Language/Sicilian/Grammar/Present-Tense

Present tense in Sicilian

Conjugating Sicilian –ari Verbs

The paradigm for conjugating present tense –ari verbs in Sicilian is simple.  The ending of the verb will change from 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd person.  Look closely how the ending changes, because this will happen the same way for all –ari verbs. All verbs ending with the letters –ari such as parrari (to speak), accattari (to buy), cantari (to sing) etc., will end with the new ending of u, i, a, amu, ati, and anu respectively.  Here’s how it goes.

Parrari – to speak, talk

Parru – I speak

Parri – you speak

Parra – he/she speaks

Parramu – we speak

Parrati – y’all speak

Pàrranu – they speak

Did you notice how the ending of the verb parrari (-ari) was removed, and replaced with u, i, a, amu, ati and anu as it was conjugated through 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd person?  Well, this will happen with all –ari verbs.  Here is another verb being conjugated.

Accattari – to buy

Accattu – I buy

Accatti – you buy

Accatta – he/she buys

Accattamu – we buy

Accattati – y’all buy

Accàttanu – they buy

Now you try one.

Cantari – to sing

Cant__ – I sing

Cant__ – you sing

Cant__ – he/she sings

Cant___ – we sing

Cant___ – y’all sing

Cànt___ – they sing

Very good!  Also notice how in the third person plural that the accent changes.  Also be aware that the auxiliary verb “do” is simply understand in the Sicilian language. So, “Parri sicilianu?” means, “Do you speak Sicilian?”.  “Canti canzuni Sicilianu?” means “Do you sing Sicilian songs?”.   Hope this helps!  Good luck and have fun learning Sicilian.

Hello everybody,

In today's lesson you will learn some useful vocabulary about ¨PRESENT TENSE¨ in Sicilian

Feel free to edit this page by adding new words and expressions !

Good learning ! :)

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Some Verbs in the Present Tense in Sicilian

Verb : to love (amari / finishing by -ari)

ENGLISH	SICILIAN	BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE
I love	İu amu	Eu amo
You love	Tu ami	Você ama
He loves	İddu ama	Ele ama
We love	Nuàutri amamu	Nós amamos
You love	Vuàutri amati	Vocês amam
They love	İddi àmanu	Eles amam

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Verb : to speak (parrari / finishing by -ari)

ENGLISH	SICILIAN	BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE
I speak	İu parru	Eu falo
You speak	Tu parri	Você fala
He speaks	İddu parra	Ele fala
We speak	Nuàutri parràmu	Nós falamos
You speak	Vuàutri parràti	Vocês falam
They speak	İddi pàrranu	Eles falam

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Verb : to sleep (durmìri / finishing by -ìri)

ENGLISH	SICILIAN	BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE
I sleep	İu dormu	Eu durmo
You sleep	Tu dormi	Você dorme
He sleeps	İddu dormi	Ele dorme
We sleep	Nuàutri durmèmu	Nós dormimos
You sleep	Vuàutri durmìti	Vocês dormem
They sleep	İddi dòrminu	Eles dormem

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Verb : to open (gràpiri / finishing by -iri)

ENGLISH	SICILIAN	BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE
I open	İu grapu	Eu abro
You open	Tu grapi	Você abre
He opens	İddu grapi	Ele abre
We open	Nuàutri grapemu	Nós abrimos
You open	Vuàutri grapiti	Vocês abrem
They open	İddi gràpinu	Eles abrem