Talk_Dirty_Italian
.pdf
BEYOND CAZZO:THECURSES, SLANG, ANDSTREET
LINGOYOUNEEDTOKNOW WHENYOUSPEAKITALIANO
TALK DIRTY
ITALIAN
ALEXIS MUNIER & EMMANUEL TICHELLI
Copyright © 2008 byAlexis Munier and Emmanuel Tichelli All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, maynot be reproduced in anyform without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
Published by
Adams Media, an F+WPublications Company 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA02322 www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN 13: 978-1-59869-769-8 ISBN 10: 1-59869-769-2 eISBN: 978-1-44051-582-8
Printed in Canada.
J I H G F E D C B A
Libraryof Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available from the publisher.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
—From a Declaration of Principles jointlyadopted bya Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their product are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.
Interior illustrations ©iStockphoto.com/Matt Knannlein.
This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.
To my nonna Angela, whose kindness, wisdom, and faith always
prevented her from using Dirty Italian even when she should have.
Emmanuel Tichelli
To my Papa Colonel,
who hates pasta, loves spaghetti westerns, and still calls them “Eye-talians.”
Alexis Munier
CONTENTS
Introduction
CHAPTER ONE
Qui non si parla italiano:What’s That Strange Language?
CHAPTER TWO
Ciao bambino: Getting Off on the Right Foot
CHAPTER THREE
La testa a posto: Smart, stupid, or just plain nuts
CHAPTER FOUR
Ma ce l’hai il cazzo?: Words to Both Flatter and Insult
CHAPTER FIVE
A manetta: On the Road Again
CHAPTER SIX
Cosa bolle in pentola: Food, Glorious Food
CHAPTER SEVEN
Superalcolizzato: Beer Before Liquor . . .
CHAPTER EIGHT
Come stai?: Expressing Your Ups and Downs
CHAPTER NINE
Farsi un culo così: Yes, You Do Need an Education
CHAPTER TEN
Ricco sfondato: Shake Your Moneymaker
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Guardia o ladro: The Wrong Side of the Law
CHAPTER TWELVE
Un medico in famiglia: Following Doctors’ Orders
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Guerra e pace: Looking for Trouble and Keeping the Peace
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Che follia!: Life is a Cabaret . . . or Stadium . . . or Discotheque
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Piaceri proibiti:Forbidden Pleasures
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
La bella e la bestia: She/He’s Got the Look
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
La bella e la bestia II:Looks Aren’t Everything
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Amore mio:Love is a Wonderful Thing
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Voglia di Sesso: Partners and Their Private Parts
CHAPTER TWENTY
Obbiettivo sesso: Dirty, Dirtier, and Dirtiest Italian
BIBL IOGRAPHY
DISCLAIMER
All entries come with sample sentences as well as common use and literal translations with the exception of the dirtiest of the dirty.
You’ll know them by
XXX: Too Dirty to Translate.
INTRODUCTION
What’s the point of speaking Italian slang? Why, to understand what the Italians are actually saying, of course! Movies from cine-città, the Italian Hollywood, lyrics of a song, lines of a contemporary author, or programs della tivù spazzatura are all made specifically for Italians. While your schoolbook Italian is a good base, without slang you’ll miss the beauty of Bertolucci’s films, Bocelli’s vocals, and Benigni’s humor.
Rather than parade around Rome with a cheesy phrasebook for common conversations, you are better off with a copy of Talk Dirty: Italian. After all, would you rather bring home the usual souvenirs or the person who sold them to you? We can’t claim this book will do the latter, but without it you’re almost certain to leave la bella Italia with an awful plastic Leaning Tower of Pisa. Remember, Italy is not France: attempting to speak the real day-to-day language of Italians will win you big bonus points and impress everyone you meet. While they may laugh at your mistakes, they’ll appreciate your bravado, for which you will certainly be rewarded.
Acknowledgments
A heartfelt thank-you to Mara Cavadini, our reference Italian teacher who, despite a baby in diapers, found the time to get down and dirty for us. Big thanks to Daniele and Stefania Basilico, Massimo Palo, Marco Lorio, the Vanuccis, and the Tichellis, who all helped enormously in writing
this book.
Special thanks to Domenico Mariani, Erminia Lorio, Giancarlo Ramazzini, as well as the inhabitants of il piccolo mondo antico di Fogazzaro who unknowingly inspired this book with their infamous interjections and slang.
And one last thanks to our publisher Adams Media and its supportive team, including Paula Munier, Sara Stock, and Katrina Schroeder.