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 |
| refrigerator |
la freegeedera |
frigorifero |
| Roslindale |
Rosindella |
— |
| Walpole |
Walpola |
— |
| Shovel |
la shubbla |
pala |
| pick and shovel |
peek e shubbla |
— |
| jackass |
nu jagessa |
asino |
| street |
lu streeta |
strada |
| furniture |
la fornitura |
mobili |
| business |
lu beeseeneessa |
commercio |
businessman
nu |
beeseeneessamenna |
commercialista |
| factory |
la fattoria |
fabrica |
| watchman |
lu watchimenna |
la guardia |
| policeman |
lu puleessa/
lu puleessamenna |
la polizia |
| you bastard |
you besta |
bastardo |
| son of a bitch |
sonnamabeecha |
figlio di putana |
| that bitch |
qella beetcha |
quella putana |
| picnic |
lu peekinica |
scampagnata |
| floor |
lu flora |
il pavimento |
| in the cellar |
sotta lu sellare |
cantina or fondaco |
| Stop & Shop |
Shop e Shop |
— |
| Building 19 |
buldeenga nineteena |
— |
| watermellon |
lu melone,
chitrone |
anguria or cocomero |
| the roof leaks |
sta leekiaia
lu roofa |
— |
| Washington |
Washintonna |
— |
| Napkin |
lu nappigenna |
tovagliolo |
| bathroom |
lu batteroomma |
bagno |
| a piece of gum |
na gumma |
— |
| Santa Claus |
Santaclosa |
Babbo Natale |
| Washing machine |
la washamacheena |
lavatrice |
|
