The Incident at Montebello (49 page)

BOOK: The Incident at Montebello
2.79Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

 

mens sana in corpore sano
: (Latin) Translation: a healthy mind in a healthy body

 

Merda
: (slang) Shit!

 

niente
: nothing

 

nonna
: grandmother

 

nonno
: grandfather

 

Oca
: (slang) Damn!

 

OVRA
: Organization for the Vigilance and Repression of Anti-Fascists. Mussolini's feared secret police

 

padre
: priest

 

paesani
: (plural) peasants, farmers, countrymen

 

paesano
: (singular) a peasant, farmer

 

paradiso
: paradise

 

Pietà
: religious statue by Michelangelo of the grieving Virgin Mary holding her dead son, Jesus

 

politici:
(plural) political activists

 

politico
: (singular) a political activist

 

Puh
: interjection of dismissal or contempt

 

puttana:
(slang) whore

 

ragazzo
: young man

 

salumeria
: store specializing in cheese and dried meat

 

‘Scusi, signora
: Excuse me, ma'am.

 

Semper fi: (Latin)
shortened version of
semper fidelis
, the motto of the U.S. Marine Corps
.
Translation: always faithful.

 

signora
: title of respect for a married woman; ma'am or Mrs.

 

signor(e)
: title of respect for a man; mister or Mr.

 

signorina
: title of respect for an unmarried girl/woman; Miss

 

sirocco
: Mediterranean wind that blows in from the Sahara Desert

 

strega
: witch, wise old woman

 

tramontana
: northern wind

 

triskele
: powerful charm with three interconnected spirals, legs, or curved lines

 

Uffa
: interjection expressing annoyance

 

veloce
: quick

 

virilità:
virility

 

Y'hei sh'lama raba min sh'maya:
(Hebrew) Jewish prayer from the Mourner's Kaddish. Translation: May there be abundant peace from heaven.

 

Yit'gadal v'yit'kadash sh'mei raba:
(Hebrew) Jewish prayer from the Mourner's Kaddish. Translation: May His great name grow exalted and sanctified

 

zia:
aunt

 

zio:
uncle

Other books

Storm by Donna Jo Napoli
El Día Del Juicio Mortal by Charlaine Harris
Too Much to Lose by Holt, Samantha
Moon Rising by Ann Victoria Roberts
Darling? by Heidi Jon Schmidt
Fight the Future by Chris Carter
The Duke's Love by Stephanie Maddux
Beyond all Limits by J. T. Brannan
Kif Strike Back by C. J. Cherryh