What about Rome? 5 access keys. Key three: magic words

You cannot know and love Rome without a quick look to language.

Nowadays roman people speak a peculiar language, that is not the traditional idioma of the original inhabitans, but you can find some words and ways of pronouncing them that can lead you in a picture of the late nineteenth century.

San Carlino alle quattro fontane (picture from flickr.com)

Starting from this words you can easily understand the authentic spirit of roman culture, which is at the same time, emotionless and nourishing, cold and passionate.

You can start with the word DAJE, that express participation in your pain or trouble. If someone said you DAJE, he or she means “I’m close to you in this moment, I share your feelings, I’m on your side wathever it would be"

Roma-Genoa 2-0 (Picture from giallorossi.net)

DAJE could means also “let’s start”, when you are dreaming white beaches and instead you must face your dentist, or when the alarm clock rings and you would die rather than wake up.

DAJE can be also the final statement during an agreement. “It’s a deal”!

Affare fatto (picture from cinema.everyeye.it)

None could express better than a roman a special wonder feeling. In the expression ANVEDI! (rigorously followed by an exclamation) you can find the deep identity of roman people. It doesn’t mean only “look at…”, but also “such a gorgeous day (or girl)”, or simply “well done guy”!

ANVEDI is perfect in front of a sun eclipse or following a good football move.

Ieri, oggi e domani (Picture from wikipedia.org)

In your roman language vademecum few swear words cannot be missed.

The first one is VAMMORIAMMAZZATO, hard to pronounce even for italian people if they don’t live in Rome. It express an extreme insult because alludes to metaphorical death of the interlocutor, but, above all, it would establish an unbridgeable gap between you and the other person.

A well known movie directed by Mario Monicelli in 1981, quoted a sentence from the “Li soprani der monno vecchio” written by a famous traditional roman poet, Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli. While a group of poor people was carried out to gallows, the Marquis Del Grillo getting in to his coach said: “Ah…me dispiace. Ma io so io e voi nun siete ‘n cazzo”, that more or less could be translated as “Ah…I’m sorry, but I am I and you are nothing at all”.

Il Marchese del Grillo (Video from youtube)

Cynicism and uncontrollable arrogance, linked to a dark and cold humor give you a good picture of roman language and identity.

Going to the end, another manner of speaking to say “ok, that’s fine” or better “I don’t care at all”, or even better “couldn’t care less” is the renowned “STI CAZZI”, that is almost a birth certificate of a roman.

You can use STI CAZZI to express anger, but also to reassure a friend or a partner about the next future. Is a coloured way to say “all is going well, don’t warry at all”. And more often is a way to confirm yourself that despite misfortune, you will accomplish your task whatever it would be.

Sti Cazzi (Video from youtube)

The last suggestion I will give you about roman language is not exactely a word. We can define it more an interjection. Only three letters: AHO (accent on O and interrogative tone). You can use AHO answering to a friend who call your name, such as “Mario!” and you “AHO”? meaning “what’s the matter”?

Or you can simply come in to a room during a meeting and say “AHO”?, that means “good morning everyone, I’am here now”.

Or you can keep your cell phone ringing, push the answer botton and say “AHO”? instead of more elegant and traditional “Hello”!

AHO (Picture from roma.fanpage.it)