citrolu
The Sicilian word for cucumber is citrolu.
citrolu refers to the edible fruit known as a cucumber.
Meaning: edible fruit (noun)
Which one should you use?
While citrolu is the standard term, you may also encounter cucuzziddu in informal contexts.
Did you know?
- The word citrolu shares its roots with the word for 'citron', suggesting an ancient classification of many citrus-like or gourd-like fruits in the Mediterranean.
- Depending on the village in Sicily, a speaker might use cucuzziddu to refer to a zucchini instead of a cucumber, which can lead to confusion in the kitchen.
- The phonetic shift from the Italian 'cetriolo' to the Sicilian citrolu reflects a broader linguistic pattern in Sicily where 'e' sounds often shift to 'i'.
Examples in context
- U citrolu è assai friscu.The cucumber is very fresh.
- Vogghiu mangiari un citrolu.I want to eat a cucumber.
Example conversation
Giuseppe and Giulia are shopping at a local market.
- GiuseppeGiulia, pigghia un citrolu.Giulia, take a cucumber.
- GiuliaÈ bonu stu citrolu?Is this cucumber good?
- GiuseppeSì, è assai friscu.Yes, it is very fresh.
- GiuliaAllora ne pigghiu unu.Then I will take one.
