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San Severo dialect · Foggia, Apulia

San Severo

The dialect of San Severo, in the Capitanata: the stressed «a» that becomes «e», the «ë» you can barely hear and the words of the Festa del Soccorso.

297 words120 sourced177 to be checkedKeepers: 0 of 3

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The dictionary

The words of San Severo

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

297 words, from A to Z

'A ciucce n-ne vò cchiù de pagghiethe she-donkey wants no more straw: said of someone finally retiringSourced 'A cod'u ciucce se n-ge fa a vind'anne n-ge fa cchiùif the donkey's tail hasn't grown by twenty, it never will: character doesn't changeSourced a la wèrr' a la wèrrë, cë màggnë e ccë vévë e ccë dòrmë ndèrrëin war you eat, drink and sleep on the floorSourced a lènghë në nd’è l’òssë, ma ròmbë l’òssëhurtful tongueTo be checked a Sàndë Martìnë ognë mùstë cë fà a vìnëat Saint Martin's every must becomes wineSourced acchiàto findTo be checked àcchjëstack of sheavesTo be checked accumëhow, likeTo be checked acquanévsleetTo be checked acquarulëwater sellerTo be checked addórsmellTo be checked agghiëtillëyoung (green) garlicSourced agghjëtìllëlittle lizardSourced ajjùtëmëhelp meTo be checked ajute, frète, ca u ciucce rirepush, brother, the donkey is laughing: hoping in a lost causeSourced allà te vòje, Peppe, a la nghianète!there I want you, Peppe, on the uphill: hardship shows who's worth somethingSourced allassacresasuddenlyTo be checked angóreagain; stillTo be checked annascusehiddenSourced appressënear, behindTo be checked AprucínApricenaTo be checked arracamàto embroiderTo be checked arrassàto send awayTo be checked arvërëtreeTo be checked aschiftip, pointTo be checked aspitte, jàsene mìie, 'a crošca noue!wait, my donkey, for the new scab!: keep waiting and hopingSourced bacéto kissTo be checked bbardasceboyTo be checked bbecchëchinTo be checked bbërlòcchëjewelSourced bbón'well, goodTo be checked bbucclètëcurls; hedgehogs; sea urchinsTo be checked bbuffëttónëslapTo be checked bbusëlètëmezzanine, loftSourced cacciunelldogTo be checked cagnàto changeSourced calcagnheelSourced cambagnecountrysideTo be checked canarínëthroatTo be checked carnuuälecarnivalSourced cavzonëtrousersTo be checked cavzonëtrousersTo be checked cavzónë curtëshortsTo be checked cchjésëchurchSourced cëcatèllëcavatelli (pasta)Sourced cëcërigghjàto speak quietlyTo be checked cëresëcherryTo be checked cëstugnëtortoiseTo be checked

How to read it

Reading the San Severo dialect

a → e

The stressed «a» becomes «e»: brother is frète.

ë

Many words end with a vowel you can barely hear. It is written «ë»: fochë, fire.

fujë appressë 'u fochë

Running close to the fire: this is where the fujenti of the Festa del Soccorso get their name.

Source: Wikipedia · Dialetti della Puglia, Fujenti (CC BY-SA)

Words with a story

The stories of San Severo

In English here; the word page, with its source, is in Italian.

San Severo dialect · San Severo

va jttà u sangh

go to work

A colourful expression: the tone matters.

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San Severo dialect · San Severo

brother

Brother, in San Severo, is frète.

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San Severo dialect · San Severo

fujenti (those who run after the fireworks at the feast)

At the Festa del Soccorso, in May, batteries of fireworks go off in the streets of San Severo.

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San Severo dialect · San Severo

dead

In San Severo the same form is often used for «dead man» and «dead men».

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San Severo dialect · San Severo

pettole (fried dough balls)

Little balls of leavened dough, very soft, fried in boiling oil.

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San Severo dialect · San Severo

prëcëssjónë

procession

A word of the Festa del Soccorso and of the Good Friday rites.

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The keepers

The keepers of San Severo

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

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Spread the word

Do you know someone who speaks the San Severo dialect?

Send them the word check: from the phone, one word at a time, two minutes (in Italian).

Nearby bell towers

Naples Neapolitan Bari Apulian Rome Roman

The whole page in Italian

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