Milanese · Lombardy
Milan
The Milanese 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.
The dictionary
The words of Milan
The list shows the English meaning where we have it; each word page is in Italian.
1,483 words, from A to Z
How to read it
Reading the Milanese
ü
Like the French «u»: round your lips as for «oo», but think «ee»: lüna, moon.
ö, oeu
Two ways of writing the same sound, like the French «eu»: cör and coeur, heart.
s'c
The «s» and the soft «c» (as in «church») stay apart: s'ciopp, gun, is read «s-ciopp».
fradell
Words lose their final vowel, except «a»: fradell, brother; but süpa, soup.
nocc
At the end of a word «c» is soft, like the «ch» in «church»: nocc, night.
Source: Wikipedia · Dialetto milanese (CC BY-SA)
Words with a story
The stories of Milan
In English here; the word page, with its source, is in Italian.
The keepers
The keepers of Milan
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.
The supporter
This bell tower is looking for a supporter
A shop, a bakery or an association from Milan: a single sign per bell tower, here, with no pop-up ads.
Coming after the site opens: if you are interested, write to us.
Nearby bell towers
The whole page in Italian
Phrasebook, quiz, «si dice così?» and the poster are on the Italian page of Milano.