Help w/Italian Curses/Idioms--Please...
SPAMNOTch...@onix.com
For a project I'm currently developing, I need help with Italian
idioms and curses.
This is especiallly embarassing because:
a.) I grew up in South Philly, and know more than a few--but I don't
know how to spell them,
...and...
b.) I once put the hit on Skinny Joey Merlino's sister (who is
beautifull, intelligent, and *very* funny) and was advised by everyone
at the comedy club where she and I were working to "back
off"--irrelevant, but I thought it was interesting,
So...
Anyone know the correct spellings for "gumbah" (cousin) and "fongool"
(fuck)?
Any other Italian insults/phrases you could offer?
Is "Mange merde et morte" correct for "Eat shit and die?"
And was Frank really thinking of marketing a line of neckwear to be
called "Alleged Mob Ties?"
Any and all help appreciated (especially from Brick Rage [*not*
sarcastic] because he knows everything).
Best to you all, and may La-La Land smile upon you and your efforts...
--Christopher
Just kidding about Frank, the greatest singer who has ever lived--and
judging by his Oscars, no slack as an actor, either...
--C.
Remove "SPAMNOT" from address to reply.
Paul Martin
> Anyone know the correct spellings for "gumbah" (cousin) and "fongool"
> (fuck)?
Goumbah is how I've seen it spelled. Fangoul, ditto.
> Any other Italian insults/phrases you could offer?
>
> Is "Mange merde et morte" correct for "Eat shit and die?"
Yup. And "Mange ma minga morte" means "Eat my dead dick." "Garfone" (and I
don't know how to spell that) is apparently a very bad insult as well.
Paul
--
Life is unfair. That's a given. The best that you can hope for is that
once in a while it will be unfair in your favor.
Frank Raymond Michaels
SPAMNOTch...@onix.com wrote:
>My Esteemed Colleagues...
>
>For a project I'm currently developing, I need help with Italian
>idioms and curses.
Born in Brooklyn to Italian/Sicilian parents. I don't
technically speak Italian, but I know the cusses.
><tagliare>
>Anyone know the correct spellings for "gumbah" (cousin) and "fongool"
>(fuck)?
Italian is spelt phonetically, but remember you're writing
for an English-speaking audience. "Goombah" and "fongool"
will suffice, though the spellings in Italian are likely
"gumba" and "fon gulo" (strangely, these aren't in my
dictionary. Imagine that.)
Note on "fongool" -- technically it means "up your ass"
("gulo" is a crude term for rear-end) but is used in the
same context as "fuck you". ("Fuck" is "scopa".) Also, a
variant is "bafongool", and any Italian curse can be
prefaced with "a" (used like "hey").
>Any other Italian insults/phrases you could offer?
Sure. Note that with few exceptions, all Italian words end
with a vowel, but the last vowel is sometimes dropped in
speech. Also note some of these are from Sicilian dialect.
"Madonn'!" - literally, calling out to the Madonna, Mary
mother of Jesus. An expression of awe, usually drawn out.
The "d" is very soft, sounds almost like an "r" as in:
"Madonn', would you look at this traffic!"
"Sfachim'" - a *really* bad insult, doesn't transliterate,
used only if you don't mind a fistfight.
"Gavone" - also a bad insult, sometimes used as "pig" or
"glutton": "What bunch of gavones!"
"Mincchia" or "minkia" (sp?) - crude term for penis, used as
an expression of shock, like an American would say
"Son-of-a-bitch!"
"Che gazzo!" (pron. "kay-kotso") "What balls!" an expression
of indignation.
"Giadrool" or "giaboppo" - mild insults, equivalent to
calling someone a "melon-head".
>
>Is "Mange merde et morte" correct for "Eat shit and die?"
No. "Mangia merda e morite" is better but "morire" (to die)
is an irregular verb and I don't know how to conjugate it
for the imperative. Also, that tends to be an American
expression, an Italian might use something different. I'm
seeing my Mom today, she speaks fluent Italian and Sicilian,
so I'll ask her.
Hope this helps.
cc:email
---
Frank Raymond Michaels ("Prego...")
The Horror Fiction Page: http://i2.i-2000.com/~frankmi
Frank Raymond Michaels
I asked my Mom. It's "mangia merda e muori".
cc:email
---
Frank Raymond Michaels ("Mamma mia!")
nancy
the mystic circle and summoned a creature from the nether planes,
who spake:
>I asked my Mom. It's "mangia merda e muori".
>
your mama told you to eat shit and die?
--
n
The most common name in the world is Mohammed.
SPAMNOTch...@onix.com
wrote:
>...Goumbah is how I've seen it spelled. Fangoul, ditto....
Paul...
Thank you for your help--it's appreciated.
Especially liked "Mange ma minga morte."
Best...
--Christopher
SPAMNOTch...@onix.com
Michaels) wrote:
>...Born in Brooklyn to Italian/Sicilian parents. I don't
>technically speak Italian, but I know the cusses...
Frank...
Thank you so much for taking all the trouble--I'm grateful and
appreciative.
You said,
>...remember you're writing
>for an English-speaking audience. "Goombah" and "fongool"
>will suffice, though the spellings in Italian are likely
>"gumba" and "fon gulo" ...
Good point, agreed. My characters are Italian-American, so anglicized
spellings are appropriate (will go with "goombah" and "fongool").
You further illuminated...
>Note on "fongool" -- technically it means "up your ass"
>("gulo" is a crude term for rear-end) but is used in the
>same context as "fuck you"...
Interesting--I'd always assumed it meant "fuck." That's based on
context from listening to real, live South Philly speech--almost
always hear "fongooll" or "a fongool" used when a WASP would say, "oh,
fuck."
"Che gazzo" is nice--useful. And thanks for clarifying that "merda"
phrase with you Mom.
Thank you again--I owe you a favor, let me know if there's something I
can do to assist you.
Ciao, amico...
Best regards,
--Christopher
Blanche Nonken
> b.) I once put the hit on Skinny Joey Merlino's sister (who is
> beautifull, intelligent, and *very* funny) and was advised by everyone
> at the comedy club where she and I were working to "back
> off"--irrelevant, but I thought it was interesting,
His nephew Mike used to beat me up in grade school. (Think it was his
nephew.)
The whole area went to hell in a handbasket when Angelo got hit.
SPAMNOTch...@onix.com
Nonken) wrote:
>
>...His nephew Mike used to beat me up in grade school. (Think it was his
>nephew.)
>
>The whole area went to hell in a handbasket when Angelo got hit.
Blanche...
Absolutely. You are *so* right.
Because of my pre-pubescent obsession with Annette Funicello (via the
insidious and subversive MICKEY MOUSE CLUB), my first 10 or 12
girlfriends were Italian-American. When I was 21 or so, I remember
being at the home of a particularly adorable young lady when one of
her Dad's friends dropped in--"Angelo."
Took me about two weeks to figure out who "Angelo" was--and then I
decided to abandon said Eyetie cutie (even before MICKEY BLUE EYES, I
knew the score).
I suppose I have a pre-disposed attraction to Mafia princesses. So
far, it hasn't gotten me killed...
...but the Fat Lady has not yet sung.
I'm originally from Two Street (Watkins, near 2nd & Morris).
How about you, Blanche?
--Christopher
Blanche Nonken
>
> I'm originally from Two Street (Watkins, near 2nd & Morris).
>
> How about you, Blanche?
I'm from DTS. Atlantic City High School, class of '81. Ventnor Middle
School, where Mike Merlino and his buddy, Jimmy something used to
torment me.
Blanche Nonken
> Took me about two weeks to figure out who "Angelo" was--and then I
> decided to abandon said Eyetie cutie (even before MICKEY BLUE EYES, I
> knew the score).
I forgot to respond to this.
Does this ring a bell?
"Nicky & Phil, you're next."
<giggle> Just a weather report, it was.
Frank Raymond Michaels
(nancy) wrote:
>On 14 Jan 2001, fra...@i-2000.com (Frank Raymond Michaels) drew
>the mystic circle and summoned a creature from the nether planes,
>who spake:
>
>>I asked my Mom. It's "mangia merda e muori".
>
>your mama told you to eat shit and die?
My mama once threw a seven-foot Christmas tree at me.
---
Frank Raymond Michaels ("Mia madre... mia madre...")
Wendy Chatley Green
Raymond Michaels) wrote:
:On Sun, 14 Jan 2001 13:38:45 GMT, fra...@i-2000.com (Frank
:Raymond Michaels) wrote:
<context snipped>
:I asked my Mom. It's "mangia merda e muori".
You kiss your mother with that mouth?
--
Wendy Chatley Green
wcg...@cris.com
doyle
>
> On Sun, 14 Jan 2001 18:06:27 GMT, na...@gekkografx.com
> (nancy) wrote:
>
> >On 14 Jan 2001, fra...@i-2000.com (Frank Raymond Michaels) drew
> >the mystic circle and summoned a creature from the nether planes,
> >who spake:
> >
> >>I asked my Mom. It's "mangia merda e muori".
> >
> >your mama told you to eat shit and die?
>
> My mama once threw a seven-foot Christmas tree at me.
Hey! Did your mama ever chase you around with the dust mop?
She handled that thing like a sammur . . . samer . . ninja.
--
Donna (Dad didn't even argue with her.)
~~~~~~~~~