Italian Italian Slang Italian Slang And Proverbs

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jeffphilly Saturday 26th of March 2005 11:19:40 PM
Italian slang - Let's start a post for italian proverbs and slang

here's a proverb to start:

Si mangia per vivere, non si vive per mangiare!

any others?

cristally Sunday 27th of March 2005 04:11:58 AM
- Well,i don't know if this one is the right one for italians,cause they...live to eat for real:))

Anyway,here's another:
Ama chi t'ama, e rispondi a chi ti chiama.

And the meaning:L'amore chiede amore, e la benovolenza benevolenza; sono chiamate al nostro cuore che deve a quelle rispondere.

cristally Sunday 27th of March 2005 04:16:58 AM
- Here's another
"Amami poco, ma continua."
and
"Amante non sia chi coraggio non ha. "

Carla Sunday 27th of March 2005 05:12:18 AM
- :)

Hi Jeff,
thank you for starting this thread.
I think it would be a good idea to indicate the correspondent English proverb (if there is one) and a little explanation about the meaning.

meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani (a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush)

E' più saggio accontentarsi di ciò che ha un valore minore, ma che si può avere subito, piuttosto che aspettare qualcosa di migliore che non siamo sicuri di ottenere.

;)

cristally Tuesday 29th of March 2005 12:10:57 AM
- "Non si fa mantello per un'acqua sola."
And the meaning:Non si fa un amico per servirsene una volta sola.
Sorry,but i don't know if there is an english equivalent.

cristally Tuesday 29th of March 2005 12:14:25 AM
- "Non da a chi tiene, ma da a chi vuol bene."
Cioè si deve stare dalla parte non di chi è ricco ma di chi ci ama.

Zack Wednesday 06th of April 2005 08:17:34 AM
- cavon- this is a word I've heard my Italian grandfather say. He said it means a rude person in Italian. I have no idea how to spell it, but that is how it sounds to me. Just wanna know if that's a real word. I think it is.

Carla Wednesday 06th of April 2005 02:52:02 PM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by Zack[/i]
cavon
this is a word I've heard my Italian grandfather say. He said it means a rude person in Italian. I have no idea how to spell it, but that is how it sounds to me. Just wanna know if that's a real word. I think it is.[/quote]

The word you are asking about is actually spelled [b]cafone[/b].
It's a Southern Italy dialect word. Originally, it used to indicate a Southern Italian peasant, but in a wider sense it means boor, lout, a rude person.

Carla :)

Zack Thursday 07th of April 2005 08:19:29 AM
- Wow, thanks. My Italian relatives live in some place called Sprafola. That's probably not the right spelling. Is cafone pronounced cah-fohneh?

Carla Sunday 10th of April 2005 02:59:51 AM
- Sorry Zack, :(
I couldn't find "Sprafola" in the Italian towns database. Yes, probably that's not the right spelling. Could you give me more information about that town? What part of Italy is it located?

Yes "cafone" is pronounced cah-foh-neh, the e is pronounced as the [b]ai[/b] in f[b]ai[/b]r.

Carla :)

Zack Monday 11th of April 2005 08:20:05 AM
- I asked my grandfather and he said the city was Solofra. Haha, I was pretty off. He said it's in Southern Italy, which I'm sure you know. I guess that explains the use of "cafone". I believe his first cousin and some other family members of ours live there.

katichka Thursday 05th of May 2005 08:27:53 PM
- L`abito non fa il monaco.

I think in English it is sth like "C;othes don`t make the person".

Phlame64 Tuesday 31st of May 2005 04:03:24 PM
- Lol cool thread!^^ I'll write a few italian proverbs:
ITA: "A mali estremi, estremi rimedi. "
ENG: Desperate times call for desperate measures.

ITA: "A buon intenditor poche parole."
ENG: A word to the wise is sufficient.

ITA: "Chi ben comincia è a metà dell'opera."
ENG: A good start is half the battle.

ITA: "Chi cerca trova."
ENG: Seek and you shall find.

ITA: "Chi non risica, non rosica."
ENG: Nothing ventured nothing gained.

There are many others and of course "cafone" means a rude person. Well i don't think we have so many rude people here in south of italy ^^

Carla Tuesday 31st of May 2005 04:38:53 PM
- Alessandro, I didn't mean to offend southern italian people :), I just explained the origin of the word "cafone" (I took the explanation from the Garzanti online dictionary). Of course, "cafoni" can be everywhere :D

Carla

Phlame64 Tuesday 31st of May 2005 05:06:13 PM
- Haha i'm ok! ^^ Don't worry!

Tyrrena Wednesday 05th of October 2005 11:23:39 AM
- Questo è per me in questo forum :D

"Meglio tadi che mai" =Better late than never

In spagnolo è:
Mas vale tarde que nunca o Mejor tarde que nunca

leobloom Thursday 06th of October 2005 06:01:02 PM
- *tardi
a caval donato non si guarda in bocca, whan you receive a gift you must accept it the way it is and don't complain if you don't like it... dunno the english version

Tyrrena Saturday 15th of October 2005 10:15:22 AM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by leobloom[/i]

*tardi
a caval donato non si guarda in bocca, whan you receive a gift you must accept it the way it is and don't complain if you don't like it... dunno the english version[/quote]

English version: Never look a gift-horse in the mouth

Tyrrena Saturday 15th of October 2005 10:17:41 AM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by Tyrrena[/i]

[quote][i]Originally posted by leobloom[/i]

*tardi
a caval donato non si guarda in bocca, whan you receive a gift you must accept it the way it is and don't complain if you don't like it... dunno the english version[/quote]

English version: Never look a gift-horse in the mouth [/quote]

Ah! in spagnolo é: A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes :D

Tyrrena Saturday 15th of October 2005 10:23:55 AM
- Tra il dire e il fare c'é in mezzo il mare ( you may say sth which in practice is difficult to carry out)

Inglese:Easier said than done.
Spagnolo: Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho

Laura Thursday 20th of October 2005 03:10:50 AM
- Italian: Meglio un giorno da leone che cento da pecora
English: Better one day as a lion than a hundred as a sheep

Tyrrena Friday 21st of October 2005 07:26:54 AM
- Il tempo é denaio

english: time´s money

spanish: el tiempo es oro

Carla Friday 21st of October 2005 05:24:13 PM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by Tyrrena[/i]

Il tempo é [b]denaro[/b]

english: time´s money

spanish: el tiempo es oro[/quote]
:)
Carla

Laura Saturday 22nd of October 2005 03:56:14 PM
- L'amore e cieco.
Love is blind.

Tyrrena Sunday 23rd of October 2005 11:01:54 AM
- In un mondo di chieci un orbo è re.

In a world of blind people, a one-eyed person is king

spagnolo: En un mundo de ciegos, el tuerto es rey

leobloom Monday 24th of October 2005 01:08:09 AM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by Tyrrena[/i]

In un mondo di ciechi un orbo è re.

In a world of blind people, a one-eyed person is king

spagnolo: En un mundo de ciegos, el tuerto es rey[/quote]

saluti! :o)

Carla Monday 24th of October 2005 01:59:21 AM
- That saying comes straight from Latin.
As my Latin teacher used to say when making comments on our Latin tests:

"Beati monoculi in terra coecorum"
Here's the French version:
"Au royaume des aveugles, le borgne est roi"

:)

Carla

Laura Monday 24th of October 2005 06:56:45 PM
- Italian proverb: O mangiar questa minestra o saltar questa finestra.
English tranlation: Either eat this soup or jump out this window.
Actual English proverb: Take it or leave it.

Tyrrena Wednesday 26th of October 2005 09:54:26 AM
- Il bue che dice cornutto all'asino

English: The pot calling the kettle black.

Spanish: El muerto se asusta del degollado.

Laura Friday 28th of October 2005 07:46:43 PM
- Italian proverb: Non si puo avere la botte piena è la moglie ubriaca. :))
English translation: You can't have a full bottle and a drunken wife.
English actual proverb: You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Tyrrena Saturday 29th of October 2005 11:52:54 AM
- A buon intenditore, poche parole.

English version: A word to the wise (is sufficient).

spanish version: A buen entendedor, pocas palabras.

Laura Thursday 24th of November 2005 04:33:00 PM
- Acqua cheta rovina i ponti.
English translation: Silent water wraks bridges.
English actual proverb: Silent waters run deep.

Tyrrena Sunday 11th of December 2005 07:09:00 AM
- A chi dai il dito si prende anche il braccio.
English version: Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.
Spanish version: Le das la mano y se toma el codo

Chapeaumelon Monday 12th of December 2005 02:22:43 AM
- [quote]Here's the French version:
"Au royaume des aveugles, le borgne est roi"[/quote]

We usually say «Au royaume des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois» ;)

solitudegirl Wednesday 04th of January 2006 07:23:01 PM
- im not sure if this is the right spelling i just heard it in our professor before when im still in high school..
"chi trova un amico chi trova un tesor" i dont know the englis version can anyone translate it?... grazie :-)

Laura Wednesday 04th of January 2006 07:32:39 PM
- Credo che ti riferivi al proverbo: Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro.
English translation: He who finds a friend, finds a treasure
English version: A Friend Is a Treasure

Tyrrena Friday 06th of January 2006 08:52:34 AM
- In bocca al lupo!=good luck( un'espressione)

English version: Break a leg!

Spanish version: Mucha mierda! (=heaps of shit!), se non sbaglio, la versione spagnola viene dal francese ---> Merde!

Laura Friday 06th of January 2006 03:40:27 PM
- In bocca al lupo! è una delle mie favorite! ;)

Tyrrena Monday 09th of January 2006 03:10:59 AM
- un'altra : [b]rompere le scattole[/b] ( to bother someone)

Finiscela, non mi rompere le scattole! ( cut it out, stop bothering!)

Tyrrena Monday 09th of January 2006 03:12:40 AM
- un'altra : [b]rompere le scattole[/b] ( to bother someone)

Finiscela, non mi rompere le scattole! ( cut it out, stop bothering!)

leobloom Monday 09th of January 2006 04:16:03 AM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by Tyrrena[/i]

A buon intenditore, poche parole.

English version: A word to the wise (is sufficient).

spanish version: A buen entendedor, pocas palabras.[/quote]
also this one comes from Latin:
Intelligenti pauca

mmiriam Wednesday 01st of February 2006 07:08:50 PM
- Devo mangiare questa manestra o devo buto dalla finestra

(Non so se e correto perche l'ho ascolto da un amico italiano)

I suppose it means
Wheather i have to do sth or not

Carla Wednesday 01st of February 2006 10:03:34 PM
- The more common version of this saying is:
"O ti mangi questa minestra, o ti butti dalla finestra"

It basically means "you have to do something...you have no other choice"...
English version: "to like it or to lump it"
:)
Carla

Carla Wednesday 01st of February 2006 10:05:35 PM
- The more common version of this saying is:
"O ti mangi questa minestra, o ti butti dalla finestra"

It basically means "you have to do something...you have no other choice"...
English version: "to like it or to lump it"
:)
Carla

anschub86 Saturday 25th of February 2006 09:28:18 PM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by Tyrrena[/i]

In bocca al lupo!=good luck( un'espressione)

English version: Break a leg!

Spanish version: Mucha mierda! (=heaps of shit!), se non sbaglio, la versione spagnola viene dal francese ---> Merde![/quote]

And the answer is: Crepi il lupo!

Phrasebase Archive
	jeffphilly	Saturday 26th of March 2005 11:19:40 PM
	Italian slang - Let's start a post for italian proverbs and slang here's a proverb to start: Si mangia per vivere, non si vive per mangiare! any others?
	cristally	Sunday 27th of March 2005 04:11:58 AM
	- Well,i don't know if this one is the right one for italians,cause they...live to eat for real:)) Anyway,here's another: Ama chi t'ama, e rispondi a chi ti chiama. And the meaning:L'amore chiede amore, e la benovolenza benevolenza; sono chiamate al nostro cuore che deve a quelle rispondere.
	cristally	Sunday 27th of March 2005 04:16:58 AM
	- Here's another "Amami poco, ma continua." and "Amante non sia chi coraggio non ha. "
	Carla	Sunday 27th of March 2005 05:12:18 AM
	- :) Hi Jeff, thank you for starting this thread. I think it would be a good idea to indicate the correspondent English proverb (if there is one) and a little explanation about the meaning. meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani (a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush) E' più saggio accontentarsi di ciò che ha un valore minore, ma che si può avere subito, piuttosto che aspettare qualcosa di migliore che non siamo sicuri di ottenere. ;)
	cristally	Tuesday 29th of March 2005 12:10:57 AM
	- "Non si fa mantello per un'acqua sola." And the meaning:Non si fa un amico per servirsene una volta sola. Sorry,but i don't know if there is an english equivalent.
	cristally	Tuesday 29th of March 2005 12:14:25 AM
	- "Non da a chi tiene, ma da a chi vuol bene." Cioè si deve stare dalla parte non di chi è ricco ma di chi ci ama.
	Zack	Wednesday 06th of April 2005 08:17:34 AM
	- cavon- this is a word I've heard my Italian grandfather say. He said it means a rude person in Italian. I have no idea how to spell it, but that is how it sounds to me. Just wanna know if that's a real word. I think it is.
	Carla	Wednesday 06th of April 2005 02:52:02 PM
	- [quote][i]Originally posted by Zack[/i] cavon this is a word I've heard my Italian grandfather say. He said it means a rude person in Italian. I have no idea how to spell it, but that is how it sounds to me. Just wanna know if that's a real word. I think it is.[/quote] The word you are asking about is actually spelled [b]cafone[/b]. It's a Southern Italy dialect word. Originally, it used to indicate a Southern Italian peasant, but in a wider sense it means boor, lout, a rude person. Carla :)
	Zack	Thursday 07th of April 2005 08:19:29 AM
	- Wow, thanks. My Italian relatives live in some place called Sprafola. That's probably not the right spelling. Is cafone pronounced cah-fohneh?
	Carla	Sunday 10th of April 2005 02:59:51 AM
	- Sorry Zack, :( I couldn't find "Sprafola" in the Italian towns database. Yes, probably that's not the right spelling. Could you give me more information about that town? What part of Italy is it located? Yes "cafone" is pronounced cah-foh-neh, the e is pronounced as the [b]ai[/b] in f[b]ai[/b]r. Carla :)
	Zack	Monday 11th of April 2005 08:20:05 AM
	- I asked my grandfather and he said the city was Solofra. Haha, I was pretty off. He said it's in Southern Italy, which I'm sure you know. I guess that explains the use of "cafone". I believe his first cousin and some other family members of ours live there.
	katichka	Thursday 05th of May 2005 08:27:53 PM
	- L`abito non fa il monaco. I think in English it is sth like "C;othes don`t make the person".
	Phlame64	Tuesday 31st of May 2005 04:03:24 PM
	- Lol cool thread!^^ I'll write a few italian proverbs: ITA: "A mali estremi, estremi rimedi. " ENG: Desperate times call for desperate measures. ITA: "A buon intenditor poche parole." ENG: A word to the wise is sufficient. ITA: "Chi ben comincia è a metà dell'opera." ENG: A good start is half the battle. ITA: "Chi cerca trova." ENG: Seek and you shall find. ITA: "Chi non risica, non rosica." ENG: Nothing ventured nothing gained. There are many others and of course "cafone" means a rude person. Well i don't think we have so many rude people here in south of italy ^^
	Carla	Tuesday 31st of May 2005 04:38:53 PM
	- Alessandro, I didn't mean to offend southern italian people :), I just explained the origin of the word "cafone" (I took the explanation from the Garzanti online dictionary). Of course, "cafoni" can be everywhere :D Carla
	Phlame64	Tuesday 31st of May 2005 05:06:13 PM
	- Haha i'm ok! ^^ Don't worry!
	Tyrrena	Wednesday 05th of October 2005 11:23:39 AM
	- Questo è per me in questo forum :D "Meglio tadi che mai" =Better late than never In spagnolo è: Mas vale tarde que nunca o Mejor tarde que nunca
	leobloom	Thursday 06th of October 2005 06:01:02 PM
	- *tardi a caval donato non si guarda in bocca, whan you receive a gift you must accept it the way it is and don't complain if you don't like it... dunno the english version
	Tyrrena	Saturday 15th of October 2005 10:15:22 AM
	- [quote][i]Originally posted by leobloom[/i] *tardi a caval donato non si guarda in bocca, whan you receive a gift you must accept it the way it is and don't complain if you don't like it... dunno the english version[/quote] English version: Never look a gift-horse in the mouth
	Tyrrena	Saturday 15th of October 2005 10:17:41 AM
	- [quote][i]Originally posted by Tyrrena[/i] [quote][i]Originally posted by leobloom[/i] *tardi a caval donato non si guarda in bocca, whan you receive a gift you must accept it the way it is and don't complain if you don't like it... dunno the english version[/quote] English version: Never look a gift-horse in the mouth [/quote] Ah! in spagnolo é: A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes :D
	Tyrrena	Saturday 15th of October 2005 10:23:55 AM
	- Tra il dire e il fare c'é in mezzo il mare ( you may say sth which in practice is difficult to carry out) Inglese:Easier said than done. Spagnolo: Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho
	Laura	Thursday 20th of October 2005 03:10:50 AM
	- Italian: Meglio un giorno da leone che cento da pecora English: Better one day as a lion than a hundred as a sheep
	Tyrrena	Friday 21st of October 2005 07:26:54 AM
	- Il tempo é denaio english: time´s money spanish: el tiempo es oro
	Carla	Friday 21st of October 2005 05:24:13 PM
	- [quote][i]Originally posted by Tyrrena[/i] Il tempo é [b]denaro[/b] english: time´s money spanish: el tiempo es oro[/quote] :) Carla
	Laura	Saturday 22nd of October 2005 03:56:14 PM
	- L'amore e cieco. Love is blind.
	Tyrrena	Sunday 23rd of October 2005 11:01:54 AM
	- In un mondo di chieci un orbo è re. In a world of blind people, a one-eyed person is king spagnolo: En un mundo de ciegos, el tuerto es rey
	leobloom	Monday 24th of October 2005 01:08:09 AM
	- [quote][i]Originally posted by Tyrrena[/i] In un mondo di ciechi un orbo è re. In a world of blind people, a one-eyed person is king spagnolo: En un mundo de ciegos, el tuerto es rey[/quote] saluti! :o)
	Carla	Monday 24th of October 2005 01:59:21 AM
	- That saying comes straight from Latin. As my Latin teacher used to say when making comments on our Latin tests: "Beati monoculi in terra coecorum" Here's the French version: "Au royaume des aveugles, le borgne est roi" :) Carla
	Laura	Monday 24th of October 2005 06:56:45 PM
	- Italian proverb: O mangiar questa minestra o saltar questa finestra. English tranlation: Either eat this soup or jump out this window. Actual English proverb: Take it or leave it.
	Tyrrena	Wednesday 26th of October 2005 09:54:26 AM
	- Il bue che dice cornutto all'asino English: The pot calling the kettle black. Spanish: El muerto se asusta del degollado.
	Laura	Friday 28th of October 2005 07:46:43 PM
	- Italian proverb: Non si puo avere la botte piena è la moglie ubriaca. :)) English translation: You can't have a full bottle and a drunken wife. English actual proverb: You can't have your cake and eat it too.
	Tyrrena	Saturday 29th of October 2005 11:52:54 AM
	- A buon intenditore, poche parole. English version: A word to the wise (is sufficient). spanish version: A buen entendedor, pocas palabras.
	Laura	Thursday 24th of November 2005 04:33:00 PM
- Acqua cheta rovina i ponti. English translation: Silent water wraks bridges. English actual proverb: Silent waters run deep.
Tyrrena	Sunday 11th of December 2005 07:09:00 AM
- A chi dai il dito si prende anche il braccio. English version: Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. Spanish version: Le das la mano y se toma el codo
Chapeaumelon	Monday 12th of December 2005 02:22:43 AM
- [quote]Here's the French version: "Au royaume des aveugles, le borgne est roi"[/quote] We usually say «Au royaume des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois» ;)
solitudegirl	Wednesday 04th of January 2006 07:23:01 PM
- im not sure if this is the right spelling i just heard it in our professor before when im still in high school.. "chi trova un amico chi trova un tesor" i dont know the englis version can anyone translate it?... grazie :-)
Laura	Wednesday 04th of January 2006 07:32:39 PM
- Credo che ti riferivi al proverbo: Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro. English translation: He who finds a friend, finds a treasure English version: A Friend Is a Treasure
Tyrrena	Friday 06th of January 2006 08:52:34 AM
- In bocca al lupo!=good luck( un'espressione) English version: Break a leg! Spanish version: Mucha mierda! (=heaps of shit!), se non sbaglio, la versione spagnola viene dal francese ---> Merde!
Laura	Friday 06th of January 2006 03:40:27 PM
- In bocca al lupo! è una delle mie favorite! ;)
Tyrrena	Monday 09th of January 2006 03:10:59 AM
- un'altra : [b]rompere le scattole[/b] ( to bother someone) Finiscela, non mi rompere le scattole! ( cut it out, stop bothering!)
Tyrrena	Monday 09th of January 2006 03:12:40 AM
- un'altra : [b]rompere le scattole[/b] ( to bother someone) Finiscela, non mi rompere le scattole! ( cut it out, stop bothering!)
leobloom	Monday 09th of January 2006 04:16:03 AM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by Tyrrena[/i] A buon intenditore, poche parole. English version: A word to the wise (is sufficient). spanish version: A buen entendedor, pocas palabras.[/quote] also this one comes from Latin: Intelligenti pauca
mmiriam	Wednesday 01st of February 2006 07:08:50 PM
- Devo mangiare questa manestra o devo buto dalla finestra (Non so se e correto perche l'ho ascolto da un amico italiano) I suppose it means Wheather i have to do sth or not
Carla	Wednesday 01st of February 2006 10:03:34 PM
- The more common version of this saying is: "O ti mangi questa minestra, o ti butti dalla finestra" It basically means "you have to do something...you have no other choice"... English version: "to like it or to lump it" :) Carla
Carla	Wednesday 01st of February 2006 10:05:35 PM
- The more common version of this saying is: "O ti mangi questa minestra, o ti butti dalla finestra" It basically means "you have to do something...you have no other choice"... English version: "to like it or to lump it" :) Carla
anschub86	Saturday 25th of February 2006 09:28:18 PM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by Tyrrena[/i] In bocca al lupo!=good luck( un'espressione) English version: Break a leg! Spanish version: Mucha mierda! (=heaps of shit!), se non sbaglio, la versione spagnola viene dal francese ---> Merde![/quote] And the answer is: Crepi il lupo!