Pronunciation and Orthography
The forms muffoletta and its iterations are modern Italianisms of the original Sicilian. Like many of the foreign-influenced terms found in New Orleans, pronunciation has evolved from a phonetic forebearer. The proprietors of Central Grocery pronounce the word "moo-foo-LET-ta, other locals "muff-uh-LOT-uh."
Depending on the specific Sicilian dialect, the item may be spelled:
- muffuletta
- mufuletta
- muffiletta
- mufiletta
- muffulettu
- muffuletu
- muffulittuni
- muffulitteḍḍu
Read more about this topic: Muffuletta