Are you a fan of Neapolitan proverbs?
Here you will find a complete collection of the main Neapolitan proverbs, because you know that Neapolitan wisdom is always appreciated. And if that’s not enough for you, you can always read all the Neapolitan sayings.
Neapolitan proverbs about women
Addurà’ comm’a ‘na ròsa
Smell like a rose, smell beautiful
Bella comm’a ‘na rosa /cumm’ ‘o sole
Beautiful as a rose /the sun
Feróce comm’a ‘na tìcara
Ferocious as a tiger
Janco comm’ ‘a nèva / ‘o latte / ‘no muórto / ‘o libbàsto
Snow-white / milk / corpse / alabaster
Magnà’ comm’a ‘n’ auciello
Eating as little as a bird
Pógnere comm’a ‘na spina
Stinging like a thorn
Scacatià’ comm’a ‘na gallina
Squawking like a chicken
Scippà’ comm’a ‘na gatta
Scratching like an angry cat
Suttile comm’a ‘no capillo /’no capo ‘e sèta
Thin as a hair /a thread of silk
Neapolitan proverbs about men
Brutto comm’a ‘n ‘uorco /cumm’ ‘o sole
Ugly as an ogre / sin / cancer
Capetuósto comm’a ‘no ciùccio
Stubborn as a donkey
Deritto comm’a ‘no fuso
Straight as a cypress
Fatecà’ comm’a ‘no cane
Struggling like an animal
Forte comm’a ‘no lióne
Strong as a lion
Friddo comm’ ‘a nève /comm’a ‘o màrmulo
Cold as snow/marble
Furbo comm’a ‘na vórpa
Smart as a fox
Luóngo comm’a ‘no palo / comm’ ‘a misericordia ‘e Dio
Long as a pole / immeasurable as the goodness of God
Pauroso comm’a ‘no cunìglio
Scary as a rabbit
Peluso comm’a ‘n ‘urzo
Hairy like a bear
Runfà’ comm’a ‘no puórco
Swelling like a pig
Sano comm’a ‘no pèsce
Fit as a fiddle
Sborià’ comm’a ‘no pazzo
Raving like a madman
Scappà’ comm’a ‘na sajetta
Crashing like a rocket
Umbroso comm’a ‘no cavallo
As shady as a horse
Varvuto comm’a ‘no zìmmaro
Bearded like a goat
Neapolitan proverbs about falsehood
Sfùjere ‘a mano comm’a ‘n ‘anguilla
Slipping out of hand like an eel
Vacante comm’a ‘na cucózza
Empty as a pumpkin
Vulgar Neapolitan proverbs
Jastemmà’ comm’a ‘no turco
Blaspheming like an infidel
‘Ngrifàta comm’a ‘no gallurìnio
Upright and bumptious as a turkey
Neapolitan proverbs on envy
‘Nturcigliarse comm’a ‘no sèrpe
Twitching like a snake
Rusecà’ comm’a ‘no sórece
Gnawing like a rat
Russo comm’a ‘o fuóco / comm’a ‘no puparuólo
Red as fire / like a strong pepper
Scuro comm’a ‘na vócca ‘e lupo
Dark as a wolf’s mouth
Seccante comm’a ‘na cicàla
Tedious and monotonous as a cicada
Neapolitan proverbs about love
Ardere comm’ ‘a paglia
Burning like straw
Cuntento comm’a ‘na Pasca
Cheerful as a party
Dóce comm’a ‘o zùccaro / ‘o mèle / ‘no cannamèle
Sweet as sugar / honey / julebbe
Scórrere comm’a l’acqua
Going down like water
Stà’ comm’a cane e gatte
Being at odds like cats and dogs
Sulo comm’a ‘no cane
Alone like an abandoned dog
Stà’ comm’ ‘o diàvulo e l’acqua santa
As irreconcilable as the devil and holy water
Ùtele comm’a ‘n ‘acqua ‘e maggio
Useful as summer rain
Famous Neapolitan proverbs
Appiccià’ comm’a l’esca
Burning like dust
Annùdo comme l’ha fatto ‘a mamma
Naked as he was born
A père comme a ‘no cane
Walking like a dog
Appuntùto comm’a ‘n ‘aco
Sharp as a needle
Arraggiàto comm’a ‘no cane
Angry as a dog
Cadè’ comm’a ‘no piro ‘e massa /maturo
Falling like a half-ripe/ripe pear
Còrreco comm’a ‘no ciùccio
Loaded like a donkey
Chiaro comm’a ‘o sole / ‘a luce d’ ‘o juorno / l’ambra / ‘o cristallo
Bright and transparent like sunlight / daylight / amber / crystal
Còcere comm’a ‘o fuoco
Burning like fire
Durmì’ comm’a ‘no galièro
Sleeping like a badger
Giallo comm’a ‘o zurfo / ‘a zafferàna
Sulphur / saffron yellow
Liggièro comm’ ‘na pènna
Light as a feather
Manzuèto comm’a ‘no piècuro
Mansuet as a lamb
‘Mbrugliàto comm’a ‘no pullicino dint’ ‘a stóppa
Tucked like a chick in tow
Menà’ càuce comm’a ‘no mulo
Kicking like a mule
Mórbeto comm’a ‘no velluto
Soft as velvet
Murì comm’a ‘no cane
Dying abandoned by all like a mangy dog
Natà comm’a ‘no pèsce
Swimming like a fish
‘Nchiantàto comm’a ‘no palo
Planted like a pole
Niro comm’a ‘no gravóne / ‘no tezzóne / ‘a pèce / ‘na cappa ‘e cemmenèera
Black as coal / pitch / chimney
Passà comm’a ‘no lampo
Passing as fast as lightning
Rìdere comm’a ‘no pazzo
Laughing like crazy
Stà’ azzeccàte comm’a ‘e saràche
Stretched like sardines
Tagliènte comm’a ‘no rasùlo
Sharp as a razor
Tremmà’ comm’a ‘no junco
Shaking like a reed in the wind
Verde cumm’a laglio
Green as sautéed garlic
Neapolitan proverbs on friendship
Vulèerse bene comm’a frate
Loving each other as brothers
Fuì’ comm’a ‘o viènto / ‘na sajetta
Running like the wind/lightning
Pesà’ comm’ ‘o chiummo
Weighing like lead
Ancient Neapolitan proverbs
Zumpà’ comm’a ‘n ‘arillo / ‘no ranavuóttolo
Jumping like a cricket / a frog
Neapolitan proverbs about food
Affamato comm’a ‘no cane / comm’a ‘no lupo
Hungry like a dog/wolf
Amaro comm’a ‘o fèle /vèleno
Bitter as gall/as poison
Ardente comm’a ‘na furnàce
Hot as a furnace, burning hot
Asciutto comm’a l’esca
Dry as bait
Chiatto comm’a ‘ na vacca /’no puorco / ‘na fucètola
Fat as a cow / a pig / a beakle
Gruósso comm’a ‘na balèna / ‘n’ alifànte
Big as a whale / elephant
Còrrere comm’a ‘no pazzo / ‘o viènto / ‘no lèpre / ‘na palla ‘e cannóne
Fleeing as swiftly as a madman / the wind / a hare / a shot
Cunzumarse comm’a ‘na cannèla ‘e sivo
Burning away like wax in the fire
Diùn comm’a ‘no cane
Fasting like a stray dog
Fino comm’a ‘no sfuóglio ‘e cepólle
Thin as an onion veil
Frisco comm’a ‘na rosa
Fresh as a morning rose
Lucènte comm’a ‘no spècchio
Shiny as a mirror
‘Nturzàto comm’a ‘na vótta
Swollen as a barrel
Sciapìto comm’a ‘no cetrùlo
Bland as a cucumber
Sicco comm’a ‘no spito / ‘no spruóccolo / ‘no chiuóvo / ‘no palicco / ‘no fiammifero / ‘no fièrro filato / ‘np capo ‘e spavo
Thin as a spit / a nail / a toothpick / a matchstick / a wire / a string
Tuósto comm’a ‘no cuórno /’n ‘uósso / ‘na vrèccia
Hard as a course / a bone / a boulder
