Sicilian Language - Influences On The Italian Language

Influences On The Italian Language

As one of the most-spoken languages of Italy, Sicilian has notably influenced the Italian lexicon. In fact, there are several Sicilian words that are nowadays part of the Italian language; they usually refer to things closely associated to Sicilian culture, with some notable exceptions (Zingarelli 2007):

• arancino (from arancinu): arancino, a Sicilian cuisine specialty;
• canestrato (from 'ncannistratu): a cheese typical of Sicily;
• cannolo (from cannolu): cannolo, a Sicilian pastry;
• cannolicchio (from cannulicchiu): razor-clam;
• carnezzeria (from carnizzaria): butcher's shop;
• caruso (from carusu): boy;
• cassata: cassata, a Sicilian pastry;
• cirneco (from cirnecu): a small breed of dogs common in Sicily;
• cosca: a small group of criminals affiliated to the Sicilian mafia;
• curatolo (from curatulu): watchman in a farm, with a yearly contract;
• dammuso (from dammusu): stony habitation typical of the island of Pantelleria;
• intrallazzo (from 'ntrallazzu): illegal exchange of goods or favours, but in a wider sense also cheat, intrigue;
• marranzano (from marranzanu): Jew's harp;
• marrobbio (from marrubbiu): quick variation of sea level produced by a store of water in the coasts as a consequence of either wind action or an atmospheric depression;
• minchia: penis in its original meaning, but also stupid person, is also widely used as interjection to show either astonishment or rage;
• picciotto (from picciottu): young man, but also the lowest grade in the Mafia hierarchy;
• pizzino (from pizzinu): small piece of paper;
• pizzo (from pizzu): literally meaning beak in Sicilian, it is protection money paid to the Mafia; it comes from the saying fari vagnari a pizzu (to wet one's beak).
• quaquaraquà: person devoid of value, nonentity; (onomatopoeia?; "the duck wants a say")
• scasare (from scasari): to leave en masse (means literally to move home);
• stidda (it.: stella): lower Mafia organization.