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 |
| Traffic light |
la luce |
semafaro |
| Pink |
pinghe |
rosa |
| Cake |
la kekka |
la
torta |
New
Hampshire |
lu
emmsha |
— |
| Conncecticut |
lu conedechetta |
— |
A
job, a good job |
la
jobba (as in “na jobba bona”) quillo tene na jobba bona, e smatte,
e nu piezze gruosso) |
il
lavoro, lavora in banca |
Bridal
shower |
lu
shawa |
— |
| Wedding |
nu
werringa |
sposalizio |
| Cookies |
ee cukeesa |
biscotti |
| Orange juice cookies |
arangie
juze cukkee |
li
biscotte co lu juze |
| Pocketbook |
lu
pakkabuk |
la
borsa |
| Bankbook |
lu bankabuka |
libro
di banca |
| Bag |
la
begga |
il sacco |
That’s
alright |
ez
o rita |
Non
fa niente, lascia perdere |
That’s
all |
ez ohlla |
Basta |
Venetian
blinds |
leesh
n bline |
persiane |
| Irish |
Arishe |
Irlandese |
| Library |
Libreria |
biblioteca |
| Party |
Lu
parri |
festa |
To
try |
attraia |
provare |
To
say in English |
di
pe ‘mericane |
dire
in Inglese? |
Sears
and Roebuck |
Seezarobacca |
— |
To
say in English |
di
pe ‘mericane |
dire
in Inglese? |
Son
of a gun |
Sonnamaganna |
— |
That’s
all |
etzolla Basta |
— |
Goodbye
Jack |
goobaya
jek |
arrivederci
Jack |
I’ll
talk to you later |
Tocca
you layra |
ci
sentiamo piu tardi |
The
box |
La
bocassa |
scatola |
Goodbye
Jack |
goobaya
jek |
arrivederci
Jack |
I’ll
talk to you later |
Tocca
you layra |
ci sentiamo piu tardi |
hot
dog |
hotadogga |
wurtzel |
| chicken |
chekkn |
pollo |
back
yard |
bakkayarda |
— |
|
