SICILIAN PROVERBS

Here is a sample of some of the more than one thousand Sicilian Proverbs contained in the book as well as one of the original illustrations created by Carlo Puleo.

abbajari v.i. bark, shout inconsiderately, ask for in vain.

A un povir' omu, ogni cani cci abbaja. Source: Pitrè, I, 251.

Eng. Every dog barks at a wretched man.

 

abballari v.i. dance.

Abballa mentri furtuna sona. Source: Pitrè, III, 371.

Eng. Make hay while the sun shines.

Lit. Dance while luck is playing.

 

abbati n.m. abbot.

Comu canta l'abbati, arrispunni lu sagristanu. Source: Pitrè, II, 336.

Eng. The sacristan follows the abbot's lead.

Tr. note: This proverb is in Pitrè, Volume II, Chapter 46, Government, Laws, National Interest.

 

adaciu adv. slowly, softly, gently.

Adaciu adaciu si fa gran viaggiu.

Eng. A long journey begins with a single step.

Lit. With slow and steady steps you can travel far.

 

babbanu adj. foolish, stupid.

Nun cc' è peju d'aviri a fari cu babbani. Source: Pitrè, IV, 45.

Eng. There's nothing worse than having to deal with fools.

 

bagascia n.f. harlot, whore, hooker.

Sbirri, bagasci e cani, quannu su' vecchi morinu di fami.

Eng. Cops, hookers, and dogs, when they're old they die of hunger.

 

battagghiu n.m. clapper.

Dissi la campana a lu battagghiu,

Ogni cosa ch'arresta è pri lu megghiu. Source: Pitrè, III, 248.

Eng. Said the bell to its clapper,

Everything that stops is for the better.

Tr. note: This proverb is in Pitrè, Volume III, Chapter 66, Ptience, Resignation.

 

cacaniru n.m. last born, smartest. Also: cacanidu.

Lu cacaniru si cuggìu tutti li sbièzzii. Source: Bellantonio, II 155.

Eng. The last born is the smartest.

Lit. The last born took all the pepper.

 

cacciaturi n.m. hunter.

L'omu è cacciaturi. Source: Pitrè, II, 99.

Eng. Man is a hunter.

Pitrè adds: "And however he can allow himself to make love with this or this other woman. The poverb is used on purpose to exuse the actions and escapes of those who meet their obligations less than honest and faithful husbands."

 

Lu cani cacciaturi, quannu abbaja è signu chi la caccia havi vicina. Source: Pitrè, I, 132.

Eng. When the hunting dog barks, it's a signal that the prey is near.

 

càlia n.f. roasted chick peas.

Sosizza di Mazzarinu, càlia di Cartagiruni e pasta di Vizzini.

Eng. Sausage from Mazzarino, roasted chick peas from Caltagirone, and pasta from Vizzini.

 

cuscenza n.f. conscience, consciousness. Also: cuscenzia, cuscienza.

La fami 'un havi cuscenza. Source: Pitrè, IV, 379.

Eng. Hunger has no conscience.

 

detta n.f. debt

A setti, ti levi la detta;

A ottu, ti fa' lu cappottu. Source: Pitrè, I, 32.

Eng. When the harvest is seven times the seeding, with some difficulty,you pay off your debt.

When the harvest is eight times the seeding, you can also dress yourself.

Tr. note: The English is a free translation of the interpretation of the proverb supplied to Pitrè by Prof. Raffaele Castelli.

 

diàvulu n.m. devil.

Quannu lu poviru duna a lu riccu, lu diàvulu si 'nni ridi. Source: Pitrè, III, 275.

Eng. The devil laughs when the poor gives to the rich.

 

erva n.f. grass, greenery, weeds..

Erva ch' 'un si conusci, nun si meti. Source: Pitrè, IV, 164.

Eng. Don't harvest grass that you don't recognize.

 

etisia n.f. med. consumption

Tri sunnu li rimèddii pri l'etisia di la vurza: cena di latti, pruvuli di granci e di giurani e limatura di corna di cervu. Source: Pitrè, III, 265.

Eng. There are three remedies for consumption of the purse: a meal consisting of milk, poured over the dust of crabs and frogs, and the filings of deer antler.

Tr. note: The proverb is an example of the Sicilian sense of humor. For some serious Sicilian recipes refer to: Cucina Paradiso: The Heavenly Food of Sicily, by Clifford A. Wright, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1992.; and Alla Tavola Di Nunzio Bruno: Con la cucina popolare Siciliana, by Corrado Di Pietro, Venilia Editrice, Montemerlo, 1994.

 

factotum n.m. broker. Also: fatturi, spidugghjafacenni, sensali, senzali.

Lu sensali aggèvula tuttu.

Eng. The broker facilitates all.

 

fallutu adj. Bankrupt.

Mircanti fallutu è menzu arriccutu.

Eng. The bankrupt merchant is half rich.

 

fùncia n.f. mushroom.

Funci e nidi, pigghiali comu li vidi. Source: Pitrè, IV, 90.

Eng. Mushrooms and nests, pick them as you see them.

 

gabbari n.f. fool, cheat, deceive.

'Na vota si gabba la vecchia; appressu vota vi chiuj la porta. Source: Pitrè, IV, 236.

Eng. You cheat an old woman once; the next time she shuts the door on you.

 

gaddina n.f. hen, chicken.

Gatti e gaddini, lu Signuri si nni ridi. Source: Pitrè, IV, 216.

Eng. Don't sweat the small stuff.

Lit. At cats and chickens, the Lord chuckles.

 

guastidduni n.m. type of round bread, bigger than normal.

Di cui speri lu guastidduni

Finciticci puviridduni. Source: Pitrè, IV, 157.

Eng. To someone from whom you hope for generous help

Pretend great poverty.

Lit. To someone from whom you hope for a big round loaf of bread

Pretend great poverty.

Tr. note: This proverb is in Chapter LXXXVII on Various practical rules of conduct for life.

 

gustu n.m. taste, pleasure.

De gustibus non est disputatu. (Noto). Source: Pitrè, I, 16.

Eng. To each his own.

Lit. There's no accounting for taste.

 

imbrugghiari v.t.refl. become entangled.

Cui camina drittu nun si 'mmrògghia. Source: Pitrè, III, 281.

Eng. He who walks the straight and narrow avoids entanglements.

 

isca n.f. enticement, food, bait.

Ammàtula si pisca si all'amu nun c'è isca. Source: Copani, 199.

Eng. It's pointless to fish if there's no bait on the hook.

Tr. note: Copani suggests that today's usage is more pessimistic and concerns pay-offs.

 

iurari v.i. take an oath, swear, pledge.

Lu celu e la terra l'ha ghiuratu chi nun cc'è cosa cui nun s'ha saputu. Source: Traina, 853.

Eng. The truth will out.

Lit. Heaven and earth have pledged that there is nothing that will not be revealed.

 

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.

 

jornu n.m. day, daybreak, daylight.

Jornu mai fu chi nun scurassi. Source: Pitrè, II, 288.

Eng. There's never been a day without nightfall.

 

lassari v.t. leave, abandon, part.

Comu si pigghia lu munnu si lassa. Source: Pitrè, III, 246.

Eng. Leave the world the way you find it.

 

latru n.m. thief.

La cummudità fa l' omu latru. Source: Pitrè, III, 379.

Eng. Convenience makes the man a thief.

 

liuni n.m. lion.

Ogni cani è liuni a la so' casa. Source: Traina, 149.

Eng. Every dog is a lion in his own house.

Tr. note: The two versions of this proverb, by Pitrè and by Traina, have very different meanings.

 

Ogni cani e liuni havi la sò casa. Source: Pitrè, I, 135.

Eng. Every dog and lion has its own house.

Tr. note: The two versions of this proverb, by Pitrè and by Traina, have very different meanings.

 

macàri conj. also, even, even if, though.

Avissi, fussi e macari su' tri cosi chi nuddu nni voli. Source: Pitrè, I, 12.

Eng. If i had, if I were, and, even if, are three things nobody wants to hear.

 

maravigghia n.f. marvel, wonder, miracle.

Di nuddu nni putemu fari maravigghia. Source: Pitrè, I, 338.

Eng. We can't get a miracle from anyone.

 

matrimoniu n.m. matrimony, marriage.

Lu matrimoniu s'havi a fari o prestu o mai.

Eng. Marriage must take place early or never.

 

murituri adj. mortal, deadly, lethal.

Muraturi, murituri. Source: Pitrè, IV, 261.

Eng. Mason, mortal.

Pitrè adds: "Because of the danger they encounter in plying their trade."

 

Napuli place name Naples.

Vidi Palermu e gori, vidi Napuli e poi mori.

Eng. See Palermo and enjoy it, see Naples then die.

 

nèspula n.f. medlar, loquat. Also: nèspura, nièspula, nièspura, nìspula, nèspulu.

Quannu viditi nespuli chianciti, ca su l'ultimu fruttu di l'estate.

Eng. Cry when you see medlars because they're the last fruit of the summer.

 

'nvicchiri v.i. age, grow old.

A tavula nun si 'nvecchia. Source: Pitrè, IV, 83.

Eng. One doesn't grow old at the table.

 

nziru n.m. a terra-cotta vase used for liquids, usually without handles.

Quannu figghia nziru e fa nziriddu!

Eng. When hell freezes over!

Lit. When the vase gives birth and makes a little vase.

 

omini n.m. men.

L'omini all'àutu e li scecchi a la via. Source: Pitrè, I, 84.

Eng. Men in high places and jackasses along the road recognize each other.

 

omini n.m. men.

L'omini all'àutu e li scecchi a la via. Source: Pitrè, I, 84.

Eng. Men in high places and jackasses along the road recognize each other.

 

pacenzia n.f. forbearance, patience.

Oricchi di mircanti e pacenzia di santi. Source: Pitrè, IV, 160.

Eng. You need to have the ears of merchants and the patience of saints.

 

Patri Lanuzza n.m. Father Lanuzza

Nè 'ntra la casa, nè 'mmenzu la chiazza,

Nun stati a fari lu Patri Lanuzza. Source: Pitrè, IV, 167.

Eng. Either in the house or in the public square,

Don't act like Father Lanuzza.

Tr. note: Father Lanuzza (1591-1655) was a Jesuit from the town of Licata who led an exemplary life and never tired of preaching. He travelled all over Sicily, preaching against the vices. He was so popular that the people could not be accomodated in the biggest churches so he preached in the public squares. In Palermo itself, his audience, on several occasions exceeded 25,000.

 

pinciri v.t. paint, fantasize, praise, refl. put make-up on.

Un bonu maritu ti pinci, un tintu maritu ti tinci. Source: Pitrè, IV, 233.

Eng. A good husband praises you, a bad husband maligns you.

Lit. A good husband paints you; a bad husband stains you.

 

piscari v.t. fish, seek, try to learn, squeal; (v.i.) flirt.

A ciumi mortu nun jiri a piscari. Source: Pitrè, IV, 66.

Eng. Don't fish in a dead river.

Tr. note: This proverb is included by Pitrè in his chapter on lying and hypocrisy in volume 4. The dead river refers to a man who is silent and brooding. In Julius Caesar, I, 2, Shakespeare said it this way: "Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous."

 

pulizìa v.t. cleans.

La malatia, si nun guasta, pulizìa. Source: Pitrè, IV, 256.

Eng. If the sickness doesn't kill, it cleanses.

Pitrè takes the meaning of pulizia more seriously, probably because of his experience as a practicing physician, when he adds: "If the sickness doesn't end in the death of some person it results in their ruin, because it empties the familiy's pockets as well as their savings."

 

quadara n.m. a big vase or pot used for boiling, made of copper or other.

Chi fa 'na stizza d'acqua 'ntra 'na quadara vughienti? Source: Pitrè, II, 12.

Eng. What will one drop do in a pot of boiling water?

 

quaresima n.f. lent.

Marzu nun veni mai senza quaresima. Source: Pitrè, III, 42.

Eng. March never comes without Lent.

 

quattru adj. four.

Quattr'omini cci vonnu pri fari 'na bona 'nzalata: un pazzu, un saviu, un avaru, e un sfragaru. Source: Pitrè, IV, 108.

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. Source: Traina, 795.

Eng. Harvest the grapes as soon as they mature with good weather and after the morning dew.

 

riccu adj. rich.

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.

 

rota n.f. wheel.

La furtuna è fatta a rota,

Sempri vôta e sbôta. Source: Pitrè, II, 193.

Eng. Good fortune is like a wheel,

Always turning in one direction and the other.

 

Russuliddi n.m. red robed clerics.

Quannu la prucissioni è junta a li Russuliddi è signu ch' è spidduta. Source: Pitrè, IV, 255.

Eng. When the procession reaches the red robed clerics you know that its near its end.

 

sapienti adj. learned, wise.

L'omu chi parra assai, nun dici nenti;

L'omu chi parra picca è sapienti. Source: Pitrè, III, 225.

Eng. The man who talks a lot, says nothing;

The man who talks little is wise.

 

scagghja n.f. fish scale, snake slough, canine tooth, wood chips, stone chip, speck, pebble.

Lu figghiu di lu lupu nasci cu li scagghi. Source: Bellantonio, II 155.

Eng. The wolf's pup is born with fangs.

 

sceccu n.m. donkey.

Cui campa sceccu, 'un pò mòriri cavaddu. Source: Pitrè, III, 120.

Eng. Who lives as a donkey, can't die as a horse.

 

scogghiu n.m. rock, submerged rock in the sea.

Un annu si passa supra un scògghiu. Source: Pitrè, III, 250.

Eng. It seems like a year when we're on the rocks.

Lit. A year passes on the rock.

Tr. note: This proverb is in Pitrè, Volume III, Chapter 66, Patience, Resignation. The Costa Concordia, which went aground off the west coast of Italy on Jan 13, 2012 has been there for more than a year.

 

scupetta n.f. rifle, shotgun.

Cui voli fari detta,

Nun va supra l'omini, e si pigghia la scupetta (Termini). Source: Pitrè, I, 70.

Eng. To fall into debt,

Don't supervise your workers, and take your shotgun and go off hunting.

 

Signuri n.m. Lord, God.

Lu Signuri joca gravusu, ma è sempri patri misiricurdiusu.

Eng. God plays seriously, but He's always a merciful father.

 

tabbacchera n.f. snuffbox, very small house, spinning top, female genitals, sweet and flavorful flat fish.

Spitali, spiziaria e galera

Nun nèsciri tabbacchera. Source: Pitrè, IV, 177.

Eng. In a hospital, a pharmacy, and a jail

Don't take out a snuffbox.

Pitrè adds: "because they'll quickly empty it."

 

taciri v.i. be silent, to not speak.

Assai sa, cui sa, si taciri sa. Source: Pitrè, III, 215.

Eng. He is wise, who knows, to be silent.

 

tàju n.m. mud, adobe, mortar.

Quannu chiovi e nun fa taju,

La Pasqua nun veni 'ntra Maju. Source: Pitrè, III, 53.

Eng. When it rains but doesn't result in mud,

Easter won't occur in May.

 

terzu adj. third.

A la terza si libbira. Source: Pitrè, I, 309.

Eng. The third time's the charm.

Lit. On the third time it's easy.

 

ubbidienza n.f. obedience.

La pronta ubbidienza,

È d'ogni virtù la simenza. Source: Pitrè, III, 248.

Eng. Ready obedience

Is the kernel of every virtue.

 

untari v.t. oil.

Cui manìa, s'unta. Source: Bellantonio, II 199.

Eng. The one who manages always helps himself.

Lit. Who manages, oils his own (palm).

Tr. note: This proverb is in Pitrè, Volume II, Chapter 41, Fraud, Robbery. Like Calogero Sedàra in The Leopard.

 

uziusu adj. idle, aching, doleful

L'uziusu di raru è virtuusu. Source: Pitrè, III, 208.

Eng. The idler is rarely virtuous.

 

vacabbunniannu v.i. vagabonding, roaming.

Cui va vacabbunniannu,

Un jornu jirrà dumannannu. Source: Pitrè, III, 199.

Eng. He who goes roaming

Will one day go begging.

 

vanedda n.f. street, alley, blind alley.

Ogni vanedda spunta a la Marina (Catania). Source: Pitrè, IV, 173.

Eng. Every street starts at the Marina.

 

ventri n.m. n.f. stomach, belly, womb.

Birritta di villutu e ventri di liutu. Source: Pitrè, IV, 130.

Eng. A velvet cap but a stomach that plays the lute.

Tr. note: The velvet cap is contrasted with the growling stomach. Pitrè explains that the stomach playing the lute means that it's empty. He then quotes another proverb that he says is identical. I've translated it under the keyword zagareddi.

 

vèrtuli n.pl. saddlebags

Cori cuntenti e li vèrtuli 'n coddu. Source: Pitrè, I, 75.

Eng. A happy heart and the sddle bags on his shoulder.

 

viddanu n.m. peasant, hired hand, rude, ill mannered.

A lu viddanu la zappa 'm manu.

Eng. Each to his own work.

 

vigna n.f. vineyard.

Accatta vigna di cu' nu' 'nn'havi chiantata, accatta casa di cu' nu' nn'ha fabbricatu.

Eng. Buy a vineyard from one who didn't plant it and a house form one who didn't build it.

 

voscu n.m. forest, woods.

Nè voscu senza ligna, nè aria senza sulami, nè jinia senza corna. Source: Traina, 1102.

Eng. Neither a forest without trees, nor air without chaff, nor a generation without shame.

 

zagaredda n.f. ribbon, binding.

La vesta tutta china di zagareddi

E poi cantanu e sònanu li vudeddi. Source: Pitrè, IV, 130.

Eng. All decked out in buttons and bows

And then the stomach is growling.

Lit. Dress filled with ribbons

And then the gut is singing and playing.

Tr. note: Pitrè notes that this proverb is the same as the proverb, Birritta di villutu e ventri di liutu, which is translated under the keyword ventri. Both proverbs contrast outward appearance with the reality of hunger. An example of Bedda Fiura taken to the extreme because as you will also read under the keyword ventri, Ventri affamatu non senti raggiuni.

 

zanni n.m. charlatan, fraud.

Fari lu matrimoniu di lu zanni. Source: Traina, 1113.

Eng. Pull a fast one.