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Nonnese

Florentine · Tuscany

Florence

The Florentine dialect, word by word: what it means, where it comes from and who checks it. Meanings are in English where we have them, otherwise in Italian.

315 words264 sourced51 to be checkedKeepers: 0 of 3
Search the wordsThe page in Italian
Florence

The dictionary

The words of Florence

The list shows the English meaning where we have it; each word page is in Italian.

315 words, from A to Z

a bestiacarelessly, poorly, roughlySourceda San Martino la sementa del poverinoby Saint Martin's day even the poor man sows his wheat — the right time has come19th-century formabbadareto mind, to watch outSourcedabbiadareto fodder (to feed with fodder)Sourcedabbiòccodrowsiness after eatingTo be checkedabbozzalastop itSourcedacchiappinotag (the game)Sourcedaccomodareto repairTo be checkedaccostoclosedSourcedacquacòttaTuscan vegetable and bread soupSourcedacquaiosinkTo be checkedacquidoccioaqueductSourcedadesareto tidy upSourcedaffiorareto make (bread) with flourSourcedagguantareto hitSourcedallicciareto make offSourcedallo svogliato il mèle pare amaroto the unwilling, even honey tastes bitter19th-century formallumacareto mark with a trail of slime or mucus; to smudge, to dirty; to make streaks on (a fabric) by ironing it against the napSourcedalluminareto illuminateSourcedallupatostarvingTo be checkedalzar le mazzeto leave, to go away19th-century formambrentithe plant Helichrysum stoechasSourcedammennicolareto daydream, fantasizeSourcedammodinocarefully19th-century formandóvewhere19th-century formanfanare a seccoto ramble on aimlessly, talk nonsense19th-century formarruffónemessy19th-century formarsèllaclam19th-century formarzillosparklingSourcedasciughinodish cloth19th-century formaverci: there beSourcedavere: there beSourcedavere a ridossoto have (someone) who is dependentSourcedbabbalèofool, simpletonSourcedbabbaloccosimpletonSourcedbabbanostupid, foolish; dupe, foolSourcedbabbodad, fatherSourcedbaccèllonaive19th-century formbacchettareto sell at a very low priceSourcedbacchiareto beat the branches (to bring down the fruit)19th-century formbacheròzzoinsect19th-century formbaciapìlebigot (overly pious)19th-century formballottaboiled chestnutSourcedbalòccotoyTo be checkedbalzellareto lie in ambush for; to wait expectantly for (someone)Sourcedbandóneroller shutterTo be checkedbardòttoyoung shop assistantSourcedbiadareto fodder (animals)Sourced

How to read it

Reading the Florentine

c → h

Between two vowels the hard «c» turns into a breath, like an «h»: sfaticare, to toil, sounds almost like «sfatihare».

ci → sci

Between two vowels the soft «c» softens too, like the «sh» in «ship»: bruciata, roast chestnut, sounds like «brushata».

across words too

It also happens from one word to the next: «la casa» sounds almost like «la hasa». After a consonant the c stays hard: bischerata, silly thing.

spelled like Italian

None of this is written: you spell it like Italian and read it the Florentine way. P and t between vowels soften too: popone, melon.

Source: Wikipedia · Gorgia toscana, Vernacolo fiorentino (CC BY-SA)

The keepers

The keepers of Florence

Three people from the town who really speak the dialect. They confirm the words, correct them and add the missing ones. Their name stays on this page, only if they want.

Free seatKeeper 1
Free seatKeeper 2
Free seatKeeper 3
Become a keeper (form in Italian)

The supporter

This bell tower is looking for a supporter

A shop, a bakery or an association from Florence: a single sign per bell tower, here, with no pop-up ads.

Your name here

Coming after the site opens: if you are interested, write to us.

Nearby bell towers

Genoa GenoeseVenice VenetianRome Roman

The whole page in Italian

Phrasebook, quiz, «si dice così?» and the poster are on the Italian page of Firenze.