Stories of finding hope in a for away land, of cardboard suitcases and the smell of yellowing documents several Italians have at least one relative who emigrated to another country or even to another continent, such as those who came to the US during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The post arriving in America and enduring the difficult selection process the immigrants found themselves wandering the streets and were left amazed and wide-eyed as they looked at the skyscrapers and traffic surrounding them and everything without understanding anything about the language of the people there. The Italian-American slang one came to know and love has not existed without this initial homecoming.

Gradually, newer American words began to become part of their regular lives, taking over their Italian manner of life, intermingling with the several Italian regional dialects. Years later, it continues to form an integral part of the Italian stereotype, something that can be seen in famous films like The Godfather.

Here are just a few instances of commonly used Italian-American slang all of which are still used today by the kids and grandchildren of that first generation of immigrants.

Orrioppo

A strange word, which might sound like the name of some sort of obscure cheese, is in fact a derivative of the phrase “Hurry up!” (Sbrigati! incorrect Italian). Who actually, knows what exactly the initial Italian immigrants would have thought the very first time they heard this.

Bisinisse/Giobba/Bosso

“What am I doing in here? I began out having a giobba and a bosso, but today I have my very own bisinisse.”

It has no link with botany: this man is in fact telling his family back in Italy that he got a job (giobba) having a boss (bosso), and now he has managed to began his own business (or bisinisse).

Wazza mara you?

One more instance of an Italian pronunciation having an English phrase: “What is the matter with you?” (for the fact Qual è il problema? in Italian). We wonder if the American friends ever wondered who this “Mara” was that all the Italians kept mentioning.

Broccolini

Albeit Italians are famous around the world for their cuisine, in this scenari, food has nothing to do with the word. The true meaning of this “culinary” mispronunciation is nothing but one of New York City’s most famous boroughs: Brooklyn! It is funny to think an Italian housewife hearing about the location on the other side of the bridge, and arbitrarily referring to it as a same-sounding vegetable that she eats regularly.