Basic Words

1. Iè

   Yes

   Usage

   The answer "yes"; "no" is Nò

   Grammar Note

   Do not write Italian sì: in Corsican sì means "you are" (tù sì). "Yes" is iè

2. Nò

   No

   Usage

   The answer "no"; "yes" is Iè

   Grammar Note

   Written with a grave accent: nò (innò also exists). Not the unaccented Italian no

3. Pè piacè

   Please

   Usage

   Added to a request or an order

   Grammar Note

   pè (for) + piacè (pleasure). The southern spelling per piacè exists; use pè piacè. The accent is on the final è

4. Grazie

   Thank you

   Usage

   A short thank-you; for a more polite form say Vi ringraziu

   Grammar Note

   Grazia / grazie includes the sense "thanks". Spelled like Italian but also Corsican vocabulary

5. Scusatemi

   Excuse me

   Usage

   A polite way to get someone's attention, e.g. before asking the way or the time

   Grammar Note

   The polite/plural imperative scusate of scusà, with the clitic mi attached. The address form is voi

6. Mi dispiace

   Sorry

   Usage

   To apologize or to say you feel sorry about something

   Grammar Note

   Literally "it displeases me"; dispiace is the verb related to the noun dispiacè. Mi dispiace daveru means "I am really sorry"

7. Và bè

   It's OK / Fine

   Usage

   To agree to something or to say that everything is fine

   Grammar Note

   Và is the 3sg of andà, here "works out". The verb và takes a grave accent. Bè is the short form of bene

8. Ùn capiscu micca

   I don't understand

   Usage

   When you do not follow what someone says

   Grammar Note

   Negation is ùn + verb + micca. Capì is an -ì verb: capiscu, capisci, capisce... Keep the accent on ùn

9. Capiscu

   I understand

   Usage

   When you follow what someone says

   Grammar Note

   First person present of capì. -ì verbs insert -isc- (capiscu, capisci, capisce). The subject pronoun eiu is dropped

10. Aghju finitu

    I'm finished / Done

    Usage

    When you have finished a meal, a task or a procedure

    Grammar Note

    Compound past: aghju (1sg of avè) + the participle finitu of finì. With avè the participle does not agree in gender or number. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. Aspittate, pè piacè

    Please wait

    Usage

    When you ask a clerk or someone at a counter to wait; plural/polite imperative

    Grammar Note

    Plural/polite imperative of aspettà. The unstressed stem is aspitt- (aspettu, aspittemu, aspittate). The addressee takes voi. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. Un mumentu

    Just a moment

    Usage

    A short way to ask someone to hold on for a moment

    Grammar Note

    Un (masculine indefinite article) + mumentu (moment). Also spelled momentu

13. Un adultu, pè piacè

    One adult, please

    Usage

    When buying an admission or travel ticket for one adult

    Grammar Note

    To order, say un + noun. For more than one, use e.g. dui adulti. Adding pè piacè makes it polite. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

14. Ùn aghju micca una riservazione

    I don't have a reservation

    Usage

    To tell a hotel or a restaurant that you have not booked

    Grammar Note

    Negation ùn + aghju + micca, followed by the feminine noun riservazione with the feminine article una. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

15. Aghju una riservazione

    I have a reservation

    Usage

    To tell a hotel or a restaurant that you have booked

    Grammar Note

    Aghju (1sg of avè) + una riservazione. Riservazione is feminine and related to the verb riservà (to reserve). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

16. Aiutatemi, pè piacè

    Please help me

    Usage

    To ask the people around you for help when you are in trouble

    Grammar Note

    Plural/polite imperative aiutate of aiutà with the clitic mi attached, built like Scusatemi. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

17. Dite torna, pè piacè

    Once more, please

    Usage

    To ask someone to repeat what you did not catch

    Grammar Note

    Plural/polite imperative dite of dì + the adverb torna (again). The addressee takes voi. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

18. Parlate adasgiu, pè piacè

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    When someone speaks too fast for you to follow

    Grammar Note

    Plural/polite imperative parlate of parlà + the adverb adasgiu (slowly). Adasgiu is also used with other verbs, e.g. andà adasgiu. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

19. Parlu un pocu di corsu

    I speak a little Corsican

    Usage

    To tell locals that you speak a little Corsican

    Grammar Note

    First person parlu of parlà + un pocu di (a little) + the language. Language names are written in lowercase (corsu, inglese, talianu). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

20. Parlate inglese?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    To find out whether someone at a shop or hotel speaks English

    Grammar Note

    Parlate is the 2pl of parlà, also used to address one person politely. No inversion: a rising intonation makes it a question. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

21. Questu

    This

    Usage

    To point at something close to you and say "this"

    Grammar Note

    Demonstrative for things near the speaker, masculine; feminine is questa. The short forms stu / sta are common before a noun

22. Quellu

    That

    Usage

    To point at something farther away and say "that"

    Grammar Note

    Demonstrative for things farther away, masculine; feminine is quella. For something near the listener, quessu is used

23. Quì

    Here

    Usage

    Shows a place; used together with pointing

    Grammar Note

    Adverb of place, written quì with a grave accent

24. Culà

    There

    Usage

    Shows a place that is farther away; used together with pointing

    Grammar Note

    Adverb of place, the opposite of quì (here). The accent is on the final à

25. Eiu

    I / me

    Usage

    The word for yourself, used for emphasis or in a reply

    Grammar Note

    The subject pronoun is normally dropped (Parlu corsu); eiu is added for emphasis. The southern spelling eo is not used

26. Voi

    You (polite)

    Usage

    The word for someone you address politely, such as a stranger or a shop clerk

    Grammar Note

    Where tù is for friends, voi (also vo) is used for a polite single addressee or for several people, with the 2pl verb

27. Insemi

    Together

    Usage

    An adverb for "together", as opposed to separately

    Grammar Note

    Adverb; also written inseme, but insemi is used here

28. Subitu

    Right now

    Usage

    An adverb for when something is needed immediately

    Grammar Note

    Adverb meaning "immediately", distinct from the participle subitu. Combined with pè piacè it sounds polite

29. Una persona

    One person

    Usage

    To say the number of people when asking for a table or a room

    Grammar Note

    Persona is feminine, so una is used, for men and women alike

30. Duie persone

    Two people

    Usage

    To say the number of people

    Grammar Note

    Two becomes duie before a feminine noun. The plural of persona is persone

31. Trè persone

    Three people

    Usage

    To say the number of people

    Grammar Note

    Three is written trè with a grave accent, the same for both genders

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