SICILIAN PROVERBStranslated into English by Arthur V. Dieli
- filici adj. Happy.
- Filici cui ben nasci, ma cchiù filici cui ben mori.
- Eng. Happy are those who are well born, but happier are those who have a happy death.
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- fimmina n.f. Woman.
- Casa senza fimmina 'mpuvirisci.
- Eng. A house without a woman impoverishes.
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- fimmini n.f.pl. Women.
- Scecchi e fimmini, vastunati, cà aggrìzzanu.
- Eng. Donkeys and women, beat them with a stick, to keep them at task.
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- fìnciri v.t. To pretend
- Nuddu bonu si pò fìnciri malatu e nuddu malatu si pò fìnciri bonu.
- Eng. The healthy can't pretend to be sick nor can the sick pretend to be healthy.
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- finestra n.f. Window.
- Megghiu un colpu di balestra ca un colpu di finestra.
- Eng. Better to be shot with a crossbow than rejected by a window slammed shut.
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- O ti manci sta minestra o ti jetti di la finestra.
- Eng. Agree, or suffer the consequences.
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- finisci v.t. 2nd p.sing. Finish.
- Zoccu si cumincia, si finisci.
- Eng. Finish what you start.
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- firmizza n.f. Stable, secure, fixed.
- Sutta lu celu e la luna nun c'è firmizza alcuna.
- Eng. There's nothing fixed under the sun. (lit. under the sky and the moon)
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- firrìa adv. Around.
- Firrìa, firrìa, lu parpagliuni mori a la cannila.
- Eng. Around and around, the moth dies in the candle flame.
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- Malu signu quannu lu malatu firría lu lettu.
- Eng. It's a bad sign when the sick person tosses and turns in bed.
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- focu n.m. Fire, flame.
- Livarisi di lu focu e cadiri 'nta la braci.
- Eng. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. (Lit. Get out of the fire and fall into the hot coals.)
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- Bon focu libbira cocu.
- Eng. A good fire gives the cook latitude.
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- Lu focu forti facili s'astuta.
- Eng. A strong fire is easily put out.
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- Acqua e focu, dacci locu.
- Eng. Both water and fire need to be treated with respect.
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- Acqua e focu, 'un ci pigghiari 'mprisi.
- Eng. Don't try to make out with water and fire.
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- Ogni picculu amuri prisu a jocu di 'na faidda addiventa gran focu.
- Eng. Every little love captured as a playful spark becomes a great flame.
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- Mi scacci, mi sagni; mi scafazzi, m'attigghi; cu lu focu, nun ci jocu.
- Eng. You may crush, bleed, stamp on and scratch me, but I won't play with fire.
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- Cui nun voli focu, livassi li ligna.
- Eng. Who doesn't want a fire, should remove the wood.
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- fora adv. Out, outside of, off.
- Santu Nicola, vacchi dintra e porci fora.
- Eng. On St. Nicholas day bring the cows in and let the pigs out.
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- Quannu canta lu gaddu fora l'ura, a canciari lu tempu 'un addimura.
- Eng. When the rooster crows off the hour, don't hesitate to adjust the time.
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- forti adj. Strong.
- Omini forti, dammagghiu di casa.
- Eng. Strong men, harmful at home.
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- forzi n.f. Strength, fortitude.
- Jiri 'n celu ognunu vò; l'armu cc'è, li forzi no.
- Eng. Everyone wants to go to heaven; the desire is there but the fortitude is not.
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- frasca n.f. Branch.
- Cui s'arripara sutta la frasca, si cogghi chidda chi chiovi, e chidda chi casca.
- Eng. Who takes cover under the branch, collects what rains and collects what falls.
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- frevi n.f. Fever.
- A cu' havi la frevi, lu meli cci sapi amaru.
- Eng. The one who has a fever thinks that honey is bitter.
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- Frevi autunnali o longa o murtali.
- Eng. A fever in autumn is either long lasting or mortal.
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- Frevi cuntinua abbatti lu liuni.
- Eng. A fever that hangs on downs the lion.
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- Frevi quartana li vecchi ammazza e li giuvini sana.
- Eng. An intermittent fever kills the old and cures the young.
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- friscu n.m. Cold.
- Pri san Franciscu, 4 ottobre, nesci lu càudu e trasi lu friscu.
- Eng. The cold weather starts with the feast of St. Francis on October 4.
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- frumintaria n.f. Wheat farming.
- Annata nivaria, annata frumintaria.
- Eng. A snowy year, means a good year for grain.
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- frummentu n.m. Wheat.
- Cui simìna pri Santa Lucia, nun porta frummentu pri la via.
- Eng. Who sows as late as St. Lucy's day won't be carrying wheat to the market.
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- fruttuusu adj. Fruitful.
- Aprili chiuvusu, maju vinturusu: annu fruttuusu.
- Eng. When April is rainy, and May is windy, the year will be fruitful.
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- fuj v.i. Flee, avoid.
- Medici fuj e sempri ti 'nn'arrassa.
- Eng. Avoid doctors and always keep them far away.
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- fumu n.m. Smoke.
- Ogni lignu havi lu sò fumu.
- Eng. Every wood has its own smoke.
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- Unni cc'è focu, pri lu fumu pari.
- Eng. Where there's smoke, there's fire.
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- funnu n.m. Depth, bottom.
- Ogghiu di 'n summa, vinu di 'mmenzu e meli di 'n funnu.
- Eng. The choice oil is from the surface, the best wine is from the middle, and the best honey is from the bottom.
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- Cui zappa tirrenu funnu, trova sustanza e beni 'ntra lu munnu.
- Eng. By cultivating bottom land, you gain sustenance and goods.
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- furca n.f. Gallows, scaffold.
- Fabbricarisi la furca cu li sò stissi manu.
- Eng. He's digging his own grave.
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- La furca nun è fatta pri lu riccu, ma pri la testa è fatta di viddanu.
- Eng. The gallows is not made for the rich, but for the head of the peasant.
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- furmaggiu n.m. Cheese.
- Pani e furmaggiu, nè prudu nè dammaggiu.
- Eng. Bread and cheese, neither beneficial nor bad.
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- furtuna n.f. Luck.
- Furtuna amica d'asini e di pazzi; di virtuusi nnimica murtali.
- Eng. Luck is the friend of jackasses and the crazy; it's a mortal enemy of the virtuous.
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- L'omu senza furtuna va sempri a la piduna.
- Eng. A man without luck always goes on foot.
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- fussuni n.m. Tomb, grave.
- Lu scagghiuni porta a lu fussuni.
- Eng. Your canine teeth can take you to the grave.
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- gabba n.f. Fool, cheat.
- 'Na vota si gabba la vecchia; appressu vota vi chiuj la porta.
- Eng. You cheat an old woman once; the next time she shuts the door on you.
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- gabbo n.m. Fool, ridicule, joke.
- Gabbo 'un ti fari e maraviglia no, cà lu gabbu arriva e la gastima no.
- Eng. Don't be foolish and awe struck, because foolishness hits home and then cursing doesn't.
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- gabbu n.m. Fool, ridicule, joke.
- Nun ti fari gabbu, no! cà lu gabbu arriva e la gastima no.
- Eng. Don't be foolish! because foolishness hits the mark and cursing doesn't.
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- gaddina n.f. Hen, chicken.
- Unn'è la gaddina, cùrrinu lu puddicina.
- Eng. Where the hen goes, the chicks follow.
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- A la Cannilora ogni gaddina veni ad ova.
- Eng. On the feast of St. Candelora every hen lays eggs.
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- garzu n.m. disappr. Lover, boyfriend.
- Megghiu maritu puvireddu chi garzu baruni.
- Eng. Better a poor husband than a lover who's a baron.
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- garzuneddu n.m. Stable boy.
- Pri 'na vacca ed un viteddu cci voli un omu e un garzuneddu.
- Eng. For a cow and a calf you need a man and a stable boy.
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- gastimi n.f. Curses.
- Li gastimi su' di canigghia, cu' li jetta, si li pigghia.
- Eng. Cursing is like spitting into the wind. (Lit. Curses are grain chaff, who throws them, gets them back.
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- gatta n.f. Cat.
- Figghia di gatta, si nun mùzzica, gratta.
- Eng. Daughter of a cat, if she doesn't bite she scratches.
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- Quannu la gatta si lava la facci, signu ch'havi a chioviri.
- Eng. When the cat washes its face, you know it's going to rain.
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- gilusia n.f. Jealousy
- Amuri e gilusia su' sempri 'n cumpagnia.
- Eng. Love and jealousy always keep company.
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- La gilusia avvilena lu cori, spanni lu feli 'ntra lu duci amuri. Oppure: La gilusia è càmula di l'amuri.
- Eng. Jealousy poisons the heart, spreads bitterness among sweet love. Or: Jealousy is the woodworm of love.
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- S'un ci fussi la gilusia, l'amuri nun campirìa.
- Eng. Without jealousy, love would wither.
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- gintilizza n.f. Gentleness, kindness.
- Onestati e gintilizza avanzanu ogni biddizza.
- Eng. Honesty and kindness enhance every beauty.
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- giudicari v.i. To judge.
- Di l'arti nun giudicari, si tu nun la sa' fari.
- Eng. Don't pass judgement on a work of art if you don't know how to create it.
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- Giudicari e 'nniminari, Diu sulu lu pò fari.
- Eng. Only God can judge and foretell.
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- giudiziu n.m. Judgement, good sense.
- Cui curriri pritenni 'ntra pinninu, è di giudiziu scavigghiatu e 'nsanu.
- Eng. Who insists on running up a slope, is confused and crazy.
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- Pri li fimmini e lu vinu l'omu perdi lu giudiziu.
- Eng. Man loses his good judgement over women and wine.
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- giustizia n.f. Justice.
- Diu 'nni scansa di mala chiamata e di giustizia mala 'nfurmata!
- Eng. God save us from a mistaken summons and poorly informed justice!
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- Giustizia e focu, dàticci locu!
- Eng. Justice and fire, give them a wide berth!
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- Giustizia e sanitati, amaru cui nni cerca!
- Eng. Justice and health, woe to the one who seeks them!
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- giustu adj. Just, fair.
- Caru vinni e giustu misura.
- Eng. Sell high and give a fair measure.
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- giuva v.t. 3rd p. sing. To help, to do good works.
- Pocu sa cui nun giuva a se stissu.
- Eng. He knows little who doesn't help himself.
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- giuvamentu n.m. Benefit.
- Ogni 'mpidimentu è giuvamentu.
- Eng. Every impediment is a benefit.
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- giuvintù n.f. Youth.
- Amuri è lu scogghiu di la giuvintù e la sicca di la vicchiaia.
- Eng. Love is the rock of youth and the shoal of old age.
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- godi v.t. 3rd p. sing Enjoys.
- Lu sceccu zoppu si godi la via.
- Eng. The lame jackass enjoys the journey.
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- gradigghia n.f. Grill.
- Cci dissi a la padedda la gradigghia: iu pisci grossi vogghiu, no fragagghia.
- Eng. The grill said to the frying pan: I want big fishes not minnows.
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- gramigna n.f. Weed.
- Affunna beni la zappa a la vigna e scippa la mal'erva e la gramigna.
- Eng. Dig the hoe in well in the vineyard and pull out the bad growth and the weed.
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- gran adj. Big, very.
- Sant'Antoni, 17 jinnaru, la gran friddura, san Lorenzu, 8 agustu, la gran calura; l'unu e l'àutru pocu dura.
- Eng. On the feast of St. Anthony it's very cold, on the feast of St. Lawrence it's very hot; each one is of short duration.
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- grana n.f. Grain.
- Busi di sciloccu e grana di tramuntana.
- Eng. Empty stalks from the Sirocco and full spikes of wheat with the North Wind.
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- granfi n.f. Claw, power, clutches.
- Megghiu muriri 'ntra li granfi di lu liuni chi sutta la cuda di l'asinu.
- Eng. Better to die in the clutches of the lion than under the tail of a jackass.
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- granita n.f. Flavored ices, granita.
- La granita custa un carrinu; acqua pri acqua, è megghiu lu vinu.
- Eng. A granita doesn't cost much; still it's just water, wine is better.
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- granni n.f. Big, open.
- Cu' havi la facci granni si marita.
- Eng. A self confident woman will soon be married.
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- grànnuli n.f. Hail.
- La scuzzària nun timi grànnuli.
- Eng. The turtle is not afraid of hail stones.
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- grapi v.t. 3rd p. sing. Opens.
- Diu chiudi 'na porta e grapi un purticatu.
- Eng. God closes a door and opens a portico.
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- grasciura n.f. Fertilizer.
- Dici la sagra scrittura: unni cc'è erva, 'un ci voli grasciura.
- Eng. It is written in sacred scripture: where grass is growing you don't need fertilizer.
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- grassura n.f. Fertilizer.
- Metti grassura cà canciu natura.
- Eng. Use fertilizer to change the course of nature.
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- gravusu adj. Grave, heavy.
- Ad àsinu vecchiu càrrica gravusu.
- Eng. Put a heavy load on an old donkey.
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- graziusa n.f. Gracious.
- Megghiu 'na donna niura e graziusa, ca una bianca dissapita.
- Eng. Better a woman who is dark-skinned and gracious, than one who is light-skinned and insipid.
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- grecu n.m. Greek.
- Si vidi un grecu e un lupu, lassa lu lupu e tira a lu grecu.
- Eng. If you see a Greek and a wolf, ignore the wolf and shoot the Greek.
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- gridaci adj. Shouting.
- Mugghieri superba e maritu gridaci mai starannu 'n paci.
- Eng. An overbearing wife and a shouting husband will never be in peace.
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- groi n.m. crane
- Quannu passa lu groi, punci lu voi.
- Eng. When the crane flies by, prod the oxen on. (Because bad weather is on its way.)
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- grossa n.f. Thin, skinny.
- Vacca grossa fa viteddu magru.
- Eng. A fat cow makes a skinny calf.
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- grunnusu adj. Sulky, grumpy.
- Cani grunnusu e cavaddu allegru.
- Eng. You want a grumpy dog and a lively horse.
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- gruppa n.f. Rump, back.
- Cui porta 'n gruppa, è cacciatu di sedda.
- Eng. Being too obliging is not wise. (Lit. Who carries on his back is thrown from the saddle.)
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- gruppu n.m. Knot.
- Cui nun fa lu gruppu a la gugliata, perdi lu' puntu cchiù di 'na vota.
- Eng. Who doesn't make a knot at the end of the thread, loses the stitch more than once.
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- guadagna v.t. 3rd p. sing. Earns.
- Cui si sagna, guadagna.
- Eng. Who bleeds, earns.
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- guadagnatu v.t. past p. Gained.
- Lu malu guadagnatu prestu è cunsumatu.
- Eng. Wrongful gains are quickly consumed.
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- guadagnu n.m. Gain.
- Ognunu pensa a lu propriu guadagnu e si joca accussì a gabba cumpagnu.
- Eng. Everyone thinks of his own gain, and plays in this way to deceive his fellows.
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- Guadagnu luntanu arresta pri la via.
- Eng. Earnings far away get spent along the way.
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- Pocu servi lu guadagnu, s' 'un si sapi mantiniri.
- Eng. Earnings are of little use if one doesn't know how to save.
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- guagghiardu adj. Vigorous, robust, diligence.
- Guadagna fa guagghiardu.
- Eng. Earnings make for diligence.
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- guai n.m. Misfortune, trouble.
- Ognunu havi li so' guai, cui cchiù picca, cui cchiù assai.
- Eng. Everyone has his own troubles, some fewer, some more.
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- Cui lassa la via vecchia pri la nova, li guai ch'un va circannu, ddà li trova.
- Eng. Who leaves the old way for the new, the trouble not looked for, will be found there.
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- Cu' cchiù havi, havi cchiù guai.
- Eng. The richer you are, the more troubles you have.
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- guarda v.t. Regard, save, protect.
- Di l'amicu fintu mi guarda Diu, cà di lu nnimicu, mi nni guardu iu.
- Eng. God save me from false friends, that I may protect myself from my enemies.
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- Diu ti guardi d'omu chi guarda 'n terra e di fimmina chi guarda 'n celu.
- Eng. God protect you from the man who looks down at the ground and the woman who looks up to heaven.
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- La morti nun guarda né pìcciuli né granni né pòviri né ricchi.
- Eng. Death respects neither young nor old, neither poor nor rich.
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- guardari v.t. To lok at, to regard, to watch.
- Fa' zoccu hai di fari e li fatti d'àutru nun guardari.
- Eng. Do what you have to do and don't watch what others do.
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- Guarda cu' sugnu e nun guardari cu' era.
- Eng. Look at who I am and not who I was.
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- guardau v.t. past p. Guarded, looked after.
- Cui bonu si guardau, bonu si truvau.
- Eng. To have security, plan ahead.
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- guasta v.t. 3rd p. sing Wastes, spoils, ruins, hurts.
- Lu troppu guasta e lu pocu nn'abbasta.
- Eng. Too much spoils and too little is not enough.
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- Pedi di ciocca nun guasta puddicinu.
- Eng. Hens feet don't hurt the chick.
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- guerra n.f. War.
- A tempu di guerra ogni cavaddu ha soldu.
- Eng. In time of need everyone is valuable.
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- Cu' chiù voti a la guerra va, la peddi ci lassa.
- Eng. If not this time, then the next time. (lit. One who goes often to war will leave skin there.)
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- Cu' havi terra, havi guerra.
- Eng. Owning land is like fighting a war.
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- Jiri a la guerra nè maritari, a nuddu lu cunsigghiari.
- Eng. I don't advise going to war or marrying.
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- La guerra pari bedda a cu' nun l'ha pruvata.
- Eng. War seems attractive only to the inexperienced.
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- guidata v.t. past p. Managed, regulated, guided.
- Nudda cosa pò aviri fini furtunata si di lu Celu 'un è guidata.
- Eng. Nothing can end favorably without heavenly guidance.
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- gula n.f. Throat, gluttony.
- Gula di mònacu e pitittu di parrinu.
- Eng. The gluttony of the monk and the appetite of the priest.
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- gustu n.m. Taste, pleasure.
- Di guerra, caccia e amuri, pri un gustu milli duluri.
- Eng. In war, hunting, and love you suffer a thousand pains for one pleasure.
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- gustusu adj. Tasty.
- Si vuliti vìviri gustusu, ovu di tunnu e carduni spinusu.
- Eng. For a taste treat, try tuna roe and thorny cardoons (artichokes).
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- ha v.t. 3rd p. sing. To have, has.
- Cu' ha, è.
- Eng. When you have, you are.
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- imbriacari v.t. To be or get drunk.
- Cui s'havi a 'mbriacari, di vinu bonu l'havi a fari.
- Eng. If you have to get drunk, you must do it with good wine.
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- imbriacu adj. Inebriated, drunk.
- Lu 'mbriacu dici sempri la viritati.
- Eng. The drunk always tells the truth.
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- impovirisci v.i. To become poor.
- Lu galantomu ca 'mpuvirisci, addiventa birbanti. E viceversa: Lu birbanti, quannu arricchisci, addiventa galantomu. Lu birbanti arriccutu, un galantomu; l'onestu 'mpuvirisci, malu nomu.
- Eng. The gentleman who gets poor, becomes a rascal, and the rascal who gets rich becomes a gentleman. The rascal enriched, a gentleman; the impoverished honest man, gets a bad name.
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- imprescia adv. Quickly, suddenly.
- Megghiu scumunicatu a tortu chi cumunicatu a la 'mprescia.
- Eng. Better alive, though wrongfully excommunicated than dead and suddenly receiving last rites.
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- incignusu adj. Ingenious.
- La puvirtà fa l'omu 'ncignusu;
- Eng. Necessity is the mother of invention. (lit. Poverty makes a man ingenious.)
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- inciùria n.f. Insult, injury, offense.
- Summa giustizia, summa 'nciùria
- Eng. Summary justice is a summary offense.
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- infernu n.m. Hell.
- Si vôi pruvari li peni di lu 'nfernu, lu 'nvernu a Missina e la stati 'n Palermu.
- Eng. If you want to experience the pains of hell, spend winter in Messina and summer in Palermo.
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- infirmitati n.f. Sickness.
- La 'nfirmitati è visita di Diu.
- Eng. Sickness is a visit by God.
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- L'essiri grassu è menza 'nfirmitati.
- Eng. Being overweight is being halfway sick.
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- ingannu n.m. Deception, fraud, guile.
- Raru guadagnu c'è senza lu 'ngannu.
- Eng. There is rarely gain without deception.
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- Senza 'ngannu mèttiti a li patti.
- Eng. Make agreements without guile.
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- insigna v.t. 3rd p. sing. Teaches.
- Cu' ad autru insigna, acquista cchiú sapiri.
- Eng. You learn by teaching.
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- Megghiu si 'nsigna cu lu fari chi cu lu diri.
- Eng. Experience is the best teacher.
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- L'accattari 'nsigna a vinniri e lu guadagnari a spènniri.
- Eng. Buying teaches you to sell and earning teaches you to spend.
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- insìgnanu v.t. 3rd p. plur. Teach themselves, learn.
- Li medici si 'nsìgnanu supra li malati.
- Eng. Doctors learn on their patients.
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- inùtili adj. Futile, useless.
- Cu' accatta cosi 'nùtili, prestu vinni 'u bisugnèvuli.
- Eng. Whoever buys useless things will soon be selling his necessities.
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- invernu n.m. Winter.
- A la Cannilora, 2 Feb, lu 'nvernu è fora.
- Eng. By the feast of Saint Candelora winter is over.
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- invicchiutu v.i. past p. Aged, old, to have put on years, to have lasted a long time.
- Quannu lu mali è 'nvicchiutu, mancu Ippocrati cci pò dari aiutu.
- Eng. When the sickness is old not even Hippocrates can help.
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- invirnata n.f. Winter time.
- A la santa Cannilora, s'un ci nìvica né chiova, la 'nvirnata è nisciuta fora.
- Eng. By the festival of Candlemas, if it's not snowing or raining, winter is over.
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- irata adj. Irate, angry.
- A facci irata teni la vucca sirrata.
- Eng. Before an angry face keep your mouth shut.
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- isca n.f. Enticement, food, bait.
- Nun mèttiri l'isca vicinu lu focu.
- Eng. Don't put the bait near the fire.
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- Ammàtula si pisca si all'amu nun c'è isca.
- Eng. It's pointless to fish if there's no bait on the hook.
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- jamu v.i. 1st p. plur. We go.
- Jamu avanti pri jiri 'nnarreri.
- Eng. One step forward and two back. (lit. We go forward in order to go backwards.)
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- jancu adj. White.
- Li parrini di niuru ti la jèttanu, di jancu ti carrìanu.
- Eng. Priests dressed in black bring bad tidings, in white they take you to the cemetery.
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- jardini n.m. Gardens.
- Si Missina avissi jardini, Palermu fôra casalini.
- Eng. If Messina had gardens Palermo would be a bunch of poor country houses.
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- Jinnaru n.m. January.
- Jinnaru siccu, massaru riccu quannu dicembri metti lu lippu. Jinnaru vagnatu, burgisi consumatu.
- Eng. When January is dry, the farm manager is enriched, luxuriating in December. When January is wet, the tenant farmer is ruined.
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- jiri v.i. To go.
- 'Ntra festa e Ferragustu nun ci jiri si si' 'n disgustu.
- Eng. Don't join in the celebration or holiday if you feel disgruntled.
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- jocu n.m. Play.
- Lu beddu di lu jocu è fari fatti e parrari pocu.
- Eng. The beauty of the play is to do deeds and speak little.
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- jornu n.m. Day, daybreak, daylight.
- Jornu curtu, pisci longu; jornu longu, pisci curtu.
- Eng. During the winter eat long fishes, during the summer eat short fishes.
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- Cogghi 'ntra jornu lu meli e la cira e balla e joca 'ntra l'aria la sira.
- Eng. Harvest honey and wax in daylight, dance and play in the evening.
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- Unni càntanu tanti gaddi, nun fa jornu.
- Eng. Daybreak depends not on the crowing of roosters.
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- Pri l'annu novu crisci lu jornu quant' un passu d'omu.
- Eng. After new year daylight increases as much as a man's stride.
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- Nun veni jornu chi nun veni sira.
- Eng. Day doesn't come without night following.
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- jumenta n.f. Mare.
- Voi di vacca jenca, e cavaddu di vecchia jumenta.
- Eng. Get your ox from a young cow and your horse from an old mare.
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- juncareddi n.m. Rush, basketweaver.
- Cui si metti cu juncareddi, 'un arricogghi bruciareddi.
- Eng. If you're with the basket weavers you're not at the harvest.
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- juramenti n.m. Oath, promise.
- Juramenti d'amuri e fumu di ciminia, l'acqua li lava e lu ventu si li arrìa.
- Eng. The promises of love and the smoke of a chimney, washed away by water and blown away by wind.
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- jurnata n.f. Day.
- Lu voi ca si mancia la pagghiata, lavura tutta la jurnata.
- Eng. The ox that eats the hay, works the entire day.
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- Lanuzza n.f. pej. Know-it-all.
- Né 'ntra la casa né 'mmenzu la chiazza, nun stati a fari lu Patri Lanuzza.
- Eng. Don't pontificate, neither at home nor abroad.
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- lapi n.f. Bees.
- Crapi e lapi, lassa fari a cui nni sapi.
- Eng. Stay within your level of competence.
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- lassari v.t. Leave, abandon.
- Nun lassari lu picca pri l'assai, chi forsi l'unu e l'àutru pirdirai.
- Eng. Don't leave the small for the big, you might very well lose the one as well as the other.
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- latru n.m. Thief.
- Latru chi nun pò cchiù, è tuttu di Gesù.
- Eng. The thief who can't anymore, has now found Jesus.
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- Ogni latru veni pri arrubbari.
- Eng. Every thief comes in order to steal.
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- làvasi v.t. Wash.
- Cui voli prestu muriri, làvasi la testa e vaja a durmiri.
- Eng. If you want to die quickly, go to bed with wet hair.
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- lavuri n.m. Crops.
- Tri cosi boni voli lu lavuri: tempu, simenza e lu zappuliaturi.
- Eng. Crops need three good things: good seeds, good time, and good hoeing.
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- lettu n.m. Bed.
- Lu lettu fa lu medicu.
- Eng. The sick bed makes the doctor.
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- Gamma a lettu e vrazzu a pettu.
- Eng. Bed rest cures a hurt leg and a sling heals a hurting arm.
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- Giugnettu, lu frummentu sutta lu lettu.
- Eng. In July, store the grain under the bed.
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- letu adj. Glad, happy.
- Né tu letu né iu cunsulatu.
- Eng. Neither you happy nor I consoled.
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- leva v.t. 3rd p. sing. Remove.
- Cu' havi 'na bona chiusa, ortu e vigna, si leva li crusti cu tutta la tigna.
- Eng. With a good farm, garden and vineyard, all your problems will be cured.
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- lialtà n.f. Loyalty.
- Unni cc'è la puvirtà, è suspetta la lialtà.
- Eng. When there is poverty, loyalty is suspect.
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- libbirtà n.f. Liberty, freedom.
- Cui di la propria libbirtà si spogghia, sempri si trova cu affannu e cu dogghia.
- Eng. Who rids himself of his own freedom, always finds himself with worry and pain.
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- Giuvintù 'n libbirtà, vicchiaia 'n puvirtà.
- Eng. Youth spent freely, old age spent in poverty.
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- libbirtati n.f. Liberty, freedom.
- Libbirtati e saluti cui ha, è riccu e nun lu sa.
- Eng. Freedom and health, who has them is rich and doesn't know it.
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- licca adj. Delicious.
- Cosa licca sà di picca.
- Eng. Delicious things satiate little.
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- liga n.f. Bud.
- Ciuri di maju e liga di giugnu.
- Eng. Flowers in May and budding in June.
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- liggi n.f. Law.
- Si nun si' Re nun fari liggi novi; lassa lu munnu comu lu trovi.
- Eng. If you're not King don't make new laws; leave the world the way you found it.
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- lignu n.m. Wood.
- Tuccannu lignu, è vinu binignu.
- Eng. Wooden casks make good wine.
-
- Lignu vecchiu megghiu adduma ma cchiù prestu si cunsuma.
- Eng. Old wood lights better but burns out quicker.
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- lingua n.f. Language, tongue.
- Lu specchiu di lu stòmacu è la lingua.
- Eng. Your language displays your true identity. (lit. The tongue is the mirror of the stomach.)
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- lippu n.m. Moss.
- Petra chi nun fa lippu, lu ciumi si la tira.
- Eng. A stone that gathers no moss will be washed away by the river.
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- livata n.f. Indignation, scorn, alarm.
- Diu nni scanza di mali vicini e di livata d'omini dabbeni.
- Eng. God save us from evil neighbors and from the indignation of the upright.
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- locu n.m. Place.
- Quannu amuri voli, trova locu.
- Eng. When love is willing, it finds a way.
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- lodari v.t. To praise.
- Bonu vinu, cavaddu e mugghieri, sapi ognunu ca 'un si divi lodari.
- Eng. Everyone knows that you mustn't praise a good wine, a good horse and a good wife.
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- luci v.t. 3rd p. sing. Lights, brightens.
- La luna di jinnaru luci comu jornu chiaru.
- Eng. The January moon brightens like a clear day.
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- lucrusu n.m. Lucrative, profitable.
- Frivaru, quann'è chivusu, è assai lucrusu.
- Eng. When February is rainy, it's very profitable.
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- ludari v.t. To praise.
- Nun ludari la jurnata si nun scura la sirata.
- Eng. Don't praise the daylight before it is evening.
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- lumi n.m. Light.
- A cu' voli mali Diu ci leva lu lumi.
- Eng. God takes the light away from the condemned.
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- luna n.f. Moon.
- La luna di marzu règula sei misi.
- Eng. The new moon of March rules for six months.
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- La luna di sittèmmiru cuverna setti luni.
- Eng. The September moon governs seven moons.
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- Quannu la luna è pàllita, chiovi; quannu è russa, fa ventu e quan'è chiara fa sirinità.
- Eng. When the moon is pale, it will rain; when it's red, it will be windy and when it's clear, it will be serene.
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- luni n.m. Monday.
- Li spusi di lu jornu di luni si nni vannu a ruzzulani.
- Eng. A couple married on Monday is headed for a fall.
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- lupu n.m. Wolf.
- San Marcu è lu lupu di la campagna.
- Eng. St. Mark is the wolf of the countryside. (When the Sirocco blows around April 25, it can damage crops.)
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- lussu n.m. Luxury.
- Lettu di Duminicani, tavula di Cappuccini, lussu di Binidittini.
- Eng. The bed of the Dominicans, the table of the Capuccins, and the luxury of the Benedictines.
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- maceddu n.m. Slaughterhouse.
- Quannu lu voi è a lu maceddu, tutti cùrrinu cu lu cuteddu.
- Eng. When the ox is at the slaughterhouse everyone comes running with their knives.
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- magagna n.f. Fault, defect.
- A li corpi di marteddu si conusci la magagna.
- Eng. With the hammer's blows the defects become known.
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- maiali n.m. Pig.
- Ni la testa d'un maiali, cc'è chi pigghiari e chi lassari; ni la testa d'un cunigghiu, nenti lassu e nenti pigghiu.
- Eng. In the head of the pig there's something to take and something to leave; in the head of the rabbit there's nothing to leave and nothing to take.
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- maju n.m. May.
- Acqua di maju assuppa viddani e signuri o galantomini quantu nn'incontra.
- Eng. The rains of May drench peasants and nobles alike. (lit. May waters drench peasants and lords or gentlemen, as many as it encounters.)
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- Misi di maju, mèttiti 'n casa ligna e furmaggiu.
- Eng. Use your time in May to stock up for winter.
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- majuri adj. Bigger, senior, wise.
- Supra lu majuri si 'nsigna lu minuri
- Eng. We learn by standing on the shoulders of the wise.
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- malanni n.m. Misfortunes, ailments.
- Ddoppu li cinquant'anni, ogn'annu deci malanni.
- Eng. Every year after fifty brings ten ailments.
- malatu adj. Sick, suffering.
- Sapi cchiù di lu medicu saputo lu malatu patutu.
- Eng. The suffering patient knows more than the expert doctor.
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- malatu n.m. Sick, patient.
- Comu va lu tempu, va lu malatu.
- Eng. As the weather goes, so goes the patient.
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- La frevi manteni lu malatu.
- Eng. Fever sustains the sick.
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- Lu poviru e lu malatu nun è vulutu di lu parintatu. Variante: Lu poviru e malatu nun havi parintatu.
- Eng. The poor and the sick are not wanted by their relatives. Variant: The poor and the sick have no relatives.
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- mali n.m. Pain, bad thing, sickness.
- Ogni mali nun veni pri nòciri.
- Eng. Not every pain comes to harm you.
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- Di lu mari nasci lu sali e di la fimmina ogni mali.
- Eng. Salt comes from the sea and every bad thing comes from the woman.
-
- Hai un mali? Dillu a tutti.
- Eng. When you're sick, tell everyone.
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- manca v. i. 3rd p. sing. Miss, lack.
- Cui tarda e nun manca, nun si chiama mancaturi.
- Eng. Who is late and not missed, mustn't call himself missing.
-
- mancari v.i. To miss, to lack, to be found wanting.
- Zoccu è datu da Diu, nun pò mancari.
- Eng. What is given by God, can't be lacking.
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- mancia v.t. To eat.
- Mancia a gustu tò, càusa e vesti a gustu d'àutru.
- Eng. Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.
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- Mancia picca e campirai, parra picca e 'nzirtirai, spenni picca e arricchirai.
- Eng. Eat little and you'll live long, speak little and you'll get it right, spend little and you'll become rich.
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- manica n.f. Sleeve.
- Li monaci hanu 'na manica larga e una stritta.
- Eng. Monks have both a capacious sleeve and a tight sleeve.
-
- mànnira n.f. Barn, stable, cowshed, stall.
- Nun facennu nenti 'ntr'aprili, leva la mànnira cu tutti l'ovili.
- Eng. Nothing's happening before April, let all the animals out with those in the field.
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- manteni v.t. 3rd p. sing. Care for, uphold, maintain, nurture.
- L'omu porta beni, ma la fimmina lu manteni.
- Eng. The man provides, and the woman nurtures.
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- marina n.f. Sea, seashore, coast.
- Cui va a la marina e pisci nun trova, a lu puddaru s'attacca cull'ova.
- Eng. If you go fishing and catch nothing, go to the henhouse and get eggs.
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- marita v.t. 3rd p. sing. Marries.
- Cui si marita, pinía 'n giuvintú, cui nun si marita, pinía 'n vicchiaia.
- Eng. If you marry you'll suffer in your youth, if you don't marry you'll suffer in your old age.
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- maritari v.t. To marry.
- Bellu fussi lu maritari, si nun fussi pri l'annacari.
- Eng. Marriage would be beautiful if it weren't for cradle rocking.
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