Grandma Lucia

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Gli occhi devono confrontarsi."

English:

"Eyes must meet."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"A vesta cucita nun s'adda scosere 'cchiù."

English:

"The sewn garment must not be unstitched again."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O tten o nunn o tten, basta sul ca te vo 'bben."

English:

"Whether they have it or not, as long as they love you."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Pure l'amore s'ha da imparare."

English:

"Even love must be learned."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Petrienete."

English:

N.A. (it's one word meaning something like: 'Believe in your worth and make it count')

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"À vecchia teneva cient ann e dicette: <Ancora m'aggia 'mparà!>."

English:

"The elderly woman was a hundred years old and said: 'I still have to learn!'"

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Ò 'patè te fa 'mparà."

English:

"Suffering teaches you."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Cient mesure e unu taglio."

English:

"A hundred measurements and a single cut."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Ogne evera cuoglie e cundescele cu 'll'uoglie."

English:

"Pick every herb and season it with oil."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O' fatt d'à pentola ò 'ssap à cucchiara."

English:

"The ladle knows the pot’s affairs."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Ogne piecco aiuta."

English:

"Every little thing helps."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Ogne ccos s'adda avè à fermezza."

English:

"In everything, one must have firmness."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Nisciuno te dice: <Lavete à faccia, ca pare 'cchiù bell e' me>."

English:

"No one will tell you: 'Wash your face so you'll look more beautiful than me.'"

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Nella vita ci sono tante cose che non vorresti proprio scrivere a calendario.
Ma nella ristrettezza dei fatti, chi ti può essere d'aiuto, se non i genitori?"

English:

"In life, there are many things you’d rather not mark on a calendar.
But when reality tightens, who can help you, if not your parents?"

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Cca ò 'ffacimme e cca ò scuntamme."

English:

"Here we do it, and here we pay for it."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O posto fisso stev sul o' cimitero. E mò manc cchiù llà."

English:

"A permanent job was only at the cemetery. Now, not even there."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Poche parole e cavere e' panne nun faje maje danno."

English:

"Few words and warm clothes are never harmful."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O munno se fa nu mattone à vota."

English:

"The world is built one brick at a time."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O 'pparlà è 'mmericina."

English:

"Speaking is medicine."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O sang nuosto ten na vena amara."

English:

"Our blood has a bitter vein."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Ll'anne fanno è panne."

English:

"The years make the clothes."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Scupate à casa, ca nun saje chi trase. Fatt o' liett, ca nun saje chi aspiett."

English:

"Sweep the house, for you don’t know who might come in. Make the bed, for you don’t know who you might be expecting."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Chi nun se scet e' matina nun s'abbosca o' carlino."

English:

"He who doesn’t wake up early doesn’t earn the carlino."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O primmo solco nunn è solco."

English:

"The first furrow you dig is not a furrow."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Pure 'nda sacca ce vò 'll'ordine."

English:

"Even in your pocket, there must be order."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Eppure l'America è solo una parola."

English:

"And yet, America is just a word."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"L'omm è comm e o' carbone: vivo te coce e muorte te tegne."

English:

"Man is like coal: when lit, he burns you; when extinguished, he stains you."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"È caruto 'ngoppa a l'evera vasciulella."

English:

"He fell on low grass."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Chi tira e chi spezza."

English:

"Some pull, and some break."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Male a chella pecora ca nun fa à lana soja."

English:

"Woe to the sheep that doesn’t produce its wool."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Quann arriva 'll'ora, scatta comm e à vrola."

English:

"When the moment comes, it snaps like a hot chestnut pan."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Comm a nu cane arraggiato, c'a primma perzona ca sconta a' mozzica.
'Ccussì so e' perzone che non stanno sulla retta via."

English:

"Like an angry dog that bites the first person it meets, so are those who are not on the right path."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"S'è unito o' strummolo a tiriteppolo e a' funnicella corta."

English:

"The blunt spinning top and the short string have come together."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O sazio nun crede all'affamato."

English:

"The full person doesn’t believe the hungry one."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Che vulisse fa'? Annella 'ndu stipo?"

English:

"What are you trying to do — Annetta hidden in the cupboard?"

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O ciuccio s'appiccica e e' varrille se scassano."

English:

"The donkey gets angry and the barrels break."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O vino buono se venne senza a frasca."

English:

"Good wine sells without the leaf."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"E problem gruosse so chille ca nun risolvi."

English:

"Big problems are the ones you don’t solve."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"A 'llu friere se sente a' 'ddore."

English:

"When you fry it, you smell it."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Pericule 'nderra. Pericule 'ndo mare. Pericule pure e' pier e' Cristo."

English:

"Dangers in the sea, dangers on land, dangers even at the feet of Christ."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Chist tene a' galletta sette canne."

English:

N.A.

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Chi se beruglia se sberuglia."

English:

"Who complicates things on their own, must resolve them on their own."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Chi è 'bbuon, à casa torna."

English:

"Who is good, returns home."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"A' via longa s'à mangiano e' spine."

English:

"The long road is eaten by brambles."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"A' 'lleccatura nun sazia e' cane."

English:

"What’s left to lick doesn’t satisfy the dogs."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Ricco comm e o' mare."

English:

"Rich as the sea."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Cornelia Gracchi presentò i suoi figli: <Questi sono i miei gioielli>."

English:

"Cornelia Gracchi presented her sons: 'These are my jewels.'"

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Faje chelle ca te rincresce e vire che te riesce."

English:

"Do what you’re reluctant to do, and see how well it turns out."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"A' ricamatrice sconceca e a' stiratrice aggiusta."

English:

"The embroiderer roughs up the garment, and the ironer fixes it."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O' mobile è bell e a' pittura è 'ffine."

English:

"The furniture is beautiful and the paintwork is refined."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Quando il fiore si discosta dalla pianta dice che vuole essere colto."

English:

"When the flower moves away from the plant, it says it wants to be picked."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Meglio appartené a' cana ca o' cane."

English:

"Better to be related to the bride than to the groom."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Dimme a 'cchi si 'ffiglie e te dico a 'cchi sumiglie."

English:

"Tell me whose child you are, and I’ll tell you who you resemble"

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"A letto stretto, cucchete 'mmiezzo."

English:

"In a narrow bed, lie in the middle."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Si appicce à cannela, fà o' fummo."

English:

"If you light the candle, it smokes."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Acqua passata non macina mulino."

English:

"Water that has passed doesn’t grind the mill."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Muntagna e muntagna nun se scontano."

English:

"Only mountain and mountain do not meet."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Si vire e brucià o' pagliaro, virete o pagliaro tuojo."

English:

"If you see a haystack burning, think of your own haystack."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Agg luate a' taverna à nanze à Carnevale."

English:

"We’ve removed the table from in front of Carnival."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Si riesco a' 'ssci a' chesti botte nunn'esco 'cchiù a chesta porta e' notte."

English:

"If I manage to get through this situation, I’ll never go out the front door at night again."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O' muto è male servuto."

English:

"The mute is poorly served."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Pure Gesù Cristo 'ngoppa a' croce etta accettà."

English:

"Even Christ on the cross had to accept."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O' ppoco abbasta e assaje guasta."

English:

"A little is enough, and too much spoils."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Jeve 'lla e truavo casale sacchiato."

English:

"I went there and found a looted farmhouse."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Beata quell'erba che cresce e cresce nella buona terra."

English:

"Blessed is the grass that grows and grows in good soil."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"A' sera lucene e a' matina fà vergogna."

English:

"At night they sparkle, in the morning they bring shame."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Aspettaveme e' grazie e' Pasqua e so arrivar l'avvise e' arresto."

English:

"We were expecting Easter pardons, and instead arrest warrants arrived."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O' ciuccio ten 36 chiaje e pure a' cora fraceta."

English:

"The donkey has 36 wounds and a rotten tail."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Tene o' serpe 'ndo manicone!"

English:

"He has a snake up his sleeve."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O' strizzico fitto fà o' pertuso a' selice."

English:

"The fine trickle makes a hole in flint."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Miercurì à merculella
Gioverì chest e chella
Viernarì se cant o' pass
Sabbat se scioglie a 'loria
e Dummeneca o' banchettorio."

English:

"Wednesday, the “little Wednesday”
Thursday, this and that
Friday, the Passion is sung
Saturday, the Gloria is sung
And Sunday, the grand banquet."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O' contadino tene e' scarpe vecchie e a cerevella fine."

English:

"The farmer wears old shoes but has a refined mind."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Un bambino andava a scuola
senza voglia e volontà.
All'andata della scuola
vide un pollo e lo chiamò:
'Ma perché non sono nato
pollastrello come te?'.
Al ritorno della scuola
una donna prese il pollo
gli tirò ben bene il collo
e poi lo appese al chiò.
'Non voglio essere più un pollastro
ma a scuola voglio andar'."

English:

"A child went to school without desire or will.
On the way to school, he saw a chicken and said:
'Why wasn’t I born a little chick like you?'
On the way back from school,
a woman grabbed the chicken,
wrung its neck thoroughly,
and hung it on a hook.
'I no longer want to be a chick,
I want to go to school!'"

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Addò mettimme o' pere mettimme a' cape."

English:

"Where we place our foot, we place our head."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Vene a' morte e te chiure a' porta."

English:

"Death comes and shuts the door on you."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Si uno nun more n'ato nun gode."

English:

"If one doesn’t die, another doesn’t enjoy."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Male sempe chi more e Paraviso nun trove.
Chi resta sempe minestra."

English:

"Woe to those who die and don’t find Paradise.
For those who remain, it’s always soup."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Quann è 'ffesta, sciuglimee o' manifesto."

English:

"When it’s a holiday, we open the posters."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Pasqua marzata, o murea, o famatica."

English:

"Easter in March — it’s either death or hunger."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Scarta, scarta, vaje 'ndo scarto."

English:

"Keep discarding, and you’ll end up in the discard pile."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O' capone mbuttunato nun ce cape 'ndo pignato."

English:

"The stuffed cockerel doesn’t fit in the baking pan."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Chiacchiere e parachiacchiere, o' banco nun s'è piglia."

oppure

"Chiacchiere e parachiacchiere o' banc e' Napule nn'e' 'mpigna."

English:

"Talk and empty talk — the Bank of Naples doesn’t accept them as collateral."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Chesta è a' zita e se chiamma 'Sabella."

English:

"This is the spinster, and her name is Isabella."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Vieste ciccone che pare barone."

English:

"Dress like a rich man and you'll look like a baron."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Mmiezz o' mare nun ce stanno taverne."

English:

"In the middle of the sea, there are no taverns."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O' cuffiato pure m'Paraviso va."

English:

"Even the deluded goes to Heaven."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"<<E va bene>>
dicette Marco a Maddalena
quanno vedette
a' mamma, o' pate
e a' figlia prena."

English:

"‘All right then,’
said Marco to Maddalena,
when he saw the mother, the father,
and the pregnant daughter."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Ciccibacco 'ngoppe a' votte: chi o tira e chi o votta."

English:

"Ciccibacco on the barrel: some pull him, some push him."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"A' banca o' sciulio nunn'à tenimme."

English:

"We don’t have an inexhaustible bank."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Cient nemici fuori e no uno dentro."

English:

"A hundred enemies outside, and not one inside."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O' posto mije ce sta Dio."

English:

"In my place, there is God."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Dio se ne pasce dei cuori."

English:

"God delights in hearts."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Basta la buona volontà e Dio ti segue."

English:

"All it takes is goodwill, and God will be with you."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O Signore annanze e tu areto."

English:

"God goes before you, and you follow."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Nu diavolo caccia à n'ato."

English:

"One devil drives out another."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Dio ci ha dato e noi diamo."

English:

"God has given to us, and we give."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Marì ea ringrazià a Dio ca t'ha dato e' cerevelle."

English:

"Maria, you must thank God for giving you reason."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Ciò che è scritto in cielo in terra non manca."

English:

"What is written in heaven will not be missing on earth."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Nu detto antico dice: <S'essa fa primma a vecchiaia e po' a gioventù>. Ma Dio ha fatt tutt cos buon."

English:

"An old saying goes: 'Old age should come before youth.' But God has made everything well."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Nun m'aggio maje pittato niente. A me m'ha pittato Dio."

English:

"I’ve never painted myself. God painted me."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"O male guvernatore o' guverna Dio."

English:

"The incapable ruler is governed by God."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Addò vede a' neve, Dio spanne o' sole."

English:

"Where He sees snow, God spreads sunshine."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Chi vò e' grazie à Dio nunn adda ije e' presso."

English:

"Those who seek God's blessings must not be in a hurry."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Scenne o' diavolo à copp e' titt e se piglia e' stuorte e e' deritte."

English:

"The devil comes down from the rooftops and takes away both the crooked and the straight."

Neapolitan dialect or Italian:

"Quando vedi che fai dei passi avanti è segno che la Madonna ti sta accompagnando."

English:

"When you see that you're making progress, it's a sign that the Virgin Mary is walking with you."