Sardinian · Sardinia
Nuoro
The Sardinian 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 Nuoro
The list shows the English meaning where we have it; each word page is in Italian.
990 words, from A to Z
How to read it
Reading the Sardinian
che, chi
Always hard, like the «k» in «kettle»: chentu, hundred; chelu, sky.
dd
It is not a plain double d: you say it with the tip of the tongue curled back: nieddu, black; isteddu, star.
tz
Read like the «ts» in «cats»: petza, meat.
j
Read like the «y» in «yes»: janna, door.
an extra vowel
When a word ends in a consonant, at the end of a sentence you add a vowel that is not written, usually the same as the one before: fintzas, also, sounds almost like «fintzasa».
Source: Wikipedia · Lingua sarda, Sardo logudorese (CC BY-SA)
The keepers
The keepers of Nuoro
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 Nuoro: 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 Nuoro.