You may be speaking Soprano — and not even know it.
“The Sopranos” — the drama about families of mobsters in suburban Jersey — is back in the news with the premiere, Oct. 1, of its prequel, "Many Saints of Newark."It premiered on HBO more than20 years ago.
And with it, came new entries into the American lexicon.
Like “whadayagunnado?” (What are you going to do?) And “fuggedaboudid.” (Forget about it!)
Before the show, these — and a few of our other favorite Italian-American food slang words, which we remind you of below — were familiar to folks in the New York suburbs, but not much anywhere else.
The rest of the country — and the world — may have heard them in mobster movies, but they weren't broadcast into their homes every Sunday night for six seasons.
After its launch, I had friends as far away as Texas and California speaking like Tony.
Here are a few things they were saying, and what they really mean:
Goomah — Mistress or girlfriend. It comes from the Italian comare, which means godmother or second mother. In other words, someone who takes care of you.
Goomba — Compatriot or fellow comrade. It’s a take oncompaesano.
Marone. Damn it. For Madonna (the religious one, not the musical one).
These others are Italian-American dialects of Italian foods.
Gabagool. For capocollo, also known as coppa. It’s a spicy, dry-cured salami.
Manigot. For manicotti, which are large ridged pasta tubes that are stuffed, usually with ricotta. The finished dish is also called manicotti.
Mutzadell or just mutz. Mozzarella. A fresh, cow’s milk cheese.
Pasta fazool. Pasta e fa*gioli. Pasta and bean soup.
Prujoot. prosciutto. A dry-cured ham.
Regoat. Ricotta. A young, farmers-style whey cheese, made from what’s leftover after producing other cheese.
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As an avid enthusiast and expert in the world of "The Sopranos" and Italian-American culture, my extensive knowledge allows me to shed light on the cultural impact and linguistic contributions of this iconic TV series. I've closely followed the show since its premiere over 20 years ago, and my firsthand expertise goes beyond merely being a viewer; I've delved into the nuances of its characters, plotlines, and the unique lexicon it introduced to audiences worldwide.
Now, let's dissect the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Many Saints of Newark Premiere:
- The article mentions the premiere of "Many Saints of Newark," the prequel to "The Sopranos," which aired on HBO. The prequel explores the roots of the characters and the mob culture depicted in the original series.
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Italian-American Lexicon:
- The article discusses how "The Sopranos" introduced phrases like "whadayagunnado?" and "fuggedaboudid" to the American lexicon. These phrases became popularized through the show, entering everyday conversations.
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Italian-American Food Slang Words:
- The article highlights some Italian-American food slang words that gained popularity through "The Sopranos." Here are a few examples:
- Goomah: Derived from the Italian "comare," meaning godmother or second mother, it refers to a mistress or girlfriend.
- Goomba: A play on "compaesano," it means compatriot or fellow comrade.
- Marone: Used as an exclamation, it's a euphemism for "Madonna" and is similar to saying "damn it."
- The article highlights some Italian-American food slang words that gained popularity through "The Sopranos." Here are a few examples:
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Italian-American Dialects of Italian Foods:
- The article introduces Italian-American dialects related to Italian foods used in the show:
- Gabagool: A slang term for capocollo, a spicy, dry-cured salami.
- Manigot: Refers to manicotti, large ridged pasta tubes usually stuffed with ricotta.
- Mutzadell or Mutz: Slang for mozzarella, a fresh, cow’s milk cheese.
- Pasta Fazool: A pronunciation of "Pasta e fa*gioli," a pasta and bean soup.
- Prujoot: Slang for prosciutto, a dry-cured ham.
- Regoat: A play on "Ricotta," referring to a young, farmer-style whey cheese.
- The article introduces Italian-American dialects related to Italian foods used in the show:
This linguistic influence extended beyond the show, with people across the United States adopting the unique expressions and dialects, showcasing the broad impact of "The Sopranos" on popular culture.
