)
 
Prestu, prestu cà la cira squagghia!
Eng. Quickly, quickly because the wax is melting.
 
prima adj. First.
Di lu poviru pigghianni la prima e di lu riccu l'urtima.
Eng. To get the best dowry, marry the poor man's first daughter but the rich man's last daughter.
 
primintìu adj. Premature.
Matrimoniu tardu, orfani primintìu.
Eng. Late marriages, premature orphans.
 
principiu .n.m. Beginning, origin, starting.
Ogni principiu è forti, ogni disideriu veni a fini.
Eng. Starting is always difficult, but every desire is attainable.
 
prisa n.f. Acquisition, purchase, gain.
Èssiri cchiù la spisa chi la prisa.
Eng. The expense is more than the gain.
 
privileggiu n.m. Privilege, perquisite.
Bannu di Palermu e privileggiu di Missina.
Eng. The proclamations of Palermo and the perquisites of Messina.
 
prumèttiri v.t. To promise.
A riccu nun prumèttiri e a poviru nun mancari.
Eng. Don't make promises to the rich nor withhold from the poor.
 
prumissi n.f. pl. Promises.
Di prumissi nun gudiri, d'amminazzi nun timíri.
Eng. Don't celebrate promises, and don't fear threats.
 
prunu n.m. Prune.
Pira, jinchitinni la pitturina; prunu, màncianni unu.
Eng. Pears, fill the bodice; prunes, eat one.
 
pruspiritati n.f. Prosperity.
Quannu si 'n tempu di pruspiritati, timi l'avvirsitati.
Eng. When you're enjoying prosperity, be wary of adversity.
 
pruvatu adj. demonstrated, experienced, tested.
Lu pruvatu cchiù nun lu pruvari cà cchiù lu provi, cchiù tintu ti pari.
Eng. Don't retest the tested because the more you test it, the worse it will appear.
 
pruvulazzu n.m. Dust, threshing dust.
Cui veni appressu, si cogghi lu pruvulazzu.
Eng. When you follow behind, you eat dust.
 
Pruvulazzu di jinnaru, carrica lu sularu.
Eng. Threshing dust of January means a filled loft.
 
prùvvuli n.f. Dust.
Cui offenni, scrivi 'n prùvvuli, cu' è offisu, scrivi 'n marmuru.
Eng. The offender writes in dust, the offended cares it in stone. (lit. ...writes in marble.)
 
pudagra n.f. Gout.
La pudagra è mali di li ricchi.
Eng. Gout is the sickness of the rich.
 
puddaru n.m. engTrans
Lu misi di jinnaru nun lassa gaddina 'ntra lu puddaru.
Eng. Don't leave the chicken in the henhouse in January.
 
puddastra n.f. Pullet.
Vrodu di gaddina e carni di puddastra.
Eng. Use the chicken for broth and the pullet for its meat.
 
pugna n.m. Fist, fistful, punch.
Nun si pò pigghiari lu celu a pugna.
Eng. You can't punch your way into heaven.
 
pulizìa v.t. 3rd p. sing. Cleans.
La malatia, si nun guasta, pulizìa.
Eng. If the sickness doesn't kill, it cleanses.
 
Pulizzi place name Polizzi.
Acqua, negghi e nigghi, e parrini cu li figghi, cummissari e diligati, a Pulizzi li truvati.
Eng. In Polizzi you'll find water, fog, kites, priests with children, commissions and delegates.
 
pùnciri v.t. to urge, to spur, to prod, to puncture.
Nun pùnciri lu sceccu nni la muntata.
Eng. Don't prod the donkey while you're getting on.
 
purcedda n.f. Sow, piglet.
Quannu ti dùnanu la purcedda, curri prestu cu la curdicedda.
Eng. Make the most of every opportunity. (lit. When they give you a piglet, run there quickly with a little cord.)
 
purciara n.f. Insect ridden.
Annata purciara, annata furmintara.
Eng. When there are lots of insects, look for a good grain year.
 
purrazzi place name Purrazzi. (A country place near Palermo.)
Lauda lu mari, ma tiniti forti a la terra (o a li purrazzi).
Eng. Praise the sea but hang on to the land (or to Purrazzi).
 
Ci vonnu purrazzi a fari sfrazzi!
Eng. You need land to seed, to live in luxury!
 
puta n.f. Prune, trim, shape.
Cui puta 'ntra marzu, o è asinu o è pazzu.
Eng. If you prune in March you're either a jackass or crazy.
 
La puta di jinnaru arricchisci lu vuttaru.
Eng. Pruning in January enriches the vinyard.
 
putari v.t. To prune.
S'a putari vai in aprili, non di vinu, ma d'acquata jinchirai li tò varrili.
Eng. If you prune in April you'll fill your barrels not with wine, but with water.
 
putenti adj. Powerful, influential, rich.
Dui sunnu li putenti: cu' havi assai e cu' 'un havi nenti.
Eng. There are two powers to contend with, those with a lot and those with nothing.
 
putìa n.f. Shop, store, business.
Cui havi putìa, havi a fari facci a tutti.
Eng. If you have a business you have to smile at everyone.
 
Putìa vecchia nun ha bisognu di frasca.
Eng. An old business doesn't need advertising.
 
puvireddu n.m. A poor person.
Cu'è picciutteddu, nun è puvireddu.
Eng. A youngster is never poor.
 
puvirtà n.f. Poverty
Ahi, ahi, ahi! tri voti dicu, cui cadi 'n puvirtà perdi l'amicu.
Eng. Oh, oh, oh! three times I say it, who falls into poverty loses his friends.
 
La puvirtà di lu galantomu è megghiu di la ricchìzza di lu poviru.
Eng. The poverty of the gentleman is better than the enriching of the poor man.
 
puzzu n.m. Well.
Quannu pri tanta scarsizza di lazzu, quannu pri tanta funnizza di puzzu.
Eng. Sometimes the rope is too short, sometimes the well is too deep.
 
quadara n.m. A big vase or pot used for boiling, made of copper or other.
La quadara vecchia è china di vozzi, pirtusa, e taccuna.
Eng. The old always have ailments. (Lit. The old pot is full of nicks, holes, and dents.)
 
quannu adv. When, sometimes.
Cui nun voli quannu pò, nun purrà quannu voli.
Eng. Who doesn't want to when he can, can't when he wants to.
 
quartucciu n.m. Three fourths of a liter.
Lu quartucciu campa la vigna.
Eng. The Quartucciu gives life to the vineyard. (It revives the worker.)
 
quattru adj. Four.
Quattr'omini ci vonnu pre fari 'na bona 'nzalata: un pazzu, un saviu, un avaru, e un sfragaru.
Eng. You need four men to make a good salad: a crazy man to mix it, a scholar for the salt, a miser for a touch of vinegar, and a squanderer for the oil.
 
racina n.f. Grapes.
Cogghi appena matura la racina cu bonu tempu e asciutta d'acquazzina.
Eng. Harvest the grapes as soon as they mature while there is still good dry weather.
 
raffiguratu v.t. past p. Recognized, appeared.
A locu unni 'un si' conusciutu, comu si' vistu si' raffiguratu.
Eng. Where you're not known, you're judged by your appearance.
 
raggiuni n.f. Reason.
Cui nun senti raggiuni, nun pò fari cosi cu raggiuni.
Eng. Who doesn't listen to reason, can't do things with reason.
 
Cui si 'ncagna senza raggiuni, fa paci senza sudisfazioni.
Eng. Who gets angry without reason, makes peace without satisfaction.
 
Ragusa place name Ragusa.
Cavaddi rausani, muli spaccafurnari e scecchi muricani.
Eng. Horses from Ragusa, mules from Spaccaforno, and jackasses from Modica .
 
rapi v.t. 2nd p. sing. Rob, steal.
Nuddu ti rapi si nun ti sapi.
Eng. No one will steal it from you if they don't know you have it.
 
razza n.f. Race, descent, breed.
Megghiu lu tintu di bona razza, ca lu megghiu di tinta razza.
Eng. Better the bad one from a good breed than the better one from a bad breed.
 
règula n.m. Rule.
Un casu nun fa règula. Oppure: Una bedda jurnata nun fa stati.
Eng. One occasion doesn't make the rule. Or: One beautiful day doesn't make a summer.
 
renni v.i. Return, yield
Comu paga la zappa, acussì l'oliva la spisa renni di la puta, lu grassu e di la zappa.
Eng. As you pay the price with the hoe, to that extent the olive grove will profit from the pruning and the fertilizing.
 
Ortu e mulinu, 'un diri quantu renni a tò vicinu.
Eng. Vegetable garden and mill, don't tell your neighbor how much they yield.
 
Dicembri pigghia e giugnu ti lu renni.
Eng. December takes but June repays you.
 
rètina n.f. Bridle, reins.
Quannu tu vidi ca lu passu è malu, piglialo pri la rètina lu mulo.
Eng. When you see that the going is tough, take the mule by the reins.
 
ricadìa n.f. Relapse.
È tinta la malatia, ma è cchiù tinta la ricadìa. o La ricadìa è pèiu di la malatia.
Eng. Sickness is awful, but a relapse is worse. or The relapse is worse than the sickness.
 
ricchizzi n.f. Riches.
Accumincia ad arricchiri cu' accumincia a disprizzari li ricchizzi.
Eng. You'll begin to be rich when you begin to scorn riches.
 
riccu adj. Rich.
Si riccu a poviru ossequi fa, poi stari certu ca bisogna 'nni ha.
Eng. If the rich man is fawning over the poor man, you can be certain that he needs something.
 
Tri cosi fannu l'omu riccu: Guadagnari e nun spènniri, prumèttiri e 'n'attènniri, accattari e nun vìnniri.
Eng. Three things make a man rich: Earning and not spending, promising and not doing, buying and not selling.
 
Nasci riccu, campa poviru, mori riccu.
Eng. Be born rich, live parsimoniously and die rich.
 
Cu'è riccu d'api e di jumenti, è riccu e 'un havi nenti.
Eng. To be rich with bees and mares, is to be rich and have nothing.
 
Giuvini è cu'è sanu, e riccu cui nun havi a dari.
Eng. You're young if you're healthy, and rich if you have no debts.
 
Làssitu, truvatura e santu croccu, di poviru fannu l'omu riccu.
Eng. A bequest, a found treasure, and parsimony make a man wealthy.
 
Quannu lu riccu accarizza lu poviru, signu ca l'havi a 'ngannari.
Eng. When a rich man caresses a poor man, he's going to take advantage of him.
 
Quannu lu riccu veni a mali, nun sapi zò chi si fari.
Eng. When a rich man comes to bad times, he doesn't know what to do.
 
ricogghi v.t. 3rd p. sing. Pick up, gather, collect.
Cui nun ricogghi li pecuri daùra, nun arricogghi nè pecuri nè lana.
Eng. If you don't collect the sheep promptly, you'll collect neither the sheep nor the wool.
 
ricotta n.f. Sicilian cottage cheese, ricotta.
Latti di crapa, ricotta di pecura e tumazzu di vacca.
Eng. Milk from the goat, ricotta from the sheep and cheese from the cow.
 
ridi v.i. 3rd p. sing. Laughs.
A fimmina ca ridi, 'un ci aviri fidi.
Eng. Don't trust a woman who laughs.
 
Fimmina ca ti ridi, t'ha dittu sì.
Eng. A woman who laughs at you has said yes.
 
rifriddatura n.f. A cold.
Pri la rifriddatura cci voli nidu di picciuna.
Eng. To cure a cold you need the warmth of a pigeon's nest.
 
rimarra n.f. Mud, mire, slime.
A la rimarra nun ci po tacca.
Eng. You can't shame the wicked. (lit. You can't tie onto mud.)
 
rina n.f. Sand.
Cui frabbica supra la rina, la caduta è vicina.
Eng. Who builds on sand, the fall is near.
 
rincrisci v.i. 3rd p. sing. Regrets.
A cui lu campari ci rincrisci, a maju babbaluci e ad agustu pisci.
Eng. To ward off the boredom of life, eat snails in May and fish in August.
 
rispittari v.t. To honor, to respect.
Li vecchi s'hannu a rispittari.
Eng. The old must be respected.
 
risu n.m. Rice, laughter.
Risu, mi calu e non mi jisu.
Eng. Rice, it goes down but does nothing for me.
 
Risu senza raggiuni, o di pazzu o di minchiuni.
Eng. Laughter without reason, is either crazy or stupid.
 
robba n.f. Things, property, goods.
Robba mal'acquistata nun godi lu terzo eredi.
Eng. Corruptly acquired goods don't delight the third generation.
 
Si duni la to robba senza pignu, mostri aviri pocu 'ncegnu.
Eng. If you give your goods without a pledge, you show little inventiveness.
 
La robba bona nun è mai cara.
Eng. Quality goods are never expensive.
 
rosa n.f. Rose.
La rosa chi nun è guardata, o è ciarata o cugghiuta o spampinata.
Eng. The rose that's disregarded, has been smelled or picked or defoliated.
 
rosi n.f. pl. Roses.
Si su' rosi, ciurirannu, si su' spini, puncirannu.
Eng. If they are roses they will blossom, if they are thorns, they will prick.
 
ròsuli n.pl. Chilblain.
Li ròsuli pàssanu cu lu ciuri di maju.
Eng. Chilblain passes with the flowers of May.
 
Annu di ròsuli annu d'abbunnanza.
Eng. A year of chilblain will be a year of abundance.
 
rua n.f. Street, alley, wrinkle.
Spassu di rua e trìvulu di casa.
Eng. Entertaining with friends but surly at home.
 
Ogni rua un'unza di giudiziu.
Eng. Each wrinkle is an ounce of wisdom.
 
rumpi v.t. 3rd p. sing. Breaks, interrupts, destroys.
Cu' rumpi paga.
Eng. The one who breaks, pays.
 
Picculu sdegnu rumpi granni amuri.
Eng. A small indignity destroys a great love.
 
rùmpinu v.t. 3rd p. pl. (They) break.
Bonu studiu e bona cura càccianu e rùmpinu mala vintura.
Eng. Good study and good care banish and break bad luck.
 
rusignolu n.m. Nightingale.
Lu rusignolu vecchiu canta megghiu.
Eng. The old nightingale sings better.
 
russu adj. Red.
Siddu a la casa armali ha' a tiniri, di pilu russu nè cani nè gatti.
Eng. If you have to have animals in your house, don't have either a dog or a cat with a red coat.
 
Ariu russu: o acqua o ventu; si nun chiovi, fa bon tempu.
Eng. A red sky means either water or wind; if it doesn't rain, it will be fair weather.
 
ruvetti n.m. Bushes.
Crìscinu li ruvetti pri cummigghiari li difetti.
Eng. The bushes grow in order to cover defects.
 
saccu n.m. Sack, bag.
Saccu vacanti 'un pó stari a l'addritta.
Eng. An empty bag cannot stand upright.
 
Nun diri quattru si nun è 'ntra lu saccu.
Eng. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. (lit. Don't say four if it's not in the bag.)
 
salariu n.m. An agreed wage, a salary.
Salariu crisciutu, sirvizzu guadagnatu.
Eng. A raised salary gained service.
 
saluti n.f. Healthy.
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.
 
Vôi stari di saluti sempri chinu? mancia sempri ova e trinca bonu vinu.
Eng. If you want to stay healthy all the time, always eat eggs and drink good wine.
 
sana v.t. 3rd p. sing. Heals.
Testa firuta si mèdica e sana, cori firuta nun sana mai.
Eng. A head wound is treated and heals, but a wounded heart never heals.
 
sanari v.t. engTrans
Mali vecchiu nun pò sanari.
Eng. An advanced disease can't be cured.
 
sangu n.m. Blood.
Bonu vinu fa bonu sangu.
Eng. Good wine makes good blood.
 
sanità n.f. Health
Sanità senza dinari è menza malatia.
Eng. Health without wealth is halfway sick.
 
sanitati n.f. Health.
A la 'nfirmitati si conusci la sanitati.
Eng. During sickness health is recognized.
 
santa n.f. Saint.
Santa Marina cc'è, santa Muntagna no.
Eng. Safeguard the flock that is grazing on the mountain. (Lit. There is a Santa Marina but no Santa Muntagna.)
 
santu n.m. Saint.
Si lassi la cascia aperta, macàri lu santu pecca.
Eng. If you leave the safe open even a saint will sin.
 
sapi v.t. 3rd p. sing. Knows.
Cui chiù sapi, menu cridi.
Eng. The more you know the less you believe.
 
sapìri v.t. and v.i. To know something, to have knowledge.
Contra furtuna nun vali sapìri.
Eng. Knowledge is no match for luck.
 
Cu' ad àutru 'nzigna, acquista cchiù sapiri.
Eng. Who teaches another, acquires more knowledge.
 
Aviri fa lu sapiri: cui nun ha, nenti sa.
Eng. A wealthy man is a wise man: a poor man knows nothing.
 
sapissi v.t. 3rd p. sing. subj. Known.
Si vôi ch' 'un si sapissi, nun la fari. Ovvero: Nenti fari cà nenti si sapi.
Eng. If you don't want it to be known, don't do it. Or: Do nothing and nothing will be known.
 
sarda n.f Sardine.
La sarda di jinnaru e la vopa di marzu.
Eng. Sardines in January and perch in March.
 
sarsa n.f. Sauce.
Non c'è megghiu sarsa di la fami.
Eng. Hunger is the best sauce.
 
sarva n.f. Salvation, cure.
Fidi sarva, no lignu di varca.
Eng. Faith is salvation, not the wood of a ship.
 
Marva ti sarva.
Eng. Mallow (genus malva) will cure you.
 
sarvari v.t. To save.
La megghiu cosa ch'hai di fari sia l'arma tua sarvari.
Eng. The most important thing you have to do is to save your soul.
 
sàturu adj. Full, satiated.
Lu sàturu nun cridi a lu dijunu.
Eng. The satiated doesn't believe the hungry.
 
sàuri adj. Sorrel (brownish orange to light brown), chestnut.
Cavalli sàuri ed omini mancusi mancu ponnu fari pri li spisi.
Eng. Chestnut horses and surly men can't even cover expenses.
 
sàuru adj. Sorrel.
Sàuru, 'un ci spènniri un àuru, ma quann'è bonu, spènnicci un tisoru.
Eng. Don't pay a single gold coin for the sorrell, but when he's good, be ready to spend a fortune.
 
sautu n.m. Jump, leap.
Si la jumenta fa lu sautu, la putra lu fa cchiù autu.
Eng. If the mare jumps, the filly will jump higher.
 
saviu adj. and n.m. Learned, expert, wise man.
Lu veru saviu è cui si sarva l'arma dici sant'Arfonsu.
Eng. According to St. Alphonse the truly learned is the one who saves his soul.
 
Manda lu saviu e lassa fari ad iddu.
Eng. Send in the wise man and let him do it.
 
saziari v.t and v.i. To satisfy.
Ziti a vasari e babbaluci a sucari su' cosi chi nun ponnu mai saziari.
Eng. The kissing of sweethearts, the eating of snails, never enough to satify.
 
sàzii adj. Give satisfaction.
'N tempu di disgrazii parrini beddi sàzii.
Eng. In hard times priests give satisfaction.
 
sbirru n.m. Cop.
Diu nni scanza di lu sbirru sicilianu e di cchiù quan'è palermitanu!
Eng. God protect us from the Sicilian cop especially if he's from Palermo.
 
sbuccia v.i. 3rd p. sing. Flowerrs, blooms.
Quannu l'oliva sbuccia 'ntr'aprili, si cogghi cu li varrili; quannu l'oliva sbuccia 'ntra giugnu, si cogghi cu lu pugnu.
Eng. When the olive tree blooms in April, olives are harvested with barrels, when it blooms in June, they are harvested in handfuls.
 
scàcciati v.t. 2nd p. sing. engTrans
A lu pigghiari affùddati, a lu pagari scàcciati.
Eng. Crowd around for the getting, hang back when it's time to pay.
 
scagghiu n.m. Bird seed, chicken feed.
Lu bonu cuvernu e lu scagghiu dùnanu l'ova.
Eng. Good management and feed give eggs.
 
scanza v.t. 3rd p. sing. Avoid, move, shift, preserve, save.
Diu nni scanza di quattru pirsuni: di mèdici, nutara, spiziali e mali patruni.
Eng. God save us from four people: doctors, notaries, pharmacists, and bad bosses.
 
scappa v.i. 3rd p. sing. Escapes, flees.
Lu riccu spezza li magghi e si nni scappa, l'affrittu resta a li riti si 'ncappa.
Eng. The rich man breaks through the mesh and escapes, the afflicted man remains in the net and is caught.
 
scarsizza n.f. Scarcity.
La scarsizza fa lu prezzu.
Eng. Scarcity sets the price.
 
scausu adj. Barefoot, unshod horse.
Nun vaja scausu cu' simina spinni, ca poi si punci a la sdiminticata.
Eng. Don't walk barefoot where you've scattered thorns.
 
sceccu n.m. Donkey.
C'un granu di sceccu tegnu 'ntesta pi curuna a sant' Aloi.
Eng. With two bits worth of a donkey you can earn more than with a mule.
 
scerri n.f. Discord, squabble, quarrel.
Cui scerri cerca, scerri trova.
Eng. Who looks for a quarrel, finds a quarrel.
 
schiavi n.m. Slaves.
Multi su' signuri di citati e schiavi di li donni.
Eng. Many are the lords of the cities and the slaves of women.
 
schinu n.m. Back.
Pani e vinu 'nforza lu schinu.
Eng. Bread and wine strengthen the back.
 
sciarri n.f. Fights, squabbles, quarrels.
Sciarri d'amuri crìscinu amuri.
Eng. Lovers' quarrels increase love.
 
sciloccu n.m. Sirocco.
Nun c'è simana santa senza quinta nè quinta senza sciloccu.
Eng. There isn't a Holy Week without the fifty days, nor the fifty days without the Sirocco.
 
Sciloccu di 'nvernu, acqua a lu mumentu.
Eng. When the Sirocco blows in the winter, you can expect rain at any moment.
 
Cu sciloccu jetta simenza cu tramuntana no.
Eng. Sow with the Sirocco but not with the North Wind.
 
scinni v.t. 3rd p. sing. Descends.
Cui vinni, scinni; cu' accatta, acchiana.
Eng. Who sells, goes down; who buys, goes up. or: The seller discounts, the buyer pays.
 
scippari v.t. To uproot, extract, eradicate, pluck out.
Zicchi e dinari su' forti a scippari.
Eng. Ticks and money are difficult to pluck out.
 
scogghiu n.m. Rock.
L'occultu scogghiu 'nganna li marinara chił saggi.
Eng. The underwater rock fools the wisest sailor.
 
scrittu adj. Written.
Chiddu ch'è scrittu, lèggiri si voli.
Eng. That which is written, is meant to be read.
 
Zoccu è scrittu, lèggiri si voli.
Eng. That which is written, does not fade.
 
scrùpulu n.m. Scruples, doubt, trifles.
Cui di nenti si fa scrùpulu, jetta manu a tutti cosi.
Eng. Who suffers over trifles, is easily overwhelmed.
 
scupa n.f. Broom.
Ogni scupa nova fa scrusciu.
Eng. A new broom sweeps clean. (Lit. Every new broom makes noise.)
 
Scupa e ziti pri tri jorna sunnu boni.
Eng. Brooms and seethearts are good for three days.
 
scusa n.f. Excuse.
Scusa nun richiesta è accusa manifesta. Ovvero: Cui si scusa senz' esseri accusatu, manifestu fa lu sò piccatu.
Eng. An unrequested excuse is a self accusation. Or: Who makes excuses without being accused, shows his guilt.
 
sècuta v.t. and v.i. 3rd p. sing. Follows, perseveres.
Cui cerca, trova; cui sècuta, vinci.
Eng. Who seeks, finds; who perseveres, wins.
 
sennu n.m. Judgement, good sense.
Lu sennu non si vendi nè s' adduga.
Eng. You can't buy nor can you rent good sense for yourself.
 
A testa bianca spissu lu sennu manca.
Eng. There's no fool like an old fool. (Lit. The white head often lacks good sense.)
 
senza prep. Lacking, deprived of, without.
Omu senza dinari è mortu chi camina. Oppure: Omu senza dinari, menzu malati pari.
Eng. A man without money is like the walking dead. Or: The man without money seems half sick.
 
serpi n.f. Snake, serpent.
Li cosi longhi addiventanu serpi.
Eng. A stitch in time saves nine. (Lit. Long things become snakes.)
 
servi v.t. and v.i. Serve, useful.
Nun servi a lu zoppu diri: curri.
Eng. It's useless to tell the lame to run.
 
sfardatu v.t. past p. Torn up, bedraggled.
Lu cani mùzzica a lu sfardatu.
Eng. The dog bites the bedraggled.
 
sfatta adj. Unkempt, messy.
Casa fatta e vigna sfatta.
Eng. A neat house and a messy vineyard.
 
sfilazza n.f. A draft from a crack in a wall or from a window or a door.
Megghiu friscu di chiazza ca friscu di sfilazza.
Eng. The fresh air from the square is better than a draft from a crack.
 
Megghiu vastuniatu ccu na mazza ca ventu di sfilazza.
Eng. Better a beating with a mallet than a wind through a crack.
 
sfrutta adj. Barren, sterile.
Cui leva e nun metti, passannu pochi anni sfrutta lu tirrenu ed havi li malanni.
Eng. If you continually harvest without fertilizing the land will soon be sterile and you'll have bad years.
 
sgarbu n.m. Offense, rudeness, discourtesy.
Siddu un sgarbu t' è fattu troppu duru, làssulu, amicu, a lu tempu futuru.
Eng. If an offense has hurt you too deeply, leave, friend, for a future time.
 
sì adv. Yes.
Lu sì t'attacca, lu no ti sciogghi.
Eng. Saying yes obligates you, saying no frees you. (Lit. Yes binds you, no unties you.)
 
sicca adj. Arid, dry.
Sicca annata 'un è affamata.
Eng. A dry year is not a famine.
 
Sicilia place name Sicily.
Pri sùrfaru, frummentu, vini e lani, viniti di Sicilia a li paisi.
Eng. For sulphur, wheat, wine, and wool, come to Sicily, to its towns and villages.
 
sicilianu adj. Sicilian.
Cavaddu sicilianu: curtu e nanu.
Eng. The Sicilian horse: short and dwarfish.
 
siggituri n.m. Collector.
Lu malu siggituri fa lu malu pagaturi.
Eng. The bad collector makes the bad payer. The collector who fails to take care of his clients encourages reciprocity.
 
Signuri n.m. God.
Lu Signuri joca gravusu, ma è sempri patri misiricurdiusu.
Eng. God plays seriously, but He's a merciful father.
 
signuri n.m. Lord.
Servi a signuri e vidirai chi è duluri.
Eng. Serve the Lord and you'll see what pain is.
 
signurìa n.f. Nobility, elegance, power, arrogance.
Amuri e signurìa nun vonnu cumpagnia.
Eng. Love and arrogance don't go together.
 
silenziu n.m. Silence.
Lu silenziu è l'arma di lu nigoziu.
Eng. Silence is the soul of negotiation.
 
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