Neapolitan/expressions

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Neapolitan Primer

(Table of Contents)

edit Grammar Pronunciation Alphabet Nouns Articles Prepositions Adjectives Pronouns Verbs Adverbs Conjunctions Interrogatives Syntax Usage Greetings 501 Neapolitan verbs Numbers Calendar Colors Weather Food Parts of the body Rooms of the house Expressions and figures of speech Resources Bibliography Sites

[edit] Mmode 'e dicere (figures of speech)

Neapolitan	English (literal)	English
Ttiene ‘a capa fresca	s/he has a fresh head	s/he is headstrong
Ttiene ‘a capa ppè spartere ‘e rrecchie	s/he has a head to keep his ears apart	s/he is foolish
Chell’è l’urdemmo lampione ‘e Forerotta	s/he is the last lamp-post in Fuorigrotta	s/he is a non-entity [Fuorigrotta is a formerly outlying quarter of Naples]
Addo’ t’avvii?	Where are you going off to?	Where do you think you're going? / What you just said is a flight of fancy
Facimme ‘na cosa ‘e juòrne!	let’s do this by day[light]!	hurry up!
Uogne ddue e ttrè	Every two and three	very often
Ssì brutt’ quant’ 'o ddébbit’!	You are as ugly as debt	You are very ugly
Ma cche staje facenn'? 'O ppane?	What are you doing? Making bread?	Why is this taking you so long?

There is also an extensive listing of Neapolitan figures of speech on the Neapolitan wikipedia