Slang & Expressions

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• Trubulu

  Trouble

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  Trubulu

  /TROO-boo-loo/

  Noun[Era 1 & 2]

  Trouble: what you’re in when your mother uses your full name. Small, big or family-sized, and usually already on its way. What happened?

  "Siamu nta nu trubulu granni."

  "We’re in big trouble."

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• Veru

  Very

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  Veru

  /VEH-roo/

  Adverb[Era 1 & 2]

  Very: the Siculish intensifier, very with a Sicilian roll. Everything is very: very good, very big, very late. Said slowly. How was it?

  "U mangiari era veru bonu!"

  "The food was very good!"

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• Siccuveru

  Very skinny

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  Siccuveru

  /see-koo-VEH-roo/

  Adjective[Era 1 & 2]

  Very skinny, from sicco plus very: a little joke about the cousin who never gains weight no matter how much Nonna feeds him. A hopeless case. Who’s that?

  "Me cuscinu è siccuveru!"

  "My cousin is super skinny!"

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• Stritta

  Tight

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  Stritta

  /STREET-tah/

  Adjective[Era 1 & 2]

  Tight: said of a jacket that shrank, a budget that’s tightening or an alley made for one. It fits only if you hold your breath. Too small?

  "Sta giacca è troppu stritta."

  "This jacket is too tight."

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• Turi

  Thirty

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  Turi

  /TOO-ree/

  Noun[Era 1 & 2]

  Thirty: the number everyone claims to be for ten years straight. Old enough to know better, young enough to ignore it. How old are you?

  "Haiu turi anni, pi tri anni."

  "I’m thirty, for three years now."

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• Biutifulla

  Beautiful

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  Biutifulla

  /byoo-tee-FOOL-lah/

  Adjective[Era 1 & 2]

  Beautiful: a beauty so big it needed three extra syllables. Said of babies, sunsets and Sunday gravy. Nothing less will do. Admiring something?

  "Chi biutifulla è sta bamminedda!"

  "How beautiful this little girl is!"

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• Sanimabicci

  Son of a bitch

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  Sanimabicci

  /sah-nee-mah-BEE-chee/

  Exclamation[Era 1 & 2]

  Son of a bitch, the shortened, blessed Siculish version: a swear that fits in one breath, said with feeling when the sauce burns or the car stalls. Not for Sunday Mass. Angry?

  "Sanimabicci, mi scurdai i chiavi!"

  "Son of a bitch, I forgot the keys!"

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• Bulliscitti

  Bullshit

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  Bulliscitti

  /bool-lee-SHEE-tee/

  Exclamation[Era 1 & 2]

  Bullshit: the Sicilian pronunciation of the oldest lie detector in America. Said with raised eyebrows and a very slow hand wave. Believe it?

  "Chistu è tuttu bulliscitti!"

  "This is all bullshit!"

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