What dialect of Italian is spoken in Sicily?

Sicilian
Sicilian (Sicilian: sicilianu, pronounced [sɪʃɪˈljaːnʊ]; Italian: siciliano) is a Romance language that is spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands.

Do Sicilians speak differently than Italians?

Sicilian is not a dialect of Italian but actually precedes the Italian language. While Italian is based on Latin, Sicilian incorporates components of Greek, Arabic, French, Catalan, and Spanish. Sicilian is actually a distinct language and different dialects of it are spoken throughout the island.

Do Sicilians speak a different dialect?

Sicilian is indeed an official language separate from Italian. It is recognised by various international bodies, including UNESCO and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Most Sicilians, however, speak a variant dialect that is distinct to their own town, village, quarter or area.

Can Italians understand Sicilian language?

Since Sicilian has its own grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation rules, it can be difficult, if not impossible, for Italian speakers to understand. Most Italians cannot understand spoken Sicilian. If you only speak Italian, then you probably won’t be able to use or understand Sicilian without some practice.

How many dialects are spoken in Sicily?

It is placed in the Italiano meridionale-estremo group of languages along with the Greek influenced Calabrian dialects of southern Italy, and actually has at least eleven regional dialects of its own. The Sicilian language has been shaped by many years of foreign influence, occupation, and conquest.

How do you say wife in Sicilian?

Other words (presented in the order Latin, Sicilian, Tuscan) show similar evolution: “wife”: mulieri, muglieri, moglie; and “how”: quomodus, comu, come.

What does Bella mean in Sicilian?

“Bedda” is Sicilian dialect for the Italian “bella” meaning beautiful.