When I was growing up, my parents used a lot of Italian slang words. One I remember sounded like "Ah Sorda", but I never knew what it was. Another was "jisu greest", (I know that one) followed by something like "Engrojuda". So it was "Jisu Greest Engrojuda". Can you help me with these two words?
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1Where do your parents come from? I mean, what region of Italy?– BakerStreetCommented Dec 16, 2023 at 17:46
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1jisu greest is, I think, Gisù Crist (Jesus Christ in slang)– BakerStreetCommented Dec 16, 2023 at 17:50
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1Engrojuda may be 'n croce, (on the cross), so that the phrase was Gisù Crist' 'n croce (Jesus Christ on the cross), it is a common expression in South Italy.– BakerStreetCommented Dec 16, 2023 at 17:54
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1If they were of Naples, I would say that Ah Sorda could be 'A ciorta, ( la sorte in Italian, the fate), but in Montecassino I don't know if it is the same.– BakerStreetCommented Dec 16, 2023 at 18:05
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2“Cassino”, not “Casino”, also since “casino”, while literally “small house”, used to be a euphemism for “brothel” and hence “chaos, mess”.– DaGCommented Dec 16, 2023 at 18:19
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1 Answer
"Ah Sorda" is probably assòr't (assòreta, a sòreta), Southern Italian for "(to) your sister". Definitely not a nice thing to say to anyone, on par with ammamm't "(to) your mother".
Jisu Greest Engrojuda is almost certainly gisu-grist-in-groce (standard Gesù Cristo in croce, meaning Jesus Christ on the Cross).
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Thank you! I had a feeling that one wasn't a nice thing to say, but never knew the words said after Gisu Greest. So my folks probably were not from Monte Casino then. Still learning about my ancestry Commented Dec 17, 2023 at 19:11
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3That would be Monte Cassino with two "s"s -- otherwise it might sound like mount Brothel. Montecassino is halfway between Rome and Neaples, and they speak umbro-marquesan, where "a soreta" is documented [ dialettitaliani.it/wiki/Soreta_(Cassino) ].– LSerniCommented Dec 17, 2023 at 20:58