This fourth selection of regional sayings from Italy comes from Piedmont and Basilicata. I hope you enjoy them:
Three sayings from Piedmont:
If you've ever doubted that your sins can catch up with you, remember this saying:
'A l’è mac le muntagne c’a s’ancuntru nen.'
(‘Only mountains never meet.’)
If you behave badly towards people, know that, sooner or later, you will meet them again.
On why there's no success without risk:
‘A ciapé a furtun-a aj veur del curagi.’
(‘To be lucky, you have to be brave.’)
On the long-term benefit of being a hypochondriac:
'Chi ch’a l’è sempre malavi a l’è l’ultim a meuire.'
(‘He who is always ill dies last.’)
Three sayings from Basilicata
On how to avoid overthinking and stress:
‘Com nash s mèt.’
(‘As it's born, wear it.’)
Take things as they come.
On how we should behave:
‘Fa male e penza, fa 'bbene e scorda.’
(Do harm and think; do good and forget.)
This saying is vivid and comic at the same time; it says it all:
‘Vai a vattià senza ‘u guagnunu.’
(‘You're going to baptism without the baby.’)
You are unprepared.
I always marvel at the ability of sayings to convey so much with so few words. One of their tricks is to translate even complex concepts into everyday scenes in ordinary settings. And it is this almost cinematic conciseness that makes them immediately intelligible and memorable - we understand and remember them because we see them.
Alberico Collina
Three sayings from Piedmont:
If you've ever doubted that your sins can catch up with you, remember this saying:
'A l’è mac le muntagne c’a s’ancuntru nen.'
(‘Only mountains never meet.’)
If you behave badly towards people, know that, sooner or later, you will meet them again.
On why there's no success without risk:
‘A ciapé a furtun-a aj veur del curagi.’
(‘To be lucky, you have to be brave.’)
On the long-term benefit of being a hypochondriac:
'Chi ch’a l’è sempre malavi a l’è l’ultim a meuire.'
(‘He who is always ill dies last.’)
Three sayings from Basilicata
On how to avoid overthinking and stress:
‘Com nash s mèt.’
(‘As it's born, wear it.’)
Take things as they come.
On how we should behave:
‘Fa male e penza, fa 'bbene e scorda.’
(Do harm and think; do good and forget.)
This saying is vivid and comic at the same time; it says it all:
‘Vai a vattià senza ‘u guagnunu.’
(‘You're going to baptism without the baby.’)
You are unprepared.
I always marvel at the ability of sayings to convey so much with so few words. One of their tricks is to translate even complex concepts into everyday scenes in ordinary settings. And it is this almost cinematic conciseness that makes them immediately intelligible and memorable - we understand and remember them because we see them.
Alberico Collina
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