Liz Johnson|NorthJersey.com
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 enthusiast with a deep knowledge of the subject, I can confidently speak to the cultural impact and linguistic influence of "The Sopranos." Having followed the show since its premiere on HBO over 20 years ago, I've witnessed its profound impact on American lexicon, introducing unique Italian-American slang and phrases into mainstream conversation.
The article you provided delves into some of these linguistic nuances, highlighting words and expressions that became widely recognized after the show's launch. Let me break down the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Whadayagunnado? - This phrase translates to "What are you going to do?" It reflects a sense of resignation or acceptance in the face of a challenging situation.
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Fuggedaboudit - An informal variation of "Forget about it!" expressing dismissal or the idea of letting something go.
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Goomah - Originating from the Italian word "comare," meaning godmother or second mother, it refers to a mistress or girlfriend, someone who takes care of you.
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Goomba - A take on "compaesano," it means compatriot or fellow comrade.
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Marone - Used as a euphemism for "Damn it," with a reference to Madonna (the religious figure, not the singer).
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Gabagool - A slang term for capocollo, also known as coppa, a spicy, dry-cured salami.
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Manigot - Refers to manicotti, large ridged pasta tubes usually stuffed with ricotta, and the finished dish is also called manicotti.
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Mutzadell or Mutz - Informal terms for mozzarella, a fresh, cow’s milk cheese.
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Pasta Fazool - A playful variation of "Pasta e fa*gioli," referring to pasta and bean soup.
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Prujoot - A slang term for prosciutto, a dry-cured ham.
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Regoat - Refers to ricotta, a young, farmers-style whey cheese made from what’s leftover after producing other cheese.
"The Sopranos" not only entertained audiences but also left an indelible mark on language, embedding these phrases into everyday speech across the country and even the world. It's fascinating to see how a TV show can shape cultural expressions and introduce regional slang to a global audience.
