Mafia Lingo
The Lingo of the Mafia
The Italian-American Mafia has a language that originated in Sicilly, Italy and after the italians migrated to America, then came the lingo. The Mafia has a language of its own, according to Mafia historians and federal court records. Their unsual slang has trickeled into popular usage because of things like the hit HBO show The Sopranos.If you have ever watched The Sopranos you probally wondered what some of the words meant, so here is a short guide to help.
- Administration: The top members of the Family, usually composed of the boss, underboss, and consigliere.
- Associate: At first you will work for the Family as an associate. Only if you prove yourself will you be sworn in as a full member.
- Babbo: A mafia term for an underling who is considered to be useless � you don't want to be one of these or your days may be numbered.
- Big earner: Mafia lingo for someone who makes a lot of money for the family.
- Boss: The head of the Family (the Don). He has the ultimate say in all important decisions.
- Broken: When a member is demoted in rank.
- Buttlegging: Bootlegging untaxed cigarettes.
- Button: A Mafia �soldier�.
- Capo: A Captain in the family.
- Capo di tutti capi: The Big Boss � the boss of the strongest Family.
- Cleaning: Covering your tracks to ensure that you�re not being followed.
- Clip: This means to eliminate someone.
- Clock: To keep a person under surveillance.
- Vig: lingo for the interest paid to a loan shark for a loan. Usually 2 points or 2%.
- Oobatz: Crazy.
- Gabagool: Slang for capicola, a thinly sliced Italian luncheon meat, taken from the shoulder (collo) and neck (capo - head) of a pig.
-Madonn/ Madonna: Used like the American word holy smoke. said when suprised.
- Fanook: Derived from "finocchio", a derogatory term for homosexual.
- Turban: "Give him a turban." Means to crack his head open. Common when extorting.
- Shylock:A person who lends money at an extortionate rate of interest.
- Skim: Money taken that is not reported to the IRS.
The Italian-American Mafia has a language that originated in Sicilly, Italy and after the italians migrated to America, then came the lingo. The Mafia has a language of its own, according to Mafia historians and federal court records. Their unsual slang has trickeled into popular usage because of things like the hit HBO show The Sopranos.If you have ever watched The Sopranos you probally wondered what some of the words meant, so here is a short guide to help.
- Administration: The top members of the Family, usually composed of the boss, underboss, and consigliere.
- Associate: At first you will work for the Family as an associate. Only if you prove yourself will you be sworn in as a full member.
- Babbo: A mafia term for an underling who is considered to be useless � you don't want to be one of these or your days may be numbered.
- Big earner: Mafia lingo for someone who makes a lot of money for the family.
- Boss: The head of the Family (the Don). He has the ultimate say in all important decisions.
- Broken: When a member is demoted in rank.
- Buttlegging: Bootlegging untaxed cigarettes.
- Button: A Mafia �soldier�.
- Capo: A Captain in the family.
- Capo di tutti capi: The Big Boss � the boss of the strongest Family.
- Cleaning: Covering your tracks to ensure that you�re not being followed.
- Clip: This means to eliminate someone.
- Clock: To keep a person under surveillance.
- Vig: lingo for the interest paid to a loan shark for a loan. Usually 2 points or 2%.
- Oobatz: Crazy.
- Gabagool: Slang for capicola, a thinly sliced Italian luncheon meat, taken from the shoulder (collo) and neck (capo - head) of a pig.
-Madonn/ Madonna: Used like the American word holy smoke. said when suprised.
- Fanook: Derived from "finocchio", a derogatory term for homosexual.
- Turban: "Give him a turban." Means to crack his head open. Common when extorting.
- Shylock:A person who lends money at an extortionate rate of interest.
- Skim: Money taken that is not reported to the IRS.
