You are right !alifano76 wrote:TO ALYZA... I know very well the meaning of the tongue-twister you said (Cheech kah-mah-nah kah-lah - Kah-lah kah-mah-nah cheech). The correct version is (in the dialect of Alife): Cicciu cumà nn'a Còla e Cola cumà nn'a Cicciu. Its translation into Italian is: Francesco comanda a Nicola e Nicola comanda a Francesco. In english is: Frank orders (do something) to Nick and Nick orders (do something) to Frank. We use this proverb to indicate when someone wants to do something and asking someone else to do, so as to "bounce" the thing to do ... I hope you understand my explanation... GAETANO
Has anyone ever heard this expression?
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
You are right, Peter is wrongMaryMena wrote:As to the word "Scustumata".
I am from Calabria and that word is a dialect word still widely used among my relatives. It simply means bad mannered, rude, or not showing the proper respect.
Mary
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
de mammata means: your mothers'donnawright wrote:I hesitate because I don't know what the heck these things say, but this one has never been in a complimentary manner either. Here goes.
ed nah gaddita da mammita
The first emphasis was on the Ed
Sorry if it's bad.
Donna
ed nah gaddita ??? never heard it before, but it sounds like she was cursing the mother
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
Julo,
Perhaps you know the phrase "booch nas kah tah" or something like that. I am told it means I hope you burst/bust.
Perhaps you know the phrase "booch nas kah tah" or something like that. I am told it means I hope you burst/bust.
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
LOL. Italians are so colorful and / or creative with their language. It just cracks me up.
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
Yes, that phrase makes me laugh every time I hear it. My great grandmother would bite her hand while she said it.aliza24 wrote:LOL. Italians are so colorful and / or creative with their language. It just cracks me up.
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
Biting her hand- ha ha! That's another thing- how animated they are.
I saw Martin Scorsese on a talk show once and he was telling a funny story about shooting the film Gangs of New York in Italy and what a challenge it was at times. He needed a lot of extras for this one scene but needed light-haired / eyed Italians.
They advertised and got the extras. He said they had to tell them to just PRETEND that they were having a conversation in the background without saying anything. Well, they DID keep quiet but they were all moving their hands and making gestures. LOL.
They had to keep telling them "don't move your hands!" Even a FAKE conversation couldn't come without the appropriate gestures! That just cracks me up.
I saw Martin Scorsese on a talk show once and he was telling a funny story about shooting the film Gangs of New York in Italy and what a challenge it was at times. He needed a lot of extras for this one scene but needed light-haired / eyed Italians.
They advertised and got the extras. He said they had to tell them to just PRETEND that they were having a conversation in the background without saying anything. Well, they DID keep quiet but they were all moving their hands and making gestures. LOL.
They had to keep telling them "don't move your hands!" Even a FAKE conversation couldn't come without the appropriate gestures! That just cracks me up.
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
I've been told several times that I talk with my hands.aliza24 wrote:Biting her hand- ha ha! That's another thing- how animated they are.
I saw Martin Scorsese on a talk show once and he was telling a funny story about shooting the film Gangs of New York in Italy and what a challenge it was at times. He needed a lot of extras for this one scene but needed light-haired / eyed Italians.
They advertised and got the extras. He said they had to tell them to just PRETEND that they were having a conversation in the background without saying anything. Well, they DID keep quiet but they were all moving their hands and making gestures. LOL.
They had to keep telling them "don't move your hands!" Even a FAKE conversation couldn't come without the appropriate gestures! That just cracks me up.
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
My husband and best friend claim if you tied my hands together
I couldn't talk......
I couldn't talk......
___________________________
"Cambiano i suonatori ma la musica è sempre quella."
"Cambiano i suonatori ma la musica è sempre quella."
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
wldspirit wrote:My husband and best friend claim if you tied my hands together
I couldn't talk......
Well, to me it just feels unnatural talking without moving my hands.
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
It is unnatural......I've tried and it just doesn't work!!
___________________________
"Cambiano i suonatori ma la musica è sempre quella."
"Cambiano i suonatori ma la musica è sempre quella."
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
My family originally came from Reggio Calabria, my uncle Frank & any cousins were always called Cheech. I also was told that a "chooch" meant that you were a jackass. Just my .02 cents...Johnnie.... P.S. Someone tied my hands together. so im typing this with my nose...lol
Researching IEMMA, From Cittanova, Reggio Calabria, also YEMMA & AMIE from Syracuse NY
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Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
Ciccio (Cheech) is a popular nickname
Ciuccio (chooch) means indeed a jackass
Ciuccio (chooch) means indeed a jackass
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
booch ???never heardSquigy wrote:Julo,
Perhaps you know the phrase "booch nas kah tah" or something like that. I am told it means I hope you burst/bust.
The closest thing that comes to mind is the neapolitan: "puozzano schiattá "
which indeed means: May they burst
it sure sounds like what you wrote in pig italian
Re: Has anyone ever heard this expression?
I was thinking maybe it was one of those sayings that got muddled in America. Like Sophia Petrillo's "Botchagaloop".Julo wrote:booch ???never heardSquigy wrote:Julo,
Perhaps you know the phrase "booch nas kah tah" or something like that. I am told it means I hope you burst/bust.
The closest thing that comes to mind is the neapolitan: "puozzano schiattá "
which indeed means: May they burst
it sure sounds like what you wrote in pig italian