pani
[ˈpa.nɪ]
pani is the Sicilian word for bread.
The word refers to baked dough made from cereals.
Meaning: baked dough made from cereals (noun)
Did you know?
- The word pani is a direct descendant of the Latin pānis, which is also the root for the English word 'companion', meaning someone you share bread with.
- There is a traditional Sicilian belief that leaving pani upside down on a table brings bad luck or invites poverty into the home.
- Because of its historical importance, several traditional Sicilian festivals feature bread shaped into elaborate religious or symbolic figures, often referred to simply as pani followed by a descriptor.
Examples in context
- U pani è friscu.The bread is fresh.
- Accattau u pani pi a cena.I bought bread for dinner.
Example conversation
Rosa and Calogero are preparing dinner together.
- RosaCalogero, hai cuminatu a tagghiari u pani?Calogero, did you start cutting the bread?
- CalogeroNo,Rosa, u pani è ancora troppu càldu.No, Rosa, the bread is still too hot.
- RosaAspittamu cincu minuti allura.Let's wait five minutes then.
- CalogeroSì, accussì u pani s'asciugga un pocu.Yes, that way the bread dries a bit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bread” translations and entries pani, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pani, CC BY-SA 4.0.
