AmunìĪmunì is a unique term from Palermo, but the word is so widespread that it’s worth adding to the list. We always hope that person gets lost quickly with the water in front of them (meaning rain) and wind behind them to propel them away more quickly. Literally, “water in front and wind behind.” This expression is used for someone who garnered sympathy at first but later turns out to be insufferable.

Here are 30 Sicilian phrases that we love! 30 Sicilian Phrases Worth Knowing Acqua davanti e ventu d’arreri As Verga demonstrated, idiomatic expressions are the way that its speakers pass their wisdom down. After all, expressions are one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of a dialect or regional language. Giovanni Verga was famous for mixing standard Italian with the dialect, and recently, Andrea Camilleri’s crime novels are famous for being peppered with Sicilian phrases and proverbs. The history of Sicily has resulted in a language with diverse influences that have created a fascinating and intricate linguistic fusion.Īlthough the Sicilian language isn’t officially recognized, it’s one of Italy’s most valuable pieces of intangible cultural heritage. Thanks to the Sicilian School of poets, the Sicilian language was the first literary Italian language. The Sicilian language and its colorful collection of Sicilian phrases is a shining example of this. One of the most fascinating aspects of the Italian language is that its history is the result of hundreds of dialects, and each dialect has origins which tell a story about the community that speaks it.

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