Corsican phrasebook

Corsican (corsu) is the native language of Corsica. Even though it has no official status there, it is estimated that 50 % of the population has conversational understanding of Corsican, and a significant minority of islanders prefer to use the language over French. Corsican is most closely-related to the Tuscan dialect of Italian and is also much more closely related to other Italian dialects than to French.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a: as in father
e: as in bet or hey, also pronounced as in rack or father in the south of Corsica
i: as in pin or speed
o: as in or
u: as in moon

Consonants

b: same as English
c: as in cheap before i or e, and as in cat elsewhere
ch: as in cat
chj: t as in ten, followed by y as in yarn
d: as in English, but also pronounced as a (trilled?) r sound in some words
f: as in English
g: as in Jack before i or e, and as in gill elsewhere
gh: as in gill
ghj: d as in deed, followed by y as in yarn
gli: g as in gill, followed by y as in yarn; sometimes pronounced as dd in the south of Corsica
gn: as in onion
gu: as in hangwa
l: as in English, but also pronounced as a (trilled?) r in some words
m: as in English
n: as in English, also as in name before b, p, and v
p: as in English
qu: as in quilt
r: as in English (or trilled?)
s: as in English, but also pronounced as in she in some words, especially before t
sc: as in she
sg: as in French bonjur
t: as in English
v: as in English or as in bee
z: as in cats of kids

Common diphthongs

ia: as in German ja
ie: as in yay or yeah
io: as in yo-yo
iu: as in you
ua: as in water

Phrase list

For this guide, all phrases and sentences are provided in the polite form. It was written this way under the presumption that anyone using this guide will be speaking Corsican to people they are not familiar with.

Basics

Hello.: Bonghjornu (X)
How are you?: Cumu site? (X)
Very well, Thank you.: Bè, vi ringraziu. (X)
What is your name?: Cumu vi chjamate? (X)
My name is _____.: Mi chjamu _____. (X)
Nice to meet you.: Un piacè di incuntravvi. (X)
Please.: Per piacè (X)
Thank you.: Grazie (X)
I don't know.: Di nunda. (X)
Yes.: Iè (X)
No.: Innò (X)
Excuse me.: Scusatemi. (X)
Sorry.
Goodbye.: Avedeci (X)
I do not speak _____.: Ùn parlu micca ______. (X)
Do you speak English?: Parlate Inglese? (X)
Is there anyone that speaks English here?: Ci hè qualchissia chi parla Inglese quì? (X)
Help!: Aiuta! (X)
Good Morning.: Bonghjornu (X)
Good Afternoon.
Good Evening.: Bona sera (X)
Good Night.: À bona notte (X)
I don't understand.: Ùn capiscu micca. (X)
Where is the bathroom?: Induve sò e toilettes? (X)

Problems

Don't upset me.: Ùn mi dirangeti micca. (XX)
Don't touch me!: Ùn mi tuccate! (X)
I will call the police.: Aghju da chjamà a puliza. (X)
Police!: Puliza! (X)
Stop! Thief!: Arristeti! O scruccò! (X)
Help me, please!: Aghjutatemi, per piacè! (X)
This is an emergency.: Hè una urgenza. (X)
I am lost.: Sò persu. (X)
I lost my bag (handbag/pocketbook).: Aghju persu u mo saccu. (X)
I lost my wallet.: Aghju persu u mo porta muneta. (X)
I am sick.: Mi sente. (X)
I am hurt.: Sò feritu. (X)
I need medical attention.: Aghju bisognu di un duttore. (X)
Can I use your telephone?: Possu telefunà? (X)

Numbers

0: Zèru (X)
1: Unu (X)
2: Dui (X)
3: Trè (X)
4: Quattru (X)
5: Cinque (X)
6: Sèi (X)
7: Sette (X)
8: Ottu (X)
9: Nove (X)
10: Dece (X)
11: Ondeci (X)
12: Dodeci (X)
13: Trèdeci (X)
14: Quattordeci (X)
15: Quindici (X)
16: Sèdeci (X)
17: Dicessette (X)
18: Diciottu (X)
19: Dicenove (X)
20: Vinti (X)
21: Vintunu (X)
22: Vintidui (X)
23: Vintitrè (X)
30: Trènta (X)
40: Quaranta (X)
50: Cinquanta (X)
60: Sessanta (X)
70: Settanta (X)
80: Ottanta (X)
90: Novanta (X)
100: Cèntu (X)
200: Duiecèntu (X)
300: Trecèntu (X)
1,000: Mille (X)
2,000: Duiemila (X)
1,000,000: Un millione (X)
Number _____ (train, bus, etc.): Nùmeru _____ (X)
Half: Mèzu (X)
Less: Menu (X)
More: Più (X)

Time

now: Avà (X)
later: Più tarde (X)
before: Prima / Ans'ora (X)
morning: A matina (X)
during the morning: ind'a matinata (X)
Afternoon: dopu meziornu (X)
evening: A sera (X)
during the evening: ind'a serata (X)
night: A notte (X)

Clock Time

one o'clock AM: un'ora di mane (X)
two o'clock AM: duie ore di mane (X)
nin o'clock AM: nove ore di mane (X)
noon: meziornu (X)
one o'clock PM: un'ora (X)
two o'clock PM: dui ore (X)
six o'clock in the evening: sei ore di sera (X)
seven o'clock in the evening: sette ore di sera (X)
quarter to seven o'clock, 06:45: sette ore menu u quartu (X)
quarter past seven, 07:15: sette ore è quartu (X)
seven thirty, 07:30: sette ore è mezu (X)
midnight: meza notte (X)

Duration

_____ minute(s): ______ minuta(e) (X)
_____ hour(s): ______ ora(e) (X)
_____ day(s): ______ ghjornu(i) (X)
_____ week(s): ______ simana(e) / settimana(e) (X)
_____ month: ______ mese(i) (X)
_____ year(s): ______ annu(i) (X)
weekly: settimanale, ebdumadariu (X)
monthly: mensuale (X)
yearly: annuale (X)

Days

Today: Oghje (X)
Yesterday: Eri (X)
Tomorrow: Dumane (X)
This week: st'etima / sta simana/settimane (X)
Lest week: st'etima chì vene / a prussima simana / settimane (X)
Next week: a simana scorsa / settimane (X)
Monday: luni (X)
Tuesday: marti (X)
Wednesday: marcuri (X)
Thursday: ghjovi (X)
Friday: venneri (X)
Saturday: sabbatu (X)
Sunday: dumenica (X)

Months

January: ghjinaghju (X)
February: ferraghju (X)
March: marzu (X)
April: aprile (X)
May: maghju (X)
June: ghjugnu (X)
July: lugliu (X)
August: aostu (X)
September: sittembre (X)
October: uttrovi (X)
November: nuvembre (X)
December: dicembre (X)

Colors

Black: neru (X)
White: biancu (X)
Gray: grisgiu (X)
Red: rossu (X)
Blue: turchinu (X)
Yellow: ghjallu (X)
Green: verde (X)
Orange: aranciu (X)
Brown: brunu (X)

Transportation

Bus and Train

How much is a ticket to _____?: Quantu costa u bigliettu per andà in _____? (X _____)
One ticket for _____.: Un bigliettu per ____, per piacè. (X)
Where does this train/bus go?: Induva và stu trenu/carru? (X?)
Where is train/bus for _____?: Induva hè u trenu/carru per _____? (X _____)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Stu trenu/carru s'arresta in _____? (X _____)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: U trenu/caru per _____ parte à chi ora? (X _____ X)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: U trenu/caru per _____ hà da ghjunghje quandu? (X _____)

Directions

How do I get to ...?: Induva si trova ____? (X _____)
...the train station?: a gara? (X)
...the bus station?: a gara? (X)
...the airport?: l'aeroportu? (X)
...downtown?: in villa/cità? (X)
Where are there a lot of...: Induva ci sò uni pochi di ... (X)
...restaurants?: ...risturanti? (X)
...bars?: bar? (X)
...sites to see?: ...lochi da visità? (X)
Can you show me on the map?: Pudete mustrammi annant'à a carta? (X?)

Taxi

Lodging

Money

Eating

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: Servite alcool?
One beer/two beers, please.: Una biera/duie biere, per piacè.
A glass of red/white wine, please.: Un bichjeru di vinu rossu/biancu, per piacè.
One large beer, please.: Una grande biera, per piacè.
A bottle, please.: Una buttiglia, per piacè.
whisky: whisky
vodka: vodka
rhum: rhum
water: acqua
soda: soda
Coke: Coca
Do you have any bar snacks?: Avete aperitivi (ind'u sensu chips è cacahuete)
One more, please.: Un(a) altru(a), per piacè.
When do you close?: À chi ora chjudete?

Buying

Do you have this in my size?: Avete què ind'a mo taglia?
How much (is this)?: Quantu costa?
That's too exspensive.: Hè troppu caru.
Would you take _____?: Accittate _____?
exspensive: caru
cheap: à bon pattu
Je ne peux pas le/la payer.: Ùn possu pagallu(la).
I don't want it.: Ùn ne vogliu micca.
Vous me trompez.: Mi burlate.
I'm not interested.: Ùn sò micca interessatu.
Bien, je vais le/la prendre.: Bè, aghju da pigliallu(la).
Can I have a bag?: puderesti dammi un saccu?
Do you ship (overseas)?: Livrate à u strangeru?
I need...: Aghju bisognu...
...toothpaste.: ...di dentifriciu.
...a toothbrush.: ...d'una brossa à denti.
...tampons.: di stamponi. (X)
...soap.: di savone.
...shampoo.: di shampooing.
...painkillers (aspirin, ibuprofen).: ...un analgesicu.
...cold medicine.: ...un medicamentu per u rhume.
...stomach medicine.: ...di medicamentu per u stomacu.
...a razer.: ...di un rasoghju.
...batteries.: ...di pile.
...an umbrella.: ...di un paracua.
...a parasol.: d'un parasole. (X)
...sunscreen.: ...di crema pè u sole.
...a postcard.: di una cartulina. (X)
...des timbres à poste.: di franchizie.
...du papier à lettres.: di carta. (X)
...a pen.: d'una penna. (X)
...de livres en français.: ...di libri in francese.
...des magazines en français.: ...di magazini in francese.
...un journal en français.: ...un ghjurnale in francese.
...d'un dictionnaire français-XXX.: ...di un dizziunariu francese-XXX.

Driving

I want to rent a car.: Vudriu appigiunà una vittura.
Can I get insurance?: Purriu esse assicuratu(a)?
stop (on a street sign): stop
one way: senzu unicu
yield: lasciate passà
no parking: staziunamente difesu
speed limit: lìmita di vitezza
gas (petrol) station: stazione essenza
petrol: l'essenza
diesel: diesel

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: Ùn aghju fattu nunda di male.
It was a misunderstanding.: Hè un sbagliu.
Where are you taking me?: Induva mi purteti?
Am I under arrest?: So in statu d'arristazione?
I am a French/Belgian/Swiss/Canadian citizen.: So francese/belgu/svizzeru/canadianu.
Je suis citoyenne française/belge/suisse/canadienne.: So francesa/belga/svizzera/canadiana.
I want to talk to the French/Belgian/Swiss/Canadian embassy/consulate.: Devu parlà à l'ambassada/à u cunsulatu francese/belgu/svizzeru/canadianu.
I want to talk to a lawyer.: Vuderiu parlà à un avucatu.
Can I just pay a fine now?: Puderiu simplicemente pagà un'amanda?

Learning more

How do you say _____ in Corsican?: Cumu si dice _____ in corsu ?(X)
What is this/that called?: Què cumu si chjama ?(X)

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