SICILIAN PROVERBS

translated into English by Arthur V. Dieli

badagghiu n.m. Yawn.: Lu badagghiu 'un pò mintíri: o voli manciari o voli durmiri.; Eng. The yawn doesn't lie: it wants you to eat or sleep.; Cui sòffri vinci, cu' ha fami badigghia. Source: Pitrè, II, 17.; Eng. Who persists wins, who yields to hunger, yawns.

bagascia n.f. Harlot, whore, hooker.: Sbirri, bagasci e cani, quannu su' vecchi morinu di fami.; Eng. Cops, hookers, and dogs, when they're old they die of hunger.

ballu n.m. Dance, ball.: Mentri semu 'ntra lu ballu cci abballamu. Source: Pitrè, III, 384.; Eng. While we're at the ball we'll dance.

bammina n.f. Baby, La Bammina is the Festival of the Nativity of Mary Sept. 8.: Pri la Bammina, Lu sangu a lavina. Source: Pitrè, III, 49.; Eng. For the Festival of Mary, a flood of blood. Tr. note. The proverb refers to September 8, 1474 when the inhabitants of Modica arose against the Jews and massacred four hundred.

banni n.f.pl. of banna. Side, part, place.: Un bonu gaddu canta a tutti banni.; Eng. A good rooster crows everywhere.; Cui nun senti a li cchiù granni, appenni li vèrtuli a mali banni.; Eng. Who fails to listen to his elders, will be hanging his knapsack in the wrong places.

bastardu adj. Bastard, mongrel, not genuine.: Bastardu di figura e figghiu di natura. Source: Pitrè, II, 140.; Eng. A bastard in appearance, a child of nature.; bisesta

beccamortu n.m. Gravedigger.: Megghiu li sbirri ca li beccamorti.; Eng. Better the cops than the gravediggers.

beccu n.m. Beak.: È fattu lu beccu a l'oca.; Eng. All's well that ends well. (lit. The beak of the goose is made.)

bedda, beddu adj. Beautiful, pretty.: 'A bedda d'i setti veli.; Eng. A beauty in veils and lace. (lit. A beauty of seven veils.); Bedda in vista, spissu dintra è trista.; Eng. A smiling face often hides an aching heart.

bella adj. Beautiful, pretty, pleasing.: Di lu voscu 'na bella faciana, di lu mari 'na bella murina; di lu ciumi 'n'ancidda di tana, di la gaggia 'na bella gaddina.; Eng. From the woods a beautiful pheasant, from the sea a beautiful moray eel, from the river a den eel, from the coop a beautiful chicken.

beni n.m. Good.: Ogni beni di Diu veni.; Eng. Every good thing comes from God.; è cchiù caru chiddu beni chi ddoppu di lu mali veni.; Eng. The good that follows evil is more appreciated.; Fa' beni e scordatillo, fa' mali e pènsaci.; Eng. Do good and forget it, do bad and think about it.; Lu beni chi lassi di fari, mai cchiù l'aspittari.; Eng. The good that you fail to do is gone forever.; Lu beni chi sdilleggi e nun riguardi, lu riconusci guannu tu lu perdi.; Eng. The good that you scoff at and ignore, you'll recognize when you lose it.; Beni di furtuna pàssanu comu la luna.; Eng. Easy come, easy go.; Quannu lu poviru veni a beni, nun c'è terra chi lu teni.; Eng. When a poor man gets lucky, nothing can contain him.

beni adv. Well.: Cui ti voli beni, 'n casa ti veni.; Eng. Who likes you well, will come to your house.

benifiziu n.m. Reward, advantage, benefit.: Longu sirviziu aspetta benifiziu.; Eng. Long service awaits rewards.

bianchi adj. White.: Nun tutti chiddi chi hannu li denti bianchi mancianu ricotta.. Source: Pitrè, II, 137.; Eng. Not all of those with white teeth eat ricotta.

biasimari v.t. Disparage, belittle, degrade, blame.: Nuddu divi biasimari l'arti chi nun sapi.. Source: Pitrè, II, 130.; Eng. One should not belittle unfamiliar work.

biata adj. Blessed or blest.: Biata dda casa ch'havi 'na cricchia rasa.; Eng. Blessed is the house that has a son who is a cleric.

biccheri n.m. Water glass.: Figghi e biccheri cci nni vonnu assai. Source: Pitrè, II, 147.; Eng. Children and glasses, many are wanted.

biddizza n.f. Beauty.: Biddizza e crianza nun si ponnu aviri.; Eng. You can't have both beauty and good manners.; Biddizza e crianza raru si ponnu aviri. Source: Pitrè, 1, 162.; Eng. You rarely see both beauty and good manners.

billizza n.f. Beauty.: Gèniu fa billizza e no billizza amuri.; Eng. Congeniality makes beauty and not beauty love.

binchì conj. Although, however.: La bruca, binchì arsa sia, Sempri havi a fari l'azioni soi. Source: Pitrè, II, 12.; Eng. Tamarisk, though despised, Always has to do its own thing. Tr. note. When burned, it gives off a suffocating smoke.

binidiciri v.t. To bless.: Tanti manu Diu li binidici, ma no' nta lu me' piattu.; Eng. Many people are good at some things but not at others.

birritta n.f. Cap, biretta, man.: A casa senza birritta, Nun si pò stari a l'addritta. Source: Pitrè, II, 139.; Eng. A house without a man, can't stand upright.

bisesta adj. Leap year.: Annata bisesta, biatu cu' cci resta!; Eng. You're blessed if you're here on leap year.

bisognu n.m. Need, necessity.: Poviru è cu' havi di bisognu.; Eng. The poor are the needy.

bonu adj. Good.: Megghiu vecchiu bonu chi giùvini tintu.; Eng. A good old man is better than a bad young man.

botta n.f. Tap, hit, blow.: 'Na botta a la vutti e 'n'àutra a lu timpagnu.; Eng. One tap on the keg and another on the spout.

brivatura n.f. Water trough.: Cuverna a manciatura e abbivìra a brivatura.; Eng. Govern the feed trough and water the animals at the drinking trough.

bruca n.f. bot. Tamarisk.: Focu di bruca, Fumu ca t'affuca Source: Pitrè, II, 12.; Eng. Burning the tamarisk, smoke that suffocates.

bummulu n.m. Narrow neck terra cotta container, often with two handles and a small hole from which to drink.: Tutti vonnu fari li dutturi 'ntra lu bùmmulu. Source: Pitrè, III, 183.; Eng. You need more than the container to effect a cure. Tr. note: The bummulu was also used to concoct herbal remedies. The proverb is used to sting the conceited who blunder.

burnii n.f. Old fashioned apothecary jars.: Cosi chi mancu nn' hannu li spiziali 'ntra li burnii.; Eng. Things so unusual that not even the pharmacy has them in its jars.

burrasca n.f. Tempest, thunder storm.: Burrasca furiusa prestu passa. Oppure: Forti burrasca pocu dura.; Eng. A furious storm passes quickly. Also: A strong storm lasts briefly.

busi n.f. Empty, parched stalks, bushes in arid location.: Busi di sciloccu e grana di tramuntana.; Eng. Empty stalks from the Sirocco and full spikes of wheat with the North Wind.

busciuni n.m. Boxwood.: Lu busciuni, nè pri focu nè pri cravuni. Source: Pitrè, II, 13.; Eng. The boxwood, good neither for fire nor for coal.

buttunedda n.m. Bud.: Si l'olivuzza sbuccia 'ntr'aprili, basta pri cògghila cu li varrilli; s'a maju affàccianu li buttunedda, basta pri jìnchiri 'na misuredda; ma si poi tàrdanu pri sin'a giugnu, jirrai cugghiènnula a pugnu a pugnu.; Eng. If the olive trees blossom in April, you'll have enough to collect them with barrels; if they bud in May, you'll have enough to fill a small measure; but if as late as June, you'll only be collecting handfuls.

caccia n.f. Hunt.: Quannu la caccia nun ti dici, vattinni ad accampari babbaluci.; Eng. When the hunt is not successful, go find snails.

caccia v.t. 2rd p.sing.imp. Drive, urge on, hurry.: Cu lu vastuni si caccia lu sceccu, cu lu puntuni lu voi e lu mulu cu la virga e cu lu spruni lu cavaddu.; Eng. You drive a donkey with a stick, an ox with a goad and a mule with a rod, and the horse with spurs.

cacciaturi n.m. Hunter.: L'omu è cacciaturi.; Eng. Man is a hunter.; Lu cani cacciaturi, quannu abbaja è signu chi la caccia havi vicina.; Eng. When the hunting dog barks it's a signal that the prey is near.

caciu n.m. Cheese.: Né di caciu varca, né di pani Bartulumeu.; Eng. It's not polite to eat just the center of the cheese and just the crust of the bread.

cacòcciula n.f. Artichoke.: Sintirisi cacòcciula.; Eng. To feel too proud and self-centered.

caddusi adj. Calloused, hardened.: Manu caddusi, manu gluriusi. Source: Pitrè, III, 188.; Eng. Calloused hands are glorious hands.

cadi v.t. 3rd p.sing. Falls.: Quannu cadi lu vecchiu, nun ti rìdiri, ha successu a lu giuvini càdiri.; Eng. When the old man falls, don't laugh, the young have also fallen.

caduta n.f. Fall, fallen.: Cui cadi e si suzi nun si chiama caduta.; Eng. The reformed person is not belittled. lit. The one who falls and gets up is not called fallen.

cadutu v.t. past part. of càdiri. Felled.: Ad àrvulu cadutu ognunu curri e fa ligna.; Eng. Everyone runs to cut wood from the felled tree.

cafè n.m. Coffee.: Lu cafè santiannu e lu cicculatti ripusannu.; Eng. Drink coffee while it's hot enough to make you swear but let the chocolate cool.

caiccu n.m. Caique.: Cc'è sempri lu locu pi lu caiccu.; Eng. There's always a place for a caique.

càlia n.f. roasted chick peas.: Sosizza di Mazzarinu, càlia di Cartagiruni e pasta di Vizzini.; Eng. Sausage from Mazzarino, càlia from Caltagirone, and pasta from Vizzini.

calici n.m. Chalice.: Lu parrinu cummogghia lu calici e nui nn'avemu a cummigghiari l'unu cu l'àutru.; Eng. The priest covers the chalice and we must cover each other.

camina v.t. 3rd p.sing. Walks.: Cui camina licca, cui sedi sicca.; Eng. Who walks gains, who sits withers.; La donna e la gaddina si perdi si troppu camina.; Eng. The woman like the hen, gets lost if she walks too far.

caminu n.m. Road, travel, way.: Ogni migghiu di caminu havi un pezzu di malu caminu. Source: Pitrè, III, 93.; Eng. There's a rough patch along every mile of road.

càmmara n.f. Room, bedroom, chamber.: Putirisi cociri l'ova 'nta 'na càmmara. Source: Traina, 144.; Eng. It's so hot, you could cook an egg in the room.

campa v.i. 3rd p.sing. Lives.: Cui cchiù campa, cchiù 'mpinatisci.; Eng. The longer you live the more you suffer.

campani n.f. Bells.: Pri campaniari li campani nichi, primu hannu a campaniari li campani granni.; Eng. The big bells have to ring, in order for the little bells to ring.

campari v.i. To live, to be alive.: Si mancia pri campari, nun si campa pri manciari.; Eng. Eat to live, and not live to eat.; Si vô' campari assai, fatti 'na suppitedda ora e 'n'autra poi.; Eng. To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.; Si vôi campari l'anni di la cucca, sfarda stivali assai, linzola picca.; Eng. It's healthier to wear out many boots and few bed sheets.; Cchiù si campa cchiù si sapi (o -- 'mpara). Source: Pitrè, II, 125.; Eng. The longer you live the more you know (or -- learn).

càncari n.m. Cancers, troubles, hinges.: Lassatimi stari pri li càncari mei.; Eng. Let me deal with my troubles myself.; Ogni porta havi li so' càncari.; Eng. Every door has its own hinges.

canci v.t. 3rd p.sing. Changes, trades, barters, transforms, alters.: Cui canci, si leva li crozzi e tinci.; Eng. Whoever exchanges gets rid of the coarse and the bad.

cància v.t. 3rd p.sing. Changes, trades, barters, transforms, alters.: Nun si cància la facci pri dinari.; Eng. Don't compromise your beliefs for money.; Fimmina e ventu, cància ogni mumentu.; Eng. A woman and the wind change every moment.; Cui cància lardu pri lardu, l'unu o l'àutru è ràncitu.; Eng. Whoever exchanges some lard for some other lard, one or the other must be rancid.

càncianu v.t. 3rd p.pl. Change.: Fuj li cosi tinti, ama li boni, cà 'ntra un mumentu càncianu li sceni.; Eng. Avoid the bad, love the good, because things change in a moment.

cani n.m. Dog.: Nun tràsiri cani dintra, cà ti pòrtanu l'ossa fora.; Eng. Beware of false friends with wagging tongues. (lit. Don't bring dogs inside because they'll take your bones outside.); Cui va a caccia senza cani, veni a casa senza lebbru.; Eng. Who goes hunting without a dog, comes home without a rabbit.

canigghia n.f. Skin, peel, grain chaff.: Sparagnari la canigghia e sfragari la farina.; Eng. Penny wise and pound foolish. (Lit. Sparing the chaff and squandering the flour.)

canna n.f. Cane, stick.: L'omu spertu a la sò donna 'n ci hav'a ddari tanta canna.; Eng. A smart man doesn't need to beat his woman very much.

cannileri n.m. Candlestick.: A san Micheli, l'omu a lu cunseri e la fimmina a lu cannileri.; Eng. On St. Michael's the man attends to the harness and the woman to the candlestick.

cannola n.f. hair roller, tube.: Ammatula t'allisci (o - ti 'ntrizzi) e fa' cannola: Bedda cci vô' viniri di natura. Source: Pitrè, 1, 161.; Eng. It's useless to doll up (or - braid) and curl your hair: beauty is endowed by nature.

canta v.t. 3rd p.sing. Sings.: Cu' havi mugghieri bedda sempri canta, cu' havi dinari picca sempri cunta.; Eng. The man with a beautiful wife is always singing, the one with little money is always counting.; Tinta dda casa unni cci canta la gaddina.; Eng. Cursed is the home where the hen does the crowing.; S'è gadduzzu, canta canta, s'è puddastra si mùzzica l'anca.; Eng. If it's a cock it will crow and crow, if it's a chicken it will peck its hip.

canti v.t. 2nd p.sing. Sing.: Comu mi canti ti sonu.; Eng. I'll play the song that you sing to me.

cantunera n.f. Cornerstone.: Petra disprizzata, cantunera di muro.; Eng. The rejected stone will become the cornerstone of the wall.

canuscirai v.t. 2nd p.sing.fut. You will recognize, understand, realize.: Tannu l'amicu, lu canuscirai, quannu lu perdi e nun lu vidi cchiui.; Eng. You'll realize he was a friend when you lose him and see him no more.

canuzzu n.m.dim. Little dog, lap dog.: Cani grossu nun s'appetta cu canuzzu di fàuda.; Eng. A big dog is not to be compared with a lap dog.

capiddu n.m. Hair.: Tira cchiù un capiddu di fimmina chi 'na corda di bastimentu.; Eng. One hair from the head of a woman pulls more than a ship's hauser.

cappeddu n.m. Hat.: Né cappeddu fa galantomu né birritta fa viddanu.; Eng. The hat does not make the gentleman nor the cap a lout.; Tinta ddà casa chi nun havi cappeddu.; Eng. Sorry the home without a father.

carduna n.m. Cardoon, thistle, (like artichoke).: Avanti la costa manci carduna, ca a lu casteddu manci picciuna.; Eng. In the countryside eat cardoon, because at the castle you'll eat pigeon.

carduni n.m. Cardoon or perhaps artichoke.: Dicìa lu lavuraturi: nun c'è megliu di lu carduni. Rispusi lu zingareddu; tutti cosi su' munnizza; nun c'è paru di la sosizza.; Eng. The laborer said: there's nothing better than cardoons. The gypsy answered; that's garbage; nothing compares to sausage.; Vôi sdivacari tutta la cannata? Carduni amaru e favuzza caliata.; Eng. Do you want to experience real thirst? Then try eating bitter cardoons and roasted fava beans.; A tempu di carduni lu cuteddu servi a lu patruni.; Eng. Don't lend out something that you're going to soon need. lit. At cardoon time the owner needs his knife. trans. note: In California it is possible to get a second crop of artichokes if you cut the plant down one inch from the ground soon after the first harvest.

caritati n.f. Charity.: Unni nun c'è amuri, nun c'è caritati.; Eng. Where there is no love there is no charity.

carni n.f. Meat.: A pocu carni, pigghiati l'ossu.; Eng. When there's little meat, take the bone.

carnilivari n.m. Carnival, Mardi gras, Shrove Tuesday.: Pasqua e Natali cu cu' vôi Carnilivari cu li toi.; Eng. Spend Easter and Christmas with whomever you want, but celebrate Mardi gras with your own.

carnilivari n.m. All the days preceding Lent.: Lu Carnilivari mancia cu cu' voi, e La Pasqua cu li toi.; Eng. During Carneval eat with whomever you want, but celebrate Easter with your own.

carrettu n.m. Cart.: Cavaddu di carrettu pocu dura.; Eng. A cart horse doesn't last long.

carricari v.t. To carry.: Megghiu nasciri patedda 'ntra lu mari, ca sceccu a carricari.; Eng. Better to be born a limpet in the sea, than a load bearing donkey.

càrricu n.m. Load, burden.: A cui nun pisa lu càrricu, lu porta bonu. Source: Pitrè, III, 189.; Eng. Who carries a burden lightly, carries it well.

carrinu n.m. A carlin, a silver coin during the Bourbon reign worth two centesimi, two hundredths of a lira.: A frummentu ed a linu, nun ci sparagnari carrinu.; Eng. Don't spare expense on the wheat and the flax.

carru n.m. Wagon, cart.: Nun mèttiri lu carru davanti li voi.; Eng. Don't put the cart before the horse.

Cartagiruni a city in the province of Catania. Caltagirone.: A Cartagiruni cuscenzi pilusi e cruni di quinnici posti.; Eng. At Caltagirone a hairy conscience and a crown with fifteen places.

carteddi n.m. Baskets.: Cui fa carteddi, nni fa làidi e nni fa beddi.; Eng. The basket maker, makes some ugly and some beautiful.

carti n.f Cards.: Cui sapi tèniri li carti 'mmanu, pò parrari di lu jocu. Source: Pitrè, II, 128.; Eng. One who knows how to hold the cards in his hand, can talk about the playing.

caru adj. Dear, expensive.: Cui voli vìnniri caru, guadagna pocu dinaru.; Eng. If you want to sell at a high price you'll earn little.; Lu prezzu caru riforma la gula.; Eng. A high price moderates desire.

casa n.f. House.: L'omu fa la casa e no la dota.; Eng. The man makes the house and not the dowry.; Nun accattari casi vicinu a cunventi né lochi vicini a batii.; Eng. Don't buy houses near convents nor dwellings near abbeys.; Casa ch' 'un havi omu, 'un havi nnomu. Source: Pitrè, II, 141.; Eng. A house without a man is a house without a name.

cascari v.i. To fall.: Li tanti colpi fannu cascari l'antica cersa.; Eng. Many blows make the old oak tree fall.

Castedduvitranu a city in the province of Trapani. Castelvetrano.: Castedduvitranu, riccu di milinciani e vinu bonu.; Eng. Castedduvitranu, Castelvetrano, rich in eggplants and good wine.

castigari v.t. Castigate, chastise, chasten.: Quannu Diu voli castigari all'omu, cci leva lu lumi. Source: Pitrè, I, 347.; Eng. When God wants to chastise man, He takes away his good sense.

castratu v.t. past p. Castrated.: Carni di castratu, unni pigghi pigghi si' gabbatu.; Eng. The meat from the castrated, from wherever you take it you're foiled.

Catania capitol city of the province. Catania.: Catania, giammerghi di sita.; Eng. Go to Catania for beautiful silk jackets.

cattiva n.f. Widow.: Lu granu di la cattiva va alla chiazza e torna e riggira.; Eng. The widow's two cents go to the plaza and turn and come back. (She's not spending carelessly.)

catu n.m. Pail, bucket.: Fari comu lu catu di la senia.; Eng. Make like the pail on the pulley.; Si iunciu 'u catu câ corda.; Eng. Like two peas in a pod. lit. Joined like the (water) bucket and the rope.

càuci n.f.. Lime, mortar.: Càuci e rina, Dopu cent'anni diventa petra fina (Menfi). Source: Pitrè, II, 11.; Eng. Lime and sand, after a hundred years becomes fine rock.

càuciu n.m. Kick.: Càuci di jimenta nun fici mali a lu stadduni.; Eng. The mare's kick didn't hurt the stallion. (tr note: Stadduni can also refer to a beloved husband.)

càudu adj. Hot.: Batti lu ferru mentri è càudu.; Eng. Strike while the iron is hot.

càusa n.f. Litigation, reason, cause.: Cu' è càusa di lu so dannu chiancia sè stessu.; Eng. Who harms himself cries by himself.

cavaddu n.m. Horse.: A cavaddu datu nun circari sedda. o Cavaddu datu nun si guarda 'n mucca.; Eng. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.; Brigghia e bacchetta fannu bon cavaddu.; Eng. Reins and a whip make a good horse.; Cavaddu a la catina, jumenta a la frattina.; Eng. The horse chained to the feeding trough and the mare in the thicket.; Si vôi mali ad unu, dùnacci un cavaddu, e si lu vôi mali cchiùi, dunaccìnni dui.; Eng. If you wish someone evil, give him a horse, and if you wish him more evil, give him two horses.; Cu' nun havi cavaddu sempri lu curri.; Eng. Someone without something who thinks he would make better use of it than the present owner.; Cu' havi cavaddu va unni voli.; Eng. On horseback you can go wherever you want.

cavaleri n.m. Cavalier, gentleman.: Nun aviri chi fari cu cavaleri cadutu 'n puvirtà.; Eng. Don't have anything to do with the cavalier who has fallen into poverty.

cavigghia n.f. Quibble, split hairs, argue: Cu' havi figghi, havi cavigghi. Source: Pitrè, II, 142.; Eng. Who has children, has quibbling.; Unu fa cavigghi e n'autru fa pirtusa. Source: Traina, 182.; Eng. One splits hairs and the other finds the holes.

cavuli n.m. bot. Cabbages.: Cavuli di jinnaru, jèttali a lu munnizzaru.; Eng. Throw January cabbages in the garbage.

Celu n.m. Sky, paradise, heaven.: Contra lu Celu nun vali difisa.; Eng. There's no defense against the wrath of God.; Nuddu pò jiri contra lu Celu.; Eng. You can't fight City Hall.

centu n.m. One hundred.: Cu' fa centu e nun fa l'unu, perdi lu centu pri causa di l'unu.; Eng. Finish what you start. lit. Who makes the hundred and not the one, loses the hundred because of that one.

cera n.f. Look, appearance.: Beni e mali, 'n cera pari.; Eng. Your looks betray your thoughts.; Fammi 'na bona cera e pagatilla. Source: Pitrè, III, 321.; Eng. A good demeanor is to your advantage.

cerca v.t. Seek.: Cerca lu beni e aspetta lu mali.; Eng. Seek goodness and expect evil.; Cui cerca chiddu chi nun divi, trova chiddu chi nun voli.; Eng. Who seeks that which he must not, finds that which he wants not.

cerniri v.t. To sift, to sieve.: Cu ddu ventu chi mina cernu e spagghia.; Eng. With the wind that blows, sift and winnow.

cersa n.f. Oak tree, oak.: L'antica cersa cu tanti colpi veni a càdiri.; Eng. The old oak falls after many blows.

cèusi n.m. Mulberry tree.: Olivari di tò nannu, cèusi di tò patri, vigna tò.; Eng. The olive grove of your grandfather, the mulberry trees of your father, and your grape vines.

checcu n.m. bot. Stutterer, stammerer.: Cu cchecchi nun cantari, e cu zoppi nun ballari.; Eng. Don't sing with a stutterers or dance with the lame.

chiaga n.f.. Sore, plague, nuisance.: La chiaga d'autru ti sia midicina. Source: Pitrè, II, 128.; Eng. Another's problem could lead you to your solution. Lit. Someone else's sore could be your medicine.

chiama v.t. 3rd p.sing. Calls.: Ama a cui t'ama, rispunni a cui ti chiama.; Eng. Love the one who loves you, answer the one who calls you.

chianci v.t. 3rd p.sing. Mourn for, cry.: La cattiva chianci lu mortu e pensa a lu vivu.; Eng. Grief for a husband is like a pain in the elbow, sharp and short.

chiànciri v.i. v.t. To cry.: Occhi ch'aviti fattu chiànciri, chianciti; nun è maravigghia siddu lacrimati.; Eng. Eyes that you have made cry, cry; so it's no wonder if they tear.

chiàntani v.t. Plant.: Cirasi e pruna, chiàntani una.; Eng. You need plant only one cherry and one plum tree.

chianu n.m. Plain.: Quannu amuri è capitanu, la muntagna pari chianu.; Eng. When there's love, mountains seem like plains. or, Love levels all ranks.

chicari v.t. Bend, fold.: Megghiu chicari chi rumpiri. Source: Pitrè, III, 185.; Eng. It's better to bend than to break.

chiddu pro. That.: Chiddu chi poi fari cu li to' manu, nun lu fari fari ad àutru. Source: Pitrè, III, 193.; Eng. Don't ask another to do that which you can do with your own hands.

chiesa n.f. Church.: Jiri 'n chiesa è cosa morta quannu 'n casa nun si porta.; Eng. What good is faith if you don't live by it.

chiò n.m. Owl.: Quannu canta lu chiò, cu' havi patruni tintu, canciari si lu pò.; Eng. If you have a rotten boss, look for a new one when the screech owl sings.

chiovi v.i. 3rd p.sing. Rains.: Quannu chiovi di matina, pigghia l'aratu e va simìna; quannu chiovi di vèspiru a notti, va mèttiti li botti.; Eng. When it rains in the morning, take the plow and start sowing; when it rains between Vespers and nightfall, put on your boots.

chiòviri v.i. To rain.: Si si metti a tramuntana, appizza a chiòviri pri 'na simana.; Eng. If the North Wind takes to blowing, it will rain for a week.

chiovu n.m. Nail.: L'amuri è comu 'n chiovu: siddu lu levi lassa lu pirtusu.; Eng. Love is like a nail: it leaves a hole if it's removed.

chiuppu n.m. Poplar, populus dilatata, L.: Prima Diu e poi l'acqua di lu chiuppu, 'N Palermu cci arrivanu chini a tappu.; Eng. First God and then the water of the Poplar, In Palermo they arrive filled to the cork. Trans. note: A proverb of the teamsters who carted wine from Partinico to Palermo and stopped under the Poplars to eat and drink, adding water to the barrels to replace the wine they had consumed.

ciacca n.f. Crack, split, cleft, crevice.: Nun cc'è sciloccu senz'acqua, nun cc'è fimmina senza ciacca.; Eng. There's no sirocco without rain, and no woman without pain. Lit. There's no sirocco without water, no woman without a crack.

ciacca v.t. 3rd p.sing. Cracks.: Tantu va la quartara all'acqua, fina chi si rumpi o si ciacca.; Eng. No matter how often a pitcher goes to the water, it is broken in the end.

ciaccari v.t. To plow, to split, to crack, to cleave.: 'Ntra sittèmmiru nun ciaccari e 'ntr'ottùviru 'un siminari.; Eng. Don't plow during September and don't seed during October.

ciancu n.m. Hip.: Vinu biancu 'nforza lu ciancu.; Eng. White wine strengthens the hip.

Ciaramunti place name Chiaramonte.: Ciaramunti, munti d'oru, ogni fimmina vali 'n trisoru.; Eng. Chiaramonte, a mountain of gold, every woman is a treasure.

ciaraveddu n.m. Kid goat.: Ciurìu lu prâineddu: 'un patisci cchiù lu ciaraveddu.; Eng. The wild pear has blossomed: the kid goat no longer suffers.

cibbu n.m. Food, nourishment.: Caciu, pira e pani non è cibbu di viddani.; Eng. Cheese, pears and bread, is not the food of peasants.

Ciccu informal of given name Franciscu Chick, Frank, Francis.: Dici sempri la viti a lu zu Ciccu: Fammi pòvira ca iu ti fazzu riccu.; Eng. The vine always says to his uncle Chick: Make me poor and I'll make you rich. (Severe vine pruning yields a better harvest.)

Cifalutani n.m.f. A native of Cefalu, a Cefaluan.: Nobili e ricchi su' li Missinisi, capi di regnu li Palermitani, cori cuntenti su' li Catanisi, ricchi di pisci li Cifalutani.; Eng. Nobel and rich are the Messinans, heads of the kingdom are the Palermitani, the Catanians have a contented heart, and in Cefalu they are rich with fish.

cìnniri n.f. Ashes.: Sutta la cìnniri cci stà lu focu. Source: Pitrè, II, 136.; Eng. You can't judge a book by its cover. Lit. Under the ashes there is fire.

cinquant'anni adj. Fifty years.: L'omu a cinquant'anni o è papa o varvajanni.; Eng. At age fifty a man is either the Pope or a fool.

ciocca n.f. Hen.: A ch'è riduttu lu gaddu di Sciacca, a èssiri pizzuliatu di la ciocca!; Eng. What has the rooster of Sciacca been reduced to, to be pecked by the hen!

cira n.f. Wax.: Prestu, prestu, ca la cira squagghia.; Eng. Quickly, quickly, before the wax melts.

circari v.t. To look for, to search, to seek.: Nun circari zoccu nun pôi truvari.; Eng. Don't look for what you can't find.

ciriveddu n.m. Brain, talent, good sense, etc.: Letu e filici pò chiamarisi chiddu ch'havi cu li ricchizzi ciriveddu.; Eng. When you have brains to go along with your wealth you can call yourself happy and content.

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