tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23512026.post-44925430875418371052007-03-26T19:59:00.000+02:002007-04-01T17:42:34.242+02:00I love to speak slang. If only to see the Italian faces when they hear it roll off my lips. Everytime I spout out some slang they usually stare at me in disbelief with a wild grin and giggling. Its as if I somehow cracked the barrier and we're on the same playing field as I am instantly elevated in their eyes. I am no longer the struggling Americana who stumbles among her words and mixes up masculine and feminine. I am no longer the ragazza who can't conjugate worth a darn to save her life. But it's all okay. I mean, come on, I can speak slang.<br /><br />Do stai andá? is short for "Dove stai andando?" in English it would translate to "where are you going?"<br />Che stai fá? is short for "Che stai facendo?" or "what are you doing?" <br />Bella! Sometimes pronounces Bellllllaaaaaaaaaah! Also as in Ah, Bella! This is used a lot as in "Hey guys. What's up?" Literally bella means beautiful.<br />fico means "cool" or handsome if you are referring to a man. Fico literally means fig.<br />fica means ""a nice piece of ass" however it can also mean a very vulgar term for a female body part. I think everyone I know that's learned the Italian language has an embarassing story about this one.<br />ammazza or "wow, great" <br />Dai! oh come on! <br />Per carita! Forget about it!<br />Che pizza! How boring!<br />Che palle! this is more vulgar and could be translated to What balls! <br />And let's not forget the oh so loved cazzo which is derived, I think, from cacca and is used all the time everywhere. Not a day goes by that I don't hear "che cazzo fai?" or "che cazzo dici?" or "sti cazzi?" It's really rude and vulgar and I'm sorry if I offend anyone but honestly, I hear it all the time so I'm including it in this post. It's just so Roman. <br /><br /><br />And then let's get down to the basics. The good ol Roman grunting.<br />Eh? This is pretty universal for Yeah? And?<br />Oi! can mean Hey! Hi!<br />Aiyah! means Ouch!<br />and Oooooooooh! is my all time favorite that means oh, come on. As in Ooooooooooh! Che dici? translation: Come on, what are you saying?<br />Just add a few <a href="http://italian.about.com/library/handgestures/blgesturesindex.htm">hand signals</a> or at the very least throw your hands wildly around in the air and you've got it. Your speaking Roman slang!averyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02226337313267567510noreply@blogger.com