Wednesday, July 01, 2009

QUIZ - SICILIAN PROVERBS

We haven't had a quiz for a while, so here we go. I can't find a free interactive quiz maker that will let me do a matching quiz, so we'll do it in the old-fashioned way:

Match the Sicilian proverbs 1 - 6 with their meanings a - f. [Where there is a very similar English proverb, I have used that as the translation.]

1. A paisi unni chi vai, comu vidi fari fai.

2. Batti lu ferru mentri è càudu.

3. Cani chi dormi, nun lu scuitari.

4. Amuri nun senti cunsigghi.

5. Fimmina e ventu, cància ogni mumentu.

6. Accatta di quattru e vinni d'ottu.


a. Women and the wind change every moment.

b. Buy for four [euros] and sell for eight.

c. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

d. Strike while the iron is hot.

e. Love doesn't listen to reason.

f. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Highlight below for answers:
1c, 2d, 3f, 4e, 5a, 6b.

18 comments:

jmb said...

6 out of 6. But then so I should, even if my Sicilian dialect is nil.
These were just enough words in each that I knew to connect to the English. Phew. I was almost afraid to do it, in case.

Unknown said...

I thought that my rudimentary knowledge of Latin my help. It didn't.

Rowena said...

Well I know I have the upper hand here but seeing that I do not know sicilian dialect, let's see if my deciphering skills are still good.

1. C
2. D
3. F
4. E
5. A
6. B

Sally said...

Loved it - and here is a good Roman one for you Welshcakes:

Il caldo del letto non fa bollire la pentola

PinkAcorn said...

I was able to get 1c only because I got all the others....Waiting for Sally's answer Welsh!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Brava, jmb! Hi, Nick. Sicily has had so many invaders that the dialect is a mixture of everything! Well done, Rowena - all correct. Glad you liked it, Sally. Love that Roman one - "The heat of the bed doesn't make the pot boil" -I'll have to make it my motto! Hi, pink. Well done.
I'm going to find some harder ones for next time!

jams o donnell said...

My God! I got 6/6. Woo Hoo!

Anonymous said...

1. A
2. D
3. C
4. F
5.E
6. B

I think I cracked it!!

Anonymous said...

Ooops!

CherryPie said...

Ermm! I think I failed at this one...

Unknown said...

Hi!
Fantastic proverbs.My husband loves because he talks a little italian language.
kisses

rochambeau said...

Hello there Welshcakes Limoncello,
How are you and Simone today? Guess what? I got 3 right! Well, pretty good for never learning Italian!!
Have a wonderful day!

Constance

Minnie said...

Shwmae, Welshcakes L - greetings from France, and guesses:
1 = c
2 = d
3 = f
4 = e
5 = a
6 = b

Speak French (after a fashion) + old enough to have done Latin at school, back in the Dark Ages so have no excuse for any errors!
Great site! Thank you.
Amities, Phidelm

Michael Guzzo said...

The only thing I know how to say in Sicilian is - Refrigerator.

"Ice-a-box"

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Bravo, jams. Not quite there, Mutley. Thanks for having a go, Cherie. Hi, Kinha. I'm glad you and your husband like them. Hi, Constance. Simi and I are fine, thanks. How are you? 3 is pretty good! Hello, Phidelm. Nice to meet you and thank you for your kind words. Amitiés. Love it, Guzzo and welcome.

James Higham said...

e. Love doesn't listen to reason.

Which is why it plummets from the sky and crashes in a ball of flame.

Whispering Walls said...

3f is the easy one
1 and c, I suppose (perhaps the Sicilians don't think much of Rome)
5 and a (fimmina must be Siciian for femina?)
6 and b (vinni = vendere?)
2 and d (caudu = caldo?)
4 must therefore be e

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Jmaes. Gosh, are you writing a steamy romantic novel? Well done, WW!

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