Itanglish is a language founded by Italian immigrants. Only Italian immigrants and their children understand it. Recent additions to our vocabulary list come from South Hackensack (NJ), from Staten Island (NY) representing what is described as the “Sicilian/Brooklyn” dialect, and from Newton (MA) where most of the residents come from Central Italy, particularly the village of San Donato Valle di Comino and Atina, both in the Frosinone Province of the Lazio region of Italy. Many of these terms may sound familiar. You may have some of your own. Feel free to add to this list! Send me your ideas and contributions. Many thanks, Rita Susi [Email: rita@northendboston.com]
| English |
Itanglish |
Italian |
| dishwasher |
la deeshwasha |
vastoviglia |
| McDonalds |
Meccadonna |
— |
| cheese
and crackers |
cheeze
e creck |
— |
| pain
in the ass |
pain
inee essa |
— |
| forget
about it |
foggedabouda |
— |
| don’t
worry about it |
no
wurree bouda |
— |
| Dorchester |
Dochesta |
— |
| What/where |
who |
— |
| In
college |
allu collegia |
— |
| Sandwich |
nu
sungweech |
panino |
| Switch |
lu sgueech |
— |
| Check |
la checka |
assegno |
| Boss |
lu
bossa |
— |
| Hanover
Street |
Unova
streeta |
— |
| Sink |
lu sinka |
il
lavantino |
| Jordan
Marsh |
George
e Marcia |
— |
| Ginger
Ale |
la gingiarella |
la
gassoza |
| To
park |
a parká |
parchegiare |
| To
drive |
a
drayya or a draviya |
guidare |
| Picture |
lu
piccie |
fotografia |
| Girl |
ghella |
ragazza |
| Nice
Girl |
nyza
ghella |
brava
ragazza |
| Girlfriend |
ghellafrenda |
la fidanzata |
| Cruise |
lu
cruzze |
crocera |
| Seatbelt |
shitabelta |
cintura di sicurezza |
| Thumb |
dumma |
— |
| Toe |
dumma |
— |
| Farm |
la
farma |
fattoria or campagna |
| Insurance |
la
shuranza |
assicurazione |
| To
collect unemployment |
a culleta |
disocupazione |
| Ashtray |
l’ashtray |
portacenere |
| Usher |
eeush |
— |
|
