Casa Emigranti Italiani 

Cu pari ca rorme e riposa porta la cruci piu' gravosa!

Those who look like they are sleeping and resting carry the heaviest crosses!

Ciumi ca rorme non ci iri a piscari!

If the river is too calm don’t go fishing in it!

Parola lurda, uriccia surda!

Obscene word, deaf ear!

A stizzana trapana u marmuru!

A small leak penetrates even marble!

Quannu l'amicu nun senti a prima vuci venaddiri ca u riscursu nun ci piaci.

If a friend does not understand the first time around it means that he does not like the idea!

I lignati mparanu a via all'uorivu!

Corporal punishment teaches the right way even to the blind!

I parenti ra mugliere sunu aruci comu o meli, i parienti ro maritu suni iari cou acitu!

The bride’s relatives are sweet like honey, but the relatives of the husband taste as bad as vinegar!

Cientu manu Diu binirittu tutti fora ro ma piattu.

A hundred hands God Almighty but none of them for my supper!

Curri quanto vuoi ca t'aspiettu.

Run as you wish, I will be here waiting.

Cu nun mi voli nun mi merita

Those who do no want me do not deserve me.

Cu ciechi nun ci parrari e cu zuoppi nun ci ballari.

Don’t speak with the blind and don’t dance with the lame.

U quararuni ci rissi o menzaranciu fatti ammaridda masino mi tinciu.

The pan said to the tea pot, move away from me less I turn black like you!

Acqua ca nesci a tanti surgenti ci sara' unni veni mancanti.

Water that appears in so many places, there must be a spot where it is missing.

Chiddu ca nun sapi e' comu a chiddu ca nun viri.

He who does not know is like a blind.

A iri a tavulu pi nun mangiari, a iri a liettu e nun durmiri, aspittari e nun viniri, su tri cosi di muriri.

To go to the dinner table and don’t eat; to go to bed and don’t sleep; to wait for someone who does not show: three feelings like death.

Persi u sceccu cu tutti i carrubbi.

I lost my donkey and all my carobs.

Ognunu tira a bracia po su cudduruni

Each one pulls the hot coals towards his bread

Nunne' u Signuri ca fa miraculi, ma e' u frumieri di li piecuri.

It is not God that makes miracles, but the fertilizer from sheep.

Tu mi runi quantu nun muoru, io travagliu quantu nun suru.

You give me enough to stay alive and I work enough not to sweat.

Cu nun sapi natari s'anneia na na scorcia i nuci.

Those who can’t swim could drown in the shell of a walnut.

Cu cani si cucca, cu pulici si susi.

If you sleep with dogs you will wake up with ticks.

Runa ca manu e ricampa che pieri.

Give with your hand but take with your feet!

Tri cosi nun puonu stari ammucciati, biddizzi, ricchizzi e primizzi!

Three things  cannot stay hidden, beauty, riches and pregnancy.

Nun sanu fari ma sanu smirniari

They don’t know how to do  but they do know how to criticize.

Nun fari cosi suttu o furnu ca u sapi Diu e tutu u munnu.

Don’t do things in hiding because God and the entire world will find out.

Mieghieu nivuru u pani ca nivuri ri fami.

Better dark bread than starvation.

A iaddina fa l’uovu e o iaddu ci brusca u culu.

The chicken lays the eggs but the rooster feels the pain.

Nun po ririri sempre a mugliere ro latro

The thief’s wife can’t be always happy.

Acqua e fuocu racci luogu.

Make room for water and fire.

Mieglio ruluri i tasca ca ruluri I cori.

Better to have money headaches than a broken heart.

Pari cu pari lassili fari

Whoever it is, let them be.

Se ogni petra ci si runa n cauci nun na resta ne scarpa ne pieri.

If you kick ever rock you will wear out your shoes and foot.

U riavulu fici i pignati ma si scordau a fari I cuommogli

Satan created pots and pans but forgot the covers.

Accuminciau ri sita e finio di lana.

Started with silk but finished in wool.

Cu carusi si cucca piasciatu s’attrova.

If you sleep woith babies you will find yourself wet.

Vuoi stari amica ca vicina, nun ci fare virrere a cucina

To remain friend with your neighbor don’t show them the kitchen.

A collira ra sira si iausa pa mattina

Anger from the previous night will be there in the morning.

Aucieddu quannu e na caggia o canta p’amuri o canta pi raggia.

A bird in a cage sings either for love or rage.

A lingua abate unni u renti lori.

The tongue touches where the tooth hurts.

Ucca ca nun parrau, cucuzza si ciamau.

Mouth that does not speak is called squash!

Ziti e muli vuoni stari suli

Lovers and mules want to stay by themselves.

Cu e picciuottu e riccu

If you are young you are rich.

Voli a urta cina e a mugliere mbriaca

Wants the container full and the wife drunk.

Cu nun pensa pi iddu non pensa pi nuddu

If you don’t take care of yourself you don’t take care of any one.

Biniritta chidda mamma ca nun havi nudda figlia nudda collera si piglia e sempri cuntenta sta.

Blessed the mather that does not have a daughter she will always be happy.

Un padre a cientu figli I campau, ma cientu figli non puono campare un padre.

A father can support 100 children, but 100 children cannot maintain a father!

Attia la cantu figlia, e tu sientitilla nora.

I am speaking to you, daughter, but daughter-in-law you better listen.

Pi cuntari li cosi ci vuonu iurnati d’estati e siritini d’inviernu.

The best time for story telling are lazy summer days or cold winter nights.

A vacca manza rumpi a roppa.

The quiet cow breaks its yoke.

Cu e sparrata e pinsata

If you are being bad mouthed you are being thought of.

Vuoi stari amici ca vicina nun ci fari virriri a cucina.

If you want to stay friends with your neighbor don’t show her the kitchen.

A luvari e nun metteri nun e’ funtana ca surgi

To take away and don’t contribute back there is no fountain that lasts.

Aucieddu quannu e na caggia o canta p’amuri o canta pi rabbia

The bird in the cage sings when he is in love or anger.

Ucca can nun parrau cucuzza si ciamau

The silent mouth is like squash.

Ziti e muli vuonnu stari suli.

Lovers and mules like to stay by themselves.

Ogni annu crisci n malannu

Every year a new problem.

Arrivata a cinquantina, una a sira e una a matina.

When you are fifty you get a problem in the evening and one in the morning.