"uccio' vs "uzzo" nickname extensions

[MarcuccioV]

I have seen over my almost 60 years many variations of Italian nickname extensions -- But I'm very curious about two: -uccio and -uzzo. My question is whether or not these are regional, and if so, what regions..?

Example: We had a neighbor from Canneto di Bari (now Adelfia) in Puglia who used the "uccio" sound and always called me "Marcuccio" (the handle I use on this site).

In my own family, it was common to use "uzzo" (I was Marcuzzo and my cousin Johnny was Gianuzzo).

Now I know in Godfather II, Vito refers to Michael as "Micheluzzo". Now cousin Johnny's mother was Sicilian, but our family from the peninsula used it, too.

I'm wondering if it was carried over from (yet unconnected) relatives from south on the island, or if it's just random or attributed to "parlata burina" (country-speak)..? It's something I've always wondered about...

[darkerhorse]

My family uses "uzzu" or just "uzz".

According to Joseph Privitera, popular diminutives in Sicilan are "uzzu", "ceddu"," inu", and "iddu", indicating size, feeling, or affection.

Feminine changes the ending "u" to "a" in all cases.

Possible contradictions:
In the Godfather, I think Sonny calls Tom "Tomanucc(io)" rather than Tomanuzz(u).

In the Godfather, it's Don "Tomassino" instead of "Tomassinu".

In the Godfather II, it's Don "Fanucci" instead of "Fanuzzu" (assuming that's his first name).

In my experience the letters "u" and "z" are very Sicilian, perhaps replacing "o" and "c", respectively.

[MarcuccioV]

My family uses "uzzu" or just "uzz".

According to Joseph Privitera, popular diminutives in Sicilan are "uzzu", "ceddu"," inu", and "iddu", indicating size, feeling, or affection.

Feminine changes the ending "u" to "a" in all cases.

Possible contradictions:
In the Godfather, I think Sonny calls Tom "Tomanucc(io)" rather than Tomanuzz(u).

In the Godfather, it's Don "Tomassino" instead of "Tomassinu".

In the Godfather II, it's Don "Fanucci" instead of "Fanuzzu" (assuming that's his first name).

In my experience the letters "u" and "z" are very Sicilian, perhaps replacing "o" and "c", respectively.

My thoughts also, which makes me wonder if it was a lingoism brought up from the south...

[MarcuccioV]

Additionally, the Barese neighbor called my dad "Raffaluccio" (his name was Ralph), but my grandmother just used "Raffi". I can't recall what my grandfather used -- it could have very well been "Raffaluzzo"...

[darkerhorse]

My grandparents called my father (Sebastiano) "yon" as an adult. I don't know what they called him as a child. Some of his favorite paternal relatives called him "Ianuzz" even as an adult.

In their town the proper name was always spelled Sebastiano in records, though St. Sebastian is referred to as "San Sebastianu" or even "Sammastianu" in dialect.

[darkerhorse]

In one prayer/chant the saint's even referred to as "paisanu".

[darkerhorse]

Imagine calling a saint (or religious person) "paisan" in the U.S.?

[MarcuccioV]

My grandparents called my father (Sebastiano) "yon" as an adult. I don't know what they called him as a child. Some of his favorite paternal relatives called him "Ianuzz" even as an adult.

In their town the proper name was always spelled Sebastiano in records, though St. Sebastian is referred to as "San Sebastianu" or even "Sammastianu" in dialect.

IF, as I suspect, the "zz" as opposed to "cc" is a Sicilianism, then I can see over a few generations of being away from similar speakers, things like the tailing 'u' sound could revert back to an 'o', whereas other things like the 'zz' could remain.

I know I've mentioned this before, but my grandmother spoke the word "questo" more like it's pronounced in Sicily than in Rome. Whether that's a causation of rural lingo or from familial pronunciation over generations I don't know.

[bbivona]

I think of "uccio" as a nickname more Italian and "uzzo" as a purely Sicilian thing. There are a lot of variations, and I have Sicilian relatives who are called both Peppino and Peppuccio (same person), but called that when speaking Italian. I see the "ino" and "uccio" endings used for people in Italy, but when I see "uzzo" though, it's always Sicilians being talked to by Sicilians.

[MarcuccioV]

I think of "uccio" as a nickname more Italian and "uzzo" as a purely Sicilian thing. There are a lot of variations, and I have Sicilian relatives who are called both Peppino and Peppuccio (same person), but called that when speaking Italian. I see the "ino" and "uccio" endings used for people in Italy, but when I see "uzzo" though, it's always Sicilians being talked to by Sicilians.

Thank you, you confirmed my suspicions. Now I just have to connect the two very distant locations somehow (BTW, I even have DNA matches with Bivona's in their trees).

My Aunt's cousin Joe was known by his Sicilian family as "Peppineddu"...

[darkerhorse]

I wouldn't be surprised if Sicilian iddu/eddu is a substitute for Italian illo/ello.

[MarcuccioV]

I wouldn't be surprised if Sicilian iddu/eddu is a substitute for Italian illo/ello.

I believe it is. At least my Aunt's relatives (Carini) & my BFF's family (Mezzojuso) used it that way. It was one thing we did not do, though, unless it modified back out from being away from the dialect long enough.

[darkerhorse]

Can we promote your BFF to cumpare, at least in this forum?

[MarcuccioV]

Can we promote your BFF to cumpare, at least in this forum?

Yes. we actually call each other "goomb"..!

He's also my first cousin's brother-in-law, so by Italian/Sicilian standards, we're related, LOL...

Our grandfather's were friends as well.

[darkerhorse]

I suppose "goomba" is an Anglicization of "cumpari".

I think, in the Godfather, Michael's future father-in-law introduces him to one of his "cumpari" in the scene where Michael first meets Appolonia at an outside family gathering.