" To Remember and Understand"
Hartford, CT
ppirrott
Trascritti da mia cugina Concettina Cirinna
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.
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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. |
Il Professore Santo Cugno e' tra i piu' noti dei nostri compaesani: insegnante, politico, allenatore e grandissimo uomo di famiglia! Nel 1993 ha publicato Museo Privato, una collezione di proverbi e sentenze Canicattinesi. Ne ripropero' qui alcune!
acqua, cunsigghi e sali se nun ti ni ciercunu nun ci ni rari
acqua i ravanti e vientu i rarrieri
a cianciri u muortu su lacrimi persi
a cucciara ca arrimina sapi i vai ra pignata
a lingua nun navi uossu ma rumpi l'uossu
Hartford, CT
ppirrott