Neapolitan: Scungili

[martiex2]

I'm doing a play and one of the characters is from Brooklyn and Italian. The word "Scungili" is used. Can anyone tell me what it means and how it is pronounced? Thanks!

 

[kari]

"Scungili" doesn't exist in italian vocabulary and it doesn't seem neither a slang expression.
I find this on google:
"SCUNGILI CRIME FAMILY"
Maybe somebody else could say more.

 

[EvanC]

I'm doing a play and one of the characters is from Brooklyn and Italian. The word "Scungili" is used. Can anyone tell me what it means and how it is pronounced? Thanks!

Martiex2,
Sorry I can't tell you what "scungili" means, but I can help with the pronounciation. It's somthing like this: scoon-jee-lee
I hope that helps,
Evan C

 

[mimitabby]

scungille is a shellfish. i am not sure if i am spelling it right, it is a conch.
mimi

 

[mbb]

can someone tell me what "scungilli" means?

 

[Silvia]

Hi mmb,

welcome to the WR Forums.

As you can see, this very same question has already been asked.

 

[mbb]

Thank you for your answer. I'm still wondering how it's used as a word in slang? Does it mean screwy or crazy or wiggly worm. My husband uses this word from time to time. Mostly directed at our little dog. He did tell me that it was a "fish." My dog adores him and I think this is a term of endearment. Thanks for your answer -- mille grazie - MBB

 

[Silvia]

It's an American thing, I guess. Nothing to do with Italian expressions/exclamations.

 

[babbo]

Scungili are snails. My Dad told me they were periwinkle. My Family comes from Provincia di Potenza. Everyone knows the word. And it is a term of endearment.

 

[moodywop]

I checked in a Neapolitan-Italian dictionary. The word comes from Latin "exconcilum" and refers to a shellfish. It is also spelled "scunciglio". It also means "someone/something ugly and small" so I guess it could be used as a jocular term of endearment.

Carlo

 

[foxfirebrand]

It is also spelled "scunciglio". It also means "someone/something ugly and small" so I guess it could be used as a jocular term of endearment.Carlo

Good heavens-- surely this couldn't have anything to do with the etymology of scugnizzi? They are kinda like barnacles sometimes.
.

 

[V52]

Hi
I guess the word "scungili" can be related to the same root of italian verb "nascondere" "nascondersi" and definitely all kinds of snails hide themselves...
Vittorio

 

[alfajor]

I checked in a Neapolitan-Italian dictionary. The word comes from Latin "exconcilum" and refers to a shellfish. It is also spelled "scunciglio". It also means "someone/something ugly and small" so I guess it could be used as a jocular term of endearment.

Carlo

scunciglio
(lat. exconcilium): s.m. itt. "calcinello (tipo di conchiglia); sconquasso, disordine, guasto)" |
trasl. "tipo dal fisico assai brutto, piccolo, deforme, sgobbato"

— Dizionario dialettale napoletano di Antonio Altamura

«I molluschi sono parte integrante della cucina tradizionale napoletana. Proprio a Napoli si privilegiano le 'maruzze', mentre Pompei e la provincia puntano sugli 'scungilli' (in italiano sconcigli o murice), molluschi amati già dagli antichi Romani.»

Maruzza o “sconciglio”: le origini e la storia dei molluschi