Sicilianu
Sicilian
Indo-European (Romance, Italo-Romance)
Sicilian (sicilianu) is a Romance language with ~5M speakers in Sicily, southern Calabria, and parts of Apulia. UNESCO classifies it as a vulnerable language; it is recognized as a minority language by the Sicilian regional government. Its complex history is reflected in lexical strata from Greek (Magna Graecia), Arabic (Emirate of Sicily 831–1091), Norman French (Norman conquest 1061), Catalan (Aragonese rule), and Spanish (Spanish rule 1516–1713). Notable for its 5-vowel system (unlike Italian's 7) and a literary tradition starting with the Sicilian School of Frederick II (13th c.).
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Sicilian
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Indo-European (Romance, Italo-Romance)
| Meaning | Sicilian | Corsican | Italian | Dante-era Italian | Neapolitan | Venetian | Sardinian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | acqua /ˈakkwa/ | acqua /ˈakwa/ | acqua /ˈakkwa/ | acqua /ˈakːwa/ | acqua /ˈakkwə/ | aqua /ˈakwa/ | abba /abba/ |
| Fire | focu /ˈfɔku/ | focu /ˈfɔku/ | fuoco /ˈfwɔːko/ | foco /ˈfɔko/ | fuoco /ˈfwɔkə/ | fogo /ˈfoɡo/ | fogu /foɣu/ |
| Sun | suli /ˈsuli/ | sole /ˈsɔle/ | sole /ˈsoːle/ | sole /ˈsole/ | sole /ˈsolə/ | sol /sol/ | sole /sole/ |
| Moon | luna /ˈluna/ | luna /ˈluna/ | luna /ˈluːna/ | luna /ˈluna/ | luna /ˈlunə/ | łuna /ˈuna/ | luna /luna/ |
| Star | stidda /ˈstɪɖːa/ | stella /ˈstella/ | stella /ˈstɛlla/ | stella /ˈstella/ | stella /ˈstellə/ | stela /ˈstela/ | isteddu /isˈteɖɖu/ |
| Night | notti /ˈnɔtti/ | notte /ˈnɔtːe/ | notte /ˈnɔtte/ | notte /ˈnotte/ | notte /ˈnɔttə/ | note /ˈnɔte/ | notte /ˈnɔtːe/ |
| Rain | chiuvuta /kjuˈvuta/ | pioggia /ˈpjɔdʒa/ | pioggia /ˈpjɔddʒa/ | piova /ˈpjɔːva/ | chiòve /ˈkjɔːvə/ | piova /ˈpjɔva/ | proja /ˈproja/ |
| Snow | nivi /ˈniːvi/ | neve /ˈneve/ | neve /neːve/ | neve /ˈneve/ | neve /ˈneːvə/ | neve /neve/ | nie /nie/ |
| Wind | ventu /ˈvɛntu/ | ventu /ˈventu/ | vento /ˈvento/ | vento /ˈvɛnto/ | viento /ˈvjendə/ | vento /ˈvento/ | bentu /ˈbɛntu/ |
| Earth | terra /ˈtɛrra/ | terra /ˈtɛrra/ | terra /ˈtɛrra/ | terra /ˈtɛrra/ | terra /ˈtɛrːə/ | tera /ˈtɛra/ | terra /ˈtɛrra/ |
| Stone | petra /ˈpɛːtra/ | petra /ˈpɛtra/ | pietra /ˈpjɛːtra/ | pietra /ˈpjɛtra/ | preta /ˈprɛtə/ | piera /ˈpjɛra/ | pedra /ˈpedra/ |
| Mountain | muntagna /munˈtaɲɲa/ | muntagna /munˈtaɲɲa/ | montagna /monˈtaɲːa/ | montagna /monˈtaɲɲa/ | muntagna /munˈdaɲːə/ | montagna /monˈtaɲa/ | monte /ˈmɔnte/ |
| Sea | mari /ˈmari/ | mare /ˈmare/ | mare /ˈmare/ | mare /ˈmare/ | mare /ˈmarə/ | mar /mar/ | mare /ˈmaɾe/ |
| Mother | matri /ˈmatri/ | mamma /ˈmamma/ | madre /ˈmaːdre/ | madre /ˈmaːdre/ | mamma /ˈmammə/ | mare /ˈmare/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | patri /ˈpatri/ | babbu /ˈbabːu/ | padre /ˈpaːdre/ | padre /ˈpaːdre/ | pate /ˈpatə/ | pare /pare/ | babbu /babbu/ |
| Daughter | figghia /ˈfiɟɟa/ | figliola /fiʎˈʎola/ | figlia /ˈfiʎʎa/ | figlia /ˈfiʎʎa/ | figlia /ˈfiʎʎə/ | fioła /ˈfjɔe̯a/ | fiza /ˈfidza/ |
| I | iu /ju/ | eiu /ˈɛju/ | io /ˈio/ | io /ˈio/ | io /ˈiːə/ | mi /mi/ | deo /ˈdɛo/ |
| You | tu /tu/ | tù /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | ti /ti/ | tue /ˈtue/ |
| We | nuàutri /nuˈawtri/ | noi /ˈnoi/ | noi /noi/ | noi /ˈnoi/ | nuje /ˈnujə/ | noaltri /noˈaltri/ | nois /ˈnois/ |
| Name | nomu /ˈnɔmu/ | nome /ˈnome/ | nome /ˈnome/ | nome /ˈnoːme/ | nomme /ˈnommə/ | nome /ˈnome/ | nòmine /ˈnɔmine/ |
| Person | pirsuna /pirˈsuna/ | persona /perˈsona/ | persona /perˈsona/ | persona /perˈsona/ | perzona /perˈtsonə/ | persona /perˈsona/ | persone /perˈsɔne/ |
| Head | testa /ˈtɛsta/ | capu /ˈkapu/ | testa /ˈtɛsta/ | testa /ˈtɛsta/ | capa /ˈkapə/ | tèsta /ˈtɛsta/ | conca /ˈkoŋka/ |
| Eye | occhiu /ˈɔkkju/ | ochju /ˈɔcu/ | occhio /ˈɔkkjo/ | occhio /ˈɔkːjo/ | uocchio /ˈwɔkkjə/ | ocio /ɔtʃo/ | ogru /ˈoɣru/ |
| Ear | aricchia /aˈrikkja/ | arechja /aˈrɛca/ | orecchio /oˈrekkjo/ | orecchio /oˈrɛkkjo/ | 'recchia /ˈrɛkkjə/ | récia /ˈretʃa/ | origa /ɔˈɾiɡa/ |
| Nose | nasu /ˈnaːsu/ | nasu /ˈnazu/ | naso /ˈnaːzo/ | naso /ˈnaso/ | naso /ˈnaːsə/ | naxo /ˈnazo/ | nasu /ˈnazu/ |
| Mouth | vucca /ˈvukka/ | bocca /ˈbɔkka/ | bocca /ˈbokka/ | bocca /ˈbokka/ | vocca /ˈvokkə/ | boca /ˈboka/ | bucca /ˈbukka/ |
| Tooth | denti /ˈdɛnti/ | dente /ˈdɛnte/ | dente /ˈdɛnte/ | dente /ˈdente/ | dente /ˈdɛntə/ | dente /ˈdente/ | dente /ˈdente/ |
| Tongue | lingua /ˈlinɡwa/ | lingua /ˈliŋɡwa/ | lingua /ˈliŋɡwa/ | lingua /ˈliŋɡwa/ | lengua /ˈlɛŋɡwə/ | léngua /ˈleŋɡwa/ | limba /ˈlimba/ |
| Hand | manu /ˈmanu/ | manu /ˈmanu/ | mano /ˈmaːno/ | mano /ˈmano/ | mano /ˈmanə/ | man /man/ | manu /manu/ |
| Foot | pedi /ˈpɛdi/ | pede /ˈpɛde/ | piede /ˈpjɛde/ | piede /ˈpjɛde/ | pere /ˈpɛːrə/ | pìe /ˈpie/ | pei /pei/ |
| Heart | cori /ˈkɔri/ | core /ˈkɔre/ | cuore /ˈkwɔːre/ | core /ˈkɔre/ | core /ˈkorə/ | cor /kɔr/ | core /kore/ |
| Bone | ossu /ˈɔssu/ | ossu /ˈɔssu/ | osso /ˈɔsso/ | osso /ˈɔsːo/ | uosso /ˈwɔssə/ | oso /ˈɔso/ | ossu /ˈossu/ |
| Blood | sangu /ˈsaŋɡu/ | sangue /ˈsaŋɡwe/ | sangue /ˈsaŋɡwe/ | sangue /ˈsaŋɡwe/ | sango /ˈsaŋɡə/ | sangue /ˈsaŋɡwe/ | sàmbene /ˈsambene/ |
| Poop | cacca /ˈkakka/ | caca /ˈkaka/ | cacca /ˈkakka/ | merda /ˈmɛrda/ | cacca /ˈkakːə/ | caca /ˈkaka/ | cacca /ˈkakka/ |
| Love | amuri /aˈmuri/ | amore /aˈmɔre/ | amore /aˈmoːre/ | amore /aˈmore/ | ammore /amˈmorə/ | amor /amor/ | amore /amore/ |
| Tree | àrbulu /ˈarbulu/ | arburu /ˈarburu/ | albero /ˈalbero/ | albero /ˈalbero/ | àrvero /ˈarvərə/ | àlbaro /ˈalbaro/ | àrbure /ˈarbure/ |
| Dog | cani /ˈkani/ | cane /ˈkane/ | cane /ˈkaːne/ | cane /ˈkane/ | cane /ˈkanə/ | can /kaŋ/ | cane /kane/ |
| Cat | jattu /ˈjattu/ | ghjattu /ˈɟattu/ | gatto /ˈɡatto/ | gatto /ˈɡatːo/ | jatto /ˈjattə/ | gato /ˈɡato/ | gattu /ɡattu/ |
| Fish | pisci /ˈpiʃi/ | pesciu /ˈpeʃu/ | pesce /ˈpeʃʃe/ | pesce /ˈpeʃʃe/ | pesce /ˈpeʃʃə/ | pesse /ˈpese/ | pische /ˈpiske/ |
| Bird | aceddu /aˈtʃɛɖːu/ | uccellu /utˈtʃɛllu/ | uccello /utˈtʃɛllo/ | uccello /utˈtʃɛlːo/ | auciello /auˈtʃiɛllə/ | oxeło /oˈzeo/ | puzone /puˈdzone/ |
| Butterfly | parpagghiuni /parpaɟˈɟuni/ | farfalla /farˈfalla/ | farfalla /farˈfalla/ | farfalla /farˈfalla/ | palomma /paˈlommə/ | pavegia /paˈvedʒa/ | cabagasu /kaβaˈɣazu/ |
| Egg | ovu /ˈɔvu/ | ovu /ˈɔvu/ | uovo /ˈwɔːvo/ | uovo /ˈwɔːvo/ | uovo /ˈuːovə/ | vovo /ˈvɔvo/ | ou /ˈou/ |
| Bear | ursu /ˈursu/ | orsu /ˈorsu/ | orso /ˈorso/ | orso /ˈorso/ | urzo /ˈurtsə/ | orso /ˈorso/ | ursu /ˈursu/ |
| Horse | cavaddu /kaˈvaɖːu/ | cavallu /kaˈvallu/ | cavallo /kaˈvallo/ | cavallo /kaˈvallo/ | cavallo /kaˈvallə/ | caval /kaˈval/ | cabaddu /kaˈbaɖɖu/ |
| House | casa /ˈkasa/ | casa /ˈkaza/ | casa /ˈkaːsa/ | casa /ˈkasa/ | casa /ˈkasə/ | caxa /ˈkaza/ | domo /domo/ |
| Milk | latti /ˈlatti/ | latte /ˈlatte/ | latte /ˈlatte/ | latte /ˈlatte/ | latte /ˈlattə/ | late /ˈlate/ | latte /ˈlatte/ |
| Honey | meli /ˈmɛli/ | mele /ˈmɛle/ | miele /ˈmjɛːle/ | miele /ˈmjɛːle/ | mèle /ˈmɛːlə/ | miel /mjɛl/ | mele /ˈmɛle/ |
| Salt | sali /ˈsali/ | sale /ˈsale/ | sale /ˈsale/ | sale /ˈsale/ | sale /ˈsalə/ | sal /sal/ | sale /ˈsale/ |
| Wine | vinu /ˈvinu/ | vinu /ˈvinu/ | vino /ˈvino/ | vino /ˈvino/ | vino /ˈvinə/ | vin /viŋ/ | binu /ˈbinu/ |
| Rice | risu /ˈrizu/ | risu /ˈrizu/ | riso /ˈriːzo/ | — | riso /ˈrisə/ | rixo /ˈrizo/ | risu /ˈrizu/ |
| Chocolate | cicculatti /tʃikkuˈlatti/ | cicculata /tʃikkuˈlata/ | cioccolato /tʃokkoˈlaːto/ | — | ciucculata /tʃukkuˈlatə/ | ciocolata /tʃokoˈlata/ | ciculata /tʃikuˈlata/ |
| Iron | ferru /ˈfɛrru/ | ferru /ˈfɛrru/ | ferro /ˈfɛrro/ | ferro /ˈfɛrro/ | fierro /ˈfjɛrrə/ | fero /ˈfɛro/ | ferru /ˈferru/ |
| Wheel | rota /ˈrɔːta/ | rota /ˈrɔta/ | ruota /ˈrwɔta/ | rota /ˈrɔta/ | rota /ˈrɔːtə/ | roda /ˈrɔda/ | roda /ˈroda/ |
| Silk | sita /ˈsita/ | seta /ˈseta/ | seta /ˈseːta/ | — | seta /ˈsetə/ | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /ˈsɛða/ |
| Book | libbru /ˈlibbru/ | libru /ˈlibru/ | libro /ˈliːbro/ | libro /ˈlibro/ | libbro /ˈlibbərə/ | libro /ˈlibro/ | libru /ˈliβɾu/ |
| Eat | manciari /manˈtʃari/ | manghjà /manˈɟa/ | mangiare /manˈdʒaːre/ | mangiare /manˈdʒare/ | mangià /manˈdʒa/ | magnàr /maˈɲar/ | mandigare /mandiɡare/ |
| Drink | vìviri /ˈviviri/ | beie /ˈbeje/ | bere /ˈbeːre/ | bevere /ˈbevere/ | vevere /ˈvevərə/ | bévar /ˈbevar/ | bìere /ˈbiere/ |
| Sleep | dòrmiri /ˈdɔrmɪrɪ/ | durmì /durˈmi/ | dormire /dorˈmiːre/ | dormire /dorˈmire/ | durmì /durˈmiː/ | dormir /dorˈmir/ | dormire /dorˈmire/ |
| One | unu /ˈunu/ | unu /ˈunu/ | uno /ˈuːno/ | uno /ˈuno/ | uno /ˈunə/ | un /un/ | unu /unu/ |
| Two | dui /ˈduɪ/ | dui /ˈdui/ | due /ˈdue/ | due /ˈduːe/ | duje /ˈduːjə/ | do /do/ | duos /ˈduɔs/ |
| Three | tri /tri/ | trè /trɛ/ | tre /tre/ | tre /tre/ | tre /trɛ/ | tre /tre/ | tres /tres/ |
| Four | quattru /ˈkwattru/ | quattru /ˈkwatːru/ | quattro /ˈkwattro/ | quattro /ˈkwatːro/ | quatto /ˈkwattə/ | quatro /ˈkwatro/ | bator /ˈbattor/ |
| Five | cincu /ˈtʃiŋku/ | cinque /ˈtʃiŋkwe/ | cinque /ˈtʃiŋkwe/ | cinque /ˈtʃiŋkwe/ | cinche /ˈtʃiŋkə/ | sìnque /ˈsiŋkwe/ | chimbe /ˈkimbe/ |
| Hundred | centu /ˈtʃɛntu/ | centu /ˈtʃɛntu/ | cento /ˈtʃɛnto/ | cento /ˈtʃɛnto/ | ciento /ˈtʃjentə/ | sento /ˈsento/ | chentu /ˈkentu/ |
| Hello | salutamu /salutamu/ | salute /saˈlute/ | ciao /ˈtʃaːo/ | salute /saˈlute/ | uè /wɛ/ | ciao /tʃao/ | salude /salude/ |
| Thank you | grazii /ˈɡrattsii/ | grazie /ˈɡratsje/ | grazie /ˈɡrattsje/ | mercede /merˈtʃede/ | grazie /ˈɡratsjə/ | grassie /ɡrasje/ | gràtzias /ˈɡrattsjas/ |
| Good | bonu /ˈbɔnu/ | bonu /ˈbɔnu/ | buono /ˈbwɔːno/ | buono /ˈbwɔno/ | buono /ˈbwɔnə/ | bon /bon/ | bonu /bonu/ |
| New | novu /ˈnɔvu/ | novu /ˈnɔvu/ | nuovo /ˈnwɔːvo/ | novo /ˈnɔvo/ | nuovo /ˈnwɔvə/ | novo /ˈnovo/ | nou /ˈnou/ |
| Red | russu /ˈrussu/ | rossu /ˈrossu/ | rosso /ˈrosso/ | rosso /ˈrosso/ | russo /ˈrussə/ | róso /ˈroso/ | ruju /ˈruːju/ |
| White | biancu /ˈbjaŋku/ | biancu /ˈbjaŋku/ | bianco /ˈbjaŋko/ | bianco /ˈbjaŋko/ | janco /ˈjaŋkə/ | bianco /ˈbjaŋko/ | biancu /ˈbjaŋku/ |
| Black | nìuru /ˈniuru/ | neru /ˈneru/ | nero /ˈnero/ | nero /ˈnero/ | niro /ˈnirə/ | negro /ˈneɡro/ | nieddu /ˈnieddu/ |
| Green | virdi /ˈvɪrdɪ/ | verde /ˈverde/ | verde /ˈverde/ | verde /ˈverde/ | verde /ˈverdə/ | verde /ˈverde/ | birde /ˈbirde/ |
| Blue | azzolu /adˈdzɔlu/ | turchinu /turˈkinu/ | blu /blu/ | — | — | — | biaittu /bjaˈittu/ |
| Cuckoo | cuccu /ˈkukku/ | cuccu /ˈkukku/ | cuculo /ˈkuːkulo/ | cucco /ˈkukko/ | cucù /kuˈku/ | cucù /kuˈku/ | cucu /ˈkuku/ |
| Computer | computer /komˈpjuter/ | urdinatore /urdinaˈtore/ | computer /komˈpjuter/ | abbaco /abˈbaːko/ | computer /komˈpjutə/ | computer /komˈpjuter/ | computer /komˈpjuter/ |
| Sushi | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃʃi/ | tonnina /tonˈniːna/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ |
| Tea | tè /tɛ/ | tè /tɛ/ | tè /tɛ/ | — | tè /tɛ/ | tè /tɛ/ | te /te/ |
| Coffee | cafè /kaˈfɛ/ | caffè /kafˈfɛ/ | caffè /kafˈfɛ/ | — | cafè /kaˈfɛ/ | cafè /kaˈfɛ/ | cafè /kaˈfɛ/ |
| Sugar | zuccuru /ˈtsukkuru/ | zuccheru /ˈdzukkeru/ | zucchero /ˈdzukkero/ | — | zùccaro /ˈtsukkərə/ | sùcaro /ˈsukaro/ | tzùcaru /ˈtsukaru/ |
| Orange | aranciu /aˈrantʃu/ | aranciu /aˈrantʃu/ | arancia /aˈrantʃa/ | arancia /aˈrantʃa/ | arancia /aˈrantʃə/ | naranza /naˈraŋsa/ | aranzu /aˈrandzu/ |
| Ninety-nine | novantanovi /nɔvantaˈnɔvi/ | nuvanta nove /nuˈvanta ˈnɔve/ | novantanove /novantaˈnove/ | — | nuvantanove /nuvantaˈnɔvə/ | novantanove /novantaˈnove/ | — |
| Dopamine | dupamina /dupaˈmiːna/ | — | dopamina /dopaˈmiːna/ | — | — | — | dopamina /dopaˈmina/ |
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