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The Neapolitan dialect is one of the many Italian dialects that can be found throughout the country of Italy. When we refer to the Neapolitan dialect, it’s important that we differentiate it from the Neapolitan language first. The Neapolitan dialect is a regional variant of Italian spoken in the city of Naples and the surrounding area, while the Neapolitan language is an entirely separate language that’s spoken across different regions of Italy and encompasses the dialects that were spoken in the kingdoms of Two Sicilies.
Neapolitan differs from other Italian dialects in a few different ways, but one of the most noticeable is Neapolitan expressions. As with any dialect, the speakers have countless phrases individual to them, and learning them is a great way to get more insight into the region. Here, we’ll look at some of our favorite Neapolitan expressions. But first, it’s worth it to look at the context the Neapolitan dialect exists in.
The first written record of the Neapolitan dialect can be found in the Placiti Cassinesi. The Placiti are four legal testaments that were written between 960 and 963. Neapolitan has an extremely rich written history. The first piece written in prose was a chronicle from the 12th century. Despite its storied history, the dialect has had good and bad fortune depending on who’s been in power. Though there were attempts to make the Neapolitan dialect gradually disappear, it has survived for centuries thanks to its strong literary tradition. The most notable work comes from Giambattista Basile, a writer who lived between the 16th and 17th century.
In the middle of the 15th century, the Aragon royal family attempted to regulate the use of the Neapolitan dialect. More specifically, the family attempted stamp it out of existence. They encouraged using the Tuscan dialect which had emerged as the literary lingua franca equally as dignified as Latin. The decline of the Aragon family led to a Neapolitan dialect renaissance, though Tuscan did end up becoming prevalent in the city and region.
Regardless, thanks to the popular literary works from authors like Eduardo di Filippo and Elena Ferrante, the Neapolitan music school, and pop music (from 99 Posse to Almamegretta, from Liberato to Nu Genea), the Neapolitan dialect has survived and thrived, becoming even more popular and widespread. The dialect isn’t just popular in Naples; its popularity has spread throughout all of Italy and abroad. Songs like “O sole mio,” for example, are widely known abroad and represent one of countless shining examples of this beautiful language.
It would be impossible to fit all Neapolitan expressions into one article given its centuries-old history. Instead, we made a list of a few the most famous and notable Neapolitan expressions and added a few fun facts that might not be as well-known outside the region. Jamme jà!
This article was originally published on the Italian edition of Babbel Magazine.
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