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 |
| bathroom |
bacahouse +
backowse (for outhouse) + gli butroom |
Bagno |
| chicken |
Chickenee |
Pollo |
| Elvis Presley |
Ivaloo Presidente |
Elvis
Presley |
| Elizabeth Taylor |
Vabba Dalla |
Elizabeth Taylor |
| icebox |
izabogges |
Frigorifero |
| American |
Meddaganne |
Americano |
| apple |
Abbella |
Mela |
| worms |
woimas |
Verma |
| Fourth of July |
foatjuly |
Quattro di Luglio |
| the trash |
gli tresh |
Immodozia or
Spazzatura |
| the cellar |
gli cell |
Cantina |
| the dryer |
la drya |
Asciugatrice |
| bridal shower |
gli showa |
Bridal Shower |
| girl |
la gella |
Ragazza |
| look at this |
lookadis |
Guarda a questo |
| to shovel |
a shubbhela |
La pala |
| pictures |
gli peech |
Fotografie |
| nurse |
la nossah |
Infermiera |
| cake |
la kekka |
La Torta |
| ticket |
la tiketa |
Il
Biglietto |
| Polish people |
Polacas |
– |
| store |
gli shtorr |
Negozio |
| scratch ticket |
skwatchticke’t |
Gratti
e vinci |
| trunk |
gli tronk |
bagaliaio |
| driveway |
gli dryway |
Strada privata |
| bullshit |
boogashit |
Bullshit |
| fence |
la fenza |
Rincinto |
| insurance |
la shuranza |
Assicurazione |
| son of a bitch |
sonumabetch |
Figlio di Puttana |
|
