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Calabria, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Eating & Drinking -- Love & Marriage -- by Region -- Calabria *
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Cu' mangia e non cumbita, no mi campa mi si marita.
      o in English: There are those who eat even though they were not invited (at the table), and then there are those who don't live to get married.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Cu managia e ss marita nomm'u camp'o si marita, e ccu mbitatu voli nomm'u camp'o ndavi figghjoli.
      o in English: Who eats and doesn't invite a guest isn't living it up enough to get married, and as for the one who wants to be invited (and isn't) he isn't living it up enough to have children.
     
      * For Italian Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Eating and Drinking that are not gender-specific see "Italy Revisited/ Folk Sayings on Eating and Drinking."
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery # 1117717

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Campania, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Women -- by Region -- Campania
     
     
      o in Italian: (dialect) A femmena e ccomme a' campana: si nun 'a tuculije, nun sona.
      o in English: (Literally) A woman is like a bell, if you don't move her (the right way), she'll not ring (for you). Meaning: If you want a woman to do your bidding, treat her well.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) La femmena senza pietto ea com' a lu lietto senza cuscino.
      o in English: A woman without a bosom is like a bed without a cushion.
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Nun c'e femmena senaza amaore, nun c'e viecchio senza dulore.
      o in English: One isn't a woman without (experiencing) love, one isn't an old person without (experiencing) pain.
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Femmene e pizze so' bone massizze.
      o in English: Women and pizza are good when they're thick.
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Femmena che chiagne, cavallo che suda, omo che giura nun esse mai sicuro.
      o in English: Women who cry, horses that sweat, men who swear, one can never be sure of them.
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Quanno a femmena vo fila, l'abbasta 'nu spruoccol'.
      o in English: (Literally) When a woman wants to spin, she can do it even without a reel. (Meaning) A woman will do whatever it takes to get what she wants.
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Addo nun ce stanno campane, nun ce stanno puttane.
      o in English: (Literally) Where there are no campaigns, there are no prostitutes. Meaning: If there are no places where prostitutes can ply their trade, you'll not find any.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) A femmena bbona si -- tentata -- resta onesta, nun e stata buono tentata.
      o in English: (Literally) A good woman if tempted remains honest, but that means she wasn't well tempted. (Meaning) An honest (or virtuous) woman remains virtuous when tempted, but if she does remain virtuous it simply means that she wasn't well-tempted. Equivalent: Everyone has his price (No one is good!).
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Chi se mette paura, nun se cocca cu 'e ffemmene bbelle.
      o in English: (Literally): Who is afraid, will not go to bed with a beautiful woman. (Meaning) If you want to be successful in life, you have to be fearless and be willing to take risks.
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Trova cchiu ampressa 'a femmena 'na scusa, ca'o sorice 'o purtuso.
      o in English: A woman finds an excuse faster tahn a mouse finds a hole to slip in.
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Femmene, ciucce e crape tenono tutte una capa.
      o in English: (Literally) Women, donkeys and goats all have heads. (Meaning) Women, like donkeys and goats, are hard-headed or stubborn and too much trouble.
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Ll'ommo cu'a parola e 'o vojo cu 'e ccorne.
      o in English: (Literally) Man with words, ox with horns. (Meaning) A man has language at his disposal to get what he wants, and an ox has horns to defend himself and get what it wants. Or, A man uses sweet nothings to conquer a woman's heart and by so doing, hits the bull's eye (Gets the girl!).
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) A femmena e 'nu vrasiere, ca s'ausa sula a'sera.
      o in English: (Literally) A woman is a brazier [a container for hot embers], she is only of use at night. (Meaning) A woman can keep you warm at night, but that's all she's good for.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Femmene e gravune: stutate tegnono e appicciate coceno.
      o in English: Women and coals: get darkened and hot when lit.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Pigliatella bbella e coccate pe tterra.
      o in English: (Literally) Marry a beauty and you will find yourself on the ground. (Meaning) Marry a beautiful woman and you will have plenty of trouble on your hands.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #81870

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Campania, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Eating & Drinking -- Love & Marriage -- by Region -- Campania*
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) A marito muscio dalle peope assaje.
      o in English: (Literally) An lifeless husband give him a lot of pepper. (Meaning) To get your husband interested in you again, put a lot of pepper on his food and the aphrodisiac will spice up your sex life.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Femmene e pizze so' bone massizze.
      o in English: Women and pizza are good when they're thick.
     
     
      *For Italian proverbs or folk sayings on eating and drinking that are not gender-specific see "Italy Revisited/Folk Sayings on Eating and Drinking."
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #117695

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Emilia Romagna, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Women (Misc.) -- by Region -- Emilia Romagna
     
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): Dona giuvna, vein, turtel e va la che 'l mond l'e bel.
      o in English: Young women, wine, tortellino make the world a beautiful place.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): La fommn senza pett ie agne nu scutullar senza pitt.
      o in English translation: A woman without [big] breasts is like a drainer without plates.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): El donne el gh'han i pe frodd e al cul zlee.
      o in English translation: Women have cold feet and cold asses.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): La bela danna la vanda i straz, la brotta la i tenn da cat.
      o in English translation: A beautiful woman sells rags, an ugly one conserves them.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): L'ommene sole m'ezz a tant dame, fa la figure de lu' salame.
      o in English: (Literally) A man alone among a lot of women looks like a salami. (Meaning) A man alonge among a lot of women looks rather foolish.
     
      o Donna che pianga, uomo che giuri, cavallo che sudi; sono falsi come giuda.
      o Women who cry, men who swear, horses that sweat -- they're false like Judas.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): La blazza per un an, la bunte per seimper.
      o in English translation: A beauty for a year, goodness forever. (Meaning) A woman's beauty fades over the years, but if she's kind, she can be kind forever. So it's better for a young man to opt for a kind woman rather than a beautiful woman as kindness not only lasts longer than beauty, but it also has more worth.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The Library of Congress #3b21627r

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Emilia Romagna, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Women -- Love & Marriage -- by Region -- Emilia Romagna
     
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): Guai al marito che da i calzoni alla moglie.
      o in English: (Literally) Woe to the husband who gives the pants to the wife. (Meaning) Woe to the husband who allows his wife to wear the pants in the family (i.e., command).
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): Chi si mette i pantaloni per primo e quello che comanda.
      o in English: (Literally) He who puts the pants first is the one who commands. (Meaning) The partner in a marriage who first takes control of things is the one who establishes himself or herself at the helm.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): In Paradiso c'e una sedia preparata per la prima nuora e suocera che sono andate d'accordo.
      o in English: (Literally) In Paradise there is a chair prepared for the first daughter-in-law and mother-in-law who were in agreement. (Meaning) Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law never agree on anything; if a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law ever do agree they will have a special place in Paradise.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): Invici ed tur muiira a tug onna galeina, l'ha fa l'ov ogni mateina.
      o in English: Instead of taking a wife, get a chicken, and and you'll get an egg every morning.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) "Chi nas bela, nas maride.
      o in English: Who is born beautiful, is born married.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): Spuses na volta, pacenza, al po' capite ma tut, ma do l'e da matt!
      o in English: Marry one time, patience, could happen to anyone, but marry two times, you are crazy!
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): L'e mei un mare brott, che un amig sgnour dal tot.
      o in English: (Literally) It's better to have an ugly husband than a lover who is very rich. (Meaning) It's better to have a husband, even if he's not so good-looking, than to have an affair with a rich man who has no intention of marrying you.
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): 'S te vol che al matrimoni al funziouna, sposa la fiola ed 'na danna bouna.
      o in English: If you want the marriage to function, marry the daughter of a good woman.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) La bona moi la fa e' bon mari.
      o in English: (Literally) The good wife makes the good husband. (Meaning) If a wife does her chores and treats her husband right, then her husband will treat her right as well.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1117738

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Lazio, Italy
Date: Centuries old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Eating and Drinking -- Love and Marriage -- by Region -- Lazio
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Femmene e 'nzalate onno esse maniate.
      o in English: (Literally) Women and salads need to be mixed. (Meaning) Women are like salads -- they both need to be handled with care.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) La donna e come la castagna: bella di fuori e dentro magagna.
      o in English: A woman is like a chestnut -- beautiful on the outside, and inside, good enough to eat.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Amore, tesoro, saosiccia e pommatoro.
      o in English: (Literally) Love, my treasure, sausage and tomatoes! (Meaning) Love, my darling, tastes as good as sausage and tomatoes.
     
      * For Italian proverbs or folk sayings on eating and drinking that are not gender specific see "Italy Revisited/Folk Sayings on Eating and Drinking."
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery

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Liguria, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Women -- by Region -- Liguria
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) E belle son ammiae e brutte son piggiae.
      o in English: Beautiful women are admired but it's the ugly ones who are chosen [for marriage].
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Le armi delle donne sono la lingua, le unghie e le lacrime.
      o in English: The weapons of women are words, fingernails and tears.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) L'e megio un malo grammo che dexe frae boin.
      o in English: (Literally) Better a broken husband then ten whole brothers. (Meaning) It's better for a woman to have a not-so-perfect husband than to have ten perfect brothers.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1117733

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Lombardy, Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Women -- by Region -- Lombardy
     
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) La belezza di donn l'e in di oeucc di omen.
      o in English: (Literally) The beauty of women is in the eyes of men. (English equivalent) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) "Al tira de pieu u pil de pota che sento caai che trota.
      o in English: (Literally) One pubic hair pulls more than 100 horses. (Meaning) Women are not the weaker sex by a long shot; their sexual power allows them to lead men by the nose. N.B. Similar folk sayings from other regions in Italy generally suggest that pubic hair is stronger than that from bulls or oxen (Not horses).
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Le bune fomne no le gh'a ne oreccie ne oeucc.
      o in English: Good women have neither ears nor eyes.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Quela dona che fa soeu 'l lecc per salta dent, l'e na dona che var nient.
      o in English: (Literally) A woman who makes her bed just to jump in, is a woman who is not worth anything. (Meaning) A woman who does not make her bed in the morning and rather waits to do it at night just before she goes to bed, is not a good housekeeper and therefore is not a woman of worth.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Dol bel s'mangia so negot.
      o in English: (Literally) It's not from beauty that one can eat of. (Meaning) Beauty is not enough in a woman -- she needs to have money as well, as one can't survive off one's beauty.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Chi nass bella, nass maridada.
      o in English: Who is born beautiful, is born married.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Da vint ani l'e na putela, da trenta l'e na dona bela, da quaranta dona fata, da sinquanta vecia mata.
      o in English: At 20 years old, a girl, at 30, a beautiful woman, at 40 a woman that has been made (i.e., a woman that has long reached her prime), at 50, a mad old woman.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Quando la barba la tra 'l bianchi, lassa la dona e ciapa 'l vi.
      o in English: When one's beard starts to grow white, best to leave women alone and take to wine.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) La tosa che dota no g'ha la fa la mofa en la ca.
      o in English: (Literally) A girl without a dowry goes moldy in the house. (Meaning) If a girl is not working on her wedding trousseau, she is goofing off and should be ashamed of herself.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Al cor di fomne l'e fac a melu: a chi na feta, a chi 'n bucu.
      o in English: The heart of a woman is made like a melon: some will get a slice, others a bite.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Le done i e cme 'l vin in dal fiasch: a la sera l'e bone e a la matina l'e guast.
      o in English: Women are like wine in a jug: in the evening they are good, and in the morning they are bad.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) Quando i fomne i porta i braghe e 'l capel, tot ol mond el va a bordel.
      o in English: When women wear the pants and the hats, the whole world crumbles.
     
      o in Italian: (Dialect) La bellezza di donn l'e in di oucc di omen.
      o in English: The beauty of women is in men's eyes.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery # 818670

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Marche, Italy
Date:
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Women -- by Region -- Marche
     
     
      o in Italian: Le donne sono come le chitarre: tutto dipende da chi le fa suonare.
      - in English: Women are like guitars -- it all depends on who plays them.
     
     
      o in Italian: La donna e come una bella tavola apparecchiata che tutti debbono lodare ed ammirare ma solo lei sa quelli che deve invitare.
      - in English: A woman is like a beautifully prepared table that everyone can't help but admire, but only she knows whom she should invite.
     
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #818649

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Marche
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Eating & Drinking -- Love & Marriage -- by Region -- Marche*
     
      o in Italian: La donna e come una bella tavola apparecchiata che tutti debbono lodare ed ammirare ma solo lei sa quelli che deve invitare.
      o in English: A woman is like a beautifully prepared table that everyone can't help but admire, but only she knows whom she should invite.
     
      o in Italian: La donna piccola di statura trova il marito, quella alta raccoglie i fichi.
      o in English: Short women find husbands who are so tall they can pick figs [without using a ladder].
     
      *For Italian proverbs or folk sayings on eating and drinking that are not gender-specific see "Italy Revisited/Folk Sayings on Eating and Drinking."
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1117693

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