Languages of Calabria


The primary languages of Calabria are the Italian language as well as regional varieties of Extreme Southern Italian and Neapolitan languages, all collectively known as Calabrian. In addition, there are speakers of the Arbëresh variety of Albanian, as well as Calabrian Greek speakers and pockets of Occitan.

Calabrian (''calabrese'')

Calabrian refers to the Romance varieties spoken in Calabria, Italy. The varieties of Calabria are part of a strong dialect continuum that are generally recognizable as Calabrian, but that are usually divided into two different language groups:
  • In the southern two-thirds of the region, the Calabrian varieties are grouped as Central-Southern Calabrian, and are usually classified as part of Extreme Southern Italian language group
  • In the northern one-third of the region, the Calabrian dialects are often classified typologically with Neapolitan language and are called Northern Calabrian or just Cosentian.
The Amantea-Cirò line is generally considered an approximate demarcation between the Neapolitan and Extreme Southern Italian groups.
The linguistic division roughly corresponds with the historic administrative division already in place since medieval times: Calabria Citeriore and Calabria Ulteriore. This is a broad generalization and many communities in the more central parts of the region exhibit features of both language groups.
The dialects of Calabria have been extensively studied, catalogued and commented upon by German philologist Gerhard Rohlfs. From the mid-1920s to the mid-1970s, he traveled the region extensively and assembled a very extensive, multi-volume dictionary.
EnglishSouthern CalabrianNorthern CalabrianItalian
tomorrowrumànicrai / dumànidomani
in the meantimeasciatàntu / shramèntiinterimmeNel frattempo
the day before lastavantèrinustierzuL'altro ieri
to yawnsbadigghjàrialare/galàsbadigliare

Central–Southern Calabrian

The Central–Southern Calabrian dialects are largely spoken in the provinces of Reggio Calabria, Vibo Valentia, Catanzaro, almost all that of Crotone and, depending on classifications, the grouping can also encompass the varieties of southern Cilentan and southern Salentino. The term Sicilian-Calabrian is also used to distinguish the group from the Northern Calabrian group. It comprises Central Calabrian and Southern Calabrian.
The primary roots of the dialects is Latin. Southern and Central Calabrian dialects are strongly influenced by a Greek substratum and ensuing levels of Latin influence and other external Southern Italian superstrata, in part hindered by geography, resulted in the many local variations found between the idioms of Calabria. Nonetheless, the dialects have some influence from other languages, thanks to the periodic rule and influx of other cultures. As a result, French, Occitan and Spanish have left an imprint.
Central-Southern CalabrianGreekAlbanianSicilianItalianFrenchEnglish
batràcibretkosëlarunchiaranocchiogrenouillefrog
zinnapòtamuvidërlutralontraloutreotter
bampurìddha / lampurìdda / vampurìddhaxixëllonjë-lucciolaluciolefirefly
purtuàlluportokallpartugaḍḍuaranciaorangeorange
'nnacadjepnacacullaberceaucradle
tuppitiàrigodittupparibatterebattreto hit

French and Norman vocabulary entered the region via the kingdoms of the Normans and the Angevins in Calabria.
Central-Southern CalabrianNorman or FrenchSicilianItalianEnglish
'ccattariaccater ccattaricomprareto buy
'ndujaandouillesausizzuḍḍasalsicciottotype of sausage
buccirìaboucherieuccirìamacelleriabutcher's
arrocculàrireculerrrucculari/rruzzularirotolareto recoil
raggiarageraggiarabbiaanger
sciarabàllucarriole scarruzziatuveicolo sbatacchiatocharabanc
travagghiaritravaillertravagghiarilavorareto work

Other words derived from Spanish, Catalan, and Occitan:
  • capezza – cabeza – head
  • scupetta – escopeta – rifle
  • muccaturi – mocador – tissue
  • prescia – pressa – precipitation
  • timpa – timba – abrupt
  • addhumari – allumar – light up
  • truppicari – trompicar – trip

    Conjugations

Èssiri (to be)

PresentImperfectPast simpleSubjunctive presentSubjunctive imperfect
eusugnuerafujachi fussifussi
tusi'erifustichi fussifussi
iddhu, iddhaestierafuchi fussifussi
nusimuèrumufummuchi fùssimufùssimu
vusitierufustuchi fustufùssivu
iddhisunnuèrunufuruchi fùssirufùssiru

A(v)iri (to have)

PresentImperfectPast simpleSubjunctive presentSubjunctive imperfect
euajuaivaeppichi aissiaissi
tuaiaiviaistichi aissiaissi
iddhu, iddhaaviaivaeppichi aissiaissi
nuiaimuaìvumuèppimuchi aìssimuaìssimu
vuiaitiaivuaistuchi aìssivuaìssivu
iddhiànnuaìvunuèppiruchi aìssiruaìssiru

Dialects

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
  • In Italian:
''Tutti gli esseri umani nascono liberi ed eguali in dignità e diritti. Essi sono dotati di ragione e di coscienza e devono agire gli uni verso gli altri in spirito di fratellanza.''

Northern Calabrian (Cosentian)

The Northern Calabrian dialects are largely found throughout the Province of Cosenza, and even if they could still be categorized together with Neapolitan varieties, they nonetheless are heavily transitional towards Sicilian ones.

Conjugations

Esse (to be)

PresentImperfectPast simpleSubjunctive presentSubjunctive imperfect
iusignuerasignu statufossa
tusi'erisi' statufossi
iddru, iddraèeraè statufossa
nuasimuèramusimu statifòssimu
vuasitièratisiti statifòssati
iddrisu'èranusu' statifòssaru

Avì (to have)

PresentImperfectPast simpleSubjunctive presentSubjunctive imperfect
iuajuavìaê avutuavissa
tua'aviia' avutuavissi
iddru, iddraa'avìaa' avutuavissa
nuaavimuavìamuamu avutuavìssamu
vuaavitiavìatiavit' avutu or ât' avutuavvìssati
iddriànnuavìanuànnu avutuavìssaru

Comparison of Central-Southern and Northern Calabrian

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
  • In Italian:
Tutti gli esseri umani nascono liberi ed eguali in dignità e diritti. Essi sono dotati di ragione e di coscienza e devono agire gli uni verso gli altri in spirito di fratellanza.
  • In Reggino and Cosentian :