Home Italy Revisited Bookshelf Plays About Mary Melfi Contact Us
in
Folk Sayings Animals
Italy - Pre 1969 or Around the World, Click here

Campania, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings or Proverbs on Chickens, Hens, Roosters, Capons, Ducks and Geese -- by Region -- Campania
     
      CAMPANIA
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Quanne piscia 'a gallina!
      o in English: (Literally) When the chicken pees. (Equivalent) That will never happen. Or, I'll never do that!
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #820500

View full size image

Molise, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings or Proverbs on Chickens, Hens, Roosters, Capons, Ducks and Geese -- by Region
     
      Casacalenda, Molise
      o in Italian: (Dialect) A galline se pele dope morte.
      o in English: (Literally) A chicken is plucked after it dies. Meaning: There's a time for everything. Or, Look before you leap. Or, Be patient and don't jeopardize a good thing (e.g. in reference to inheritance).
     
     
     
     
     
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1161560

View full size image

Piedmont, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Chickens and Roasters -- by Region -- Piedmont
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Per non stare male, va letto con le galline e alzati con il gallo.
      o in English: If you don't want to feel bad, go to bed with the chickens and get up with the roaster.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Chi mangi berele 'd galet a dventa andvin.
      o in English: Who eats cock shit becomes a soothsayer.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The Library of Congress #1037r

View full size image

Puglia, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Animals -- Chickens, Hens, Roosters, Capons, Ducks and Geese -- by Region -- Puglia
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Addu u a caddina crida e lu caddu tace nun c'e pace.
      o in English: (Literally) Where the hen sings and the rooster remains quiet, there is no peace. (Meaning) In a marriage where the woman "wears the pants" and the man "wears the skirt" there can be no bliss, as the role reversals inevitably lead to marital strife and social discord.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #820054

View full size image

Sicily, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Animals -- on Chickens, Hens, Roosters, Capons, Ducks and Geese -- by Region -- Sicily
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Voi stari di saluti sempri chinu? Mancia sempri ova e trinca bonu vinu.
      o in English: Do you want to be always in good health? Always eat eggs and drink good wine!
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The Library of Congress #02398r

View full size image

Tuscany, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverb or Folk Saying on Animals -- Poultry -- by Region -- Tuscany
     
      o in Italian: Le donne e i ragazzi debbon parlare quando piscian le galline.
      o in English: (Literally) Women and children should speak when the hens pee. (Meaning) Women and children should keep their mouths shut.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of the Library of Congress #3f04064r

View full size image

Southern Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings or Proverbs on Chickens, Hens, Roosters, Capons, Ducks and Geese -- Southern Italy (misc)
     
      Southern Italy
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Te se cume la galina orba, che la gira, la gira e la trova mai n'du fa l'ov.
      o in ENGLISH: (Literally) You are like a blind hen that is turned around, turned around and so one finds that she has never hatched any eggs. Equivalent: Running around like a headless chicken.
     
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The Library of Congress #1a34430

View full size image

Veneto, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Chickens, Hens and Geese -- by Region -- Veneto
     
      o in Italian:(Dialect) La galina vecia vole un galeto zovane.
      o in English: An old hen wants a young cock. (Meaning) Older women prefer younger men as partners.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) I putei se sempre col beco a moia come le galine.
      o in English: Babies (or young children) always have their mouths open like chickens. (Meaning) Very small children always want something to eat.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The Library of Congress #3b50673r

View full size image

Sardinia, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes:
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #488428

View full size image

Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings or Proverbs on Rabbits -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: I debit a su cu i conij.
      o in English: Debts are like rabbits.
     
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #823440

View full size image

Page: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / Next >>