Corsican phrasebook

Corsican (corsu) is the native language of Corsica. Even though it has no official status there, it is estimated that 50 % of the population has conversational understanding of Corsican, and a significant minority of islanders prefer to use the language over French. Corsican is more closely-related to the Tuscan dialect of Italian than to French.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a 

as in father

e 

as in bet or hey, also pronounced as in rack or father in the south of Corsica

i 

as in pin or speed

o 

as in or

u 

as in moon

Consonants

b 

same as English

c 

as in cheap before i or e, and as in cat elsewhere

ch 

as in cat

chj 

t as in ten, followed by y as in yarn

d 

as in English, but also pronounced as a (trilled?) r sound in some words

f 

as in English

g 

as in Jack before i or e, and as in gill elsewhere

gh 

as in gill

ghj 

d as in deed, followed by y as in yarn

gli 

g as in gill, followed by y as in yarn; sometimes pronounced as dd in the south of Corsica

gn 

as in onion

gu 

as in hangwa

l 

as in English, but also pronounced as a (trilled?) r in some words

m 

as in English

n 

as in English, also as in name before b, p, and v

p 

as in English

qu 

as in quilt

r 

as in English (or trilled?)

s 

as in English, but also pronounced as in she in some words, especially before t

sc 

as in she

sg 

as in French bonjur

t 

as in English

v 

as in English or as in bee

z 

as in cats of kids

Common diphthongs

ia 

as in German ja

ie 

as in yay or yeah

io 

as in yo-yo

iu 

as in you

ua 

as in water

Phrase list

For this guide, all phrases and sentences are provided in the polite form. It was written this way under the presumption that anyone using this guide will be speaking Corsican to people they are not familiar with.

Basics

Hello. 

Bonghjornu (X)

How are you? 

Cumu site? (X)

Very well, Thank you. 

Bè, vi ringraziu. (X)

What is your name? 

Cumu vi chjamate? (X)

My name is _____. 

Mi chjamu _____. (X)

Nice to meet you. 

Un piacè di incuntravvi. (X)

Please. 

Per piacè (X)

Thank you. 

Grazie (X)

I don't know. 

Di nunda. (X)

Yes. 

Iè (X)

No. 

Innò (X)

Excuse me. 

Scusatemi. (X)

Sorry. 

Goodbye. 

Avedeci (X)

I do not speak _____. 

Ùn parlu micca ______. (X)

Do you speak English? 

Parlate Inglese? (X)

Is there anyone that speaks English here? 

Ci hè qualchissia chi parla Inglese quì? (X)

Help! 

Aiuta! (X)

Good Morning. 

Bonghjornu (X)

Good Afternoon. 

Good Evening. 

Bona sera (X)

Good Night. 

À bona notte (X)

I don't understand. 

Ùn capiscu micca. (X)

Where is the bathroom? 

Induve sò e toilettes? (X)

Problems

Don't upset me. 

Ùn mi dirangeti micca. (XX)

Don't touch me! 

Ùn mi tuccate! (X)

I will call the police. 

Aghju da chjamà a puliza. (X)

Police! 

Puliza! (X)

Stop! Thief! 

Arristeti! O scruccò! (X)

Help me, please! 

Aghjutatemi, per piacè! (X)

This is an emergency. 

Hè una urgenza. (X)

I am lost. 

Sò persu. (X)

I lost my bag (handbag/pocketbook). 

Aghju persu u mo saccu. (X)

I lost my wallet. 

Aghju persu u mo porta muneta. (X)

I am sick. 

Mi sente. (X)

I am hurt. 

Sò feritu. (X)

I need medical attention. 

Aghju bisognu di un duttore. (X)

Can I use your telephone? 

Possu telefunà? (X)

Numbers

0 

Zèru (X)

1 

Unu (X)

2 

Dui (X)

3 

Trè (X)

4 

Quattru (X)

5 

Cinque (X)

6 

Sèi (X)

7 

Sette (X)

8 

Ottu (X)

9 

Nove (X)

10 

Dece (X)

11 

Ondeci (X)

12 

Dodeci (X)

13 

Trèdeci (X)

14 

Quattordeci (X)

15 

Quindici (X)

16 

Sèdeci (X)

17 

Dicessette (X)

18 

Diciottu (X)

19 

Dicenove (X)

20 

Vinti (X)

21 

Vintunu (X)

22 

Vintidui (X)

23 

Vintitrè (X)

30 

Trènta (X)

40 

Quaranta (X)

50 

Cinquanta (X)

60 

Sessanta (X)

70 

Settanta (X)

80 

Ottanta (X)

90 

Novanta (X)

100 

Cèntu (X)

200 

Duiecèntu (X)

300 

Trecèntu (X)

1,000 

Mille (X)

2,000 

Duiemila (X)

1,000,000 

Un millione (X)

Number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

Nùmeru _____ (X)

Half 

Mèzu (X)

Less 

Menu (X)

More 

Più (X)

Time

now 

Avà (X)

later 

Più tarde (X)

before 

Prima / Ans'ora (X)

morning 

A matina (X)

during the morning 

ind'a matinata (X)

Afternoon 

dopu meziornu (X)

evening 

A sera (X)

during the evening 

ind'a serata (X)

night 

A notte (X)

Clock Time

one o'clock AM 

un'ora di mane (X)

two o'clock AM 

duie ore di mane (X)

nin o'clock AM 

nove ore di mane (X)

noon 

meziornu (X)

one o'clock PM 

un'ora (X)

two o'clock PM 

dui ore (X)

six o'clock in the evening 

sei ore di sera (X)

seven o'clock in the evening 

sette ore di sera (X)

quarter to seven o'clock, 06:45 

sette ore menu u quartu (X)

quarter past seven, 07:15 

sette ore è quartu (X)

seven thirty, 07:30 

sette ore è mezu (X)

midnight 

meza notte (X)

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

______ minuta(e) (X)

_____ hour(s) 

______ ora(e) (X)

_____ day(s) 

______ ghjornu(i) (X)

_____ week(s) 

______ simana(e) / settimana(e) (X)

_____ month 

______ mese(i) (X)

_____ year(s) 

______ annu(i) (X)

weekly 

settimanale, ebdumadariu (X)

monthly 

mensuale (X)

yearly 

annuale (X)

Days

Today 

Oghje (X)

Yesterday 

Eri (X)

Tomorrow 

Dumane (X)

This week 

st'etima / sta simana/settimane (X)

Lest week 

st'etima chì vene / a prussima simana / settimane (X)

Next week 

a simana scorsa / settimane (X)

Monday 

luni (X)

Tuesday 

marti (X)

Wednesday 

marcuri (X)

Thursday 

ghjovi (X)

Friday 

venneri (X)

Saturday 

sabbatu (X)

Sunday 

dumenica (X)

Months

January 

ghjinaghju (X)

February 

ferraghju (X)

March 

marzu (X)

April 

aprile (X)

May 

maghju (X)

June 

ghjugnu (X)

July 

lugliu (X)

August 

aostu (X)

September 

sittembre (X)

October 

uttrovi (X)

November 

nuvembre (X)

December 

dicembre (X)

Colors

Black 

neru (X)

White 

biancu (X)

Gray 

grisgiu (X)

Red 

rossu (X)

Blue 

turchinu (X)

Yellow 

ghjallu (X)

Green 

verde (X)

Orange 

aranciu (X)

Brown 

brunu (X)

Transportation

Bus and Train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

Quantu costa u bigliettu per andà in _____? (X _____)

One ticket for _____. 

Un bigliettu per ____, per piacè. (X)

Where does this train/bus go? 

Induva và stu trenu/carru? (X?)

Where is train/bus for _____? 

Induva hè u trenu/carru per _____? (X _____)

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

Stu trenu/carru s'arresta in _____? (X _____)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

U trenu/caru per _____ parte à chi ora? (X _____ X)

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

U trenu/caru per _____ hà da ghjunghje quandu? (X _____)

Directions

How do I get to ...? 

Induva si trova ____? (X _____)

...the train station? 

a gara? (X)

...the bus station? 

a gara? (X)

...the airport? 

l'aeroportu? (X)

...downtown? 

in villa/cità? (X)

Where are there a lot of... 

Induva ci sò uni pochi di ... (X)

...restaurants? 

...risturanti? (X)

...bars? 

bar? (X)

...sites to see? 

...lochi da visità? (X)

Can you show me on the map? 

Pudete mustrammi annant'à a carta? (X?)

Taxi

Lodging

Money

Eating

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

Servite alcool?

One beer/two beers, please. 

Una biera/duie biere, per piacè.

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

Un bichjeru di vinu rossu/biancu, per piacè.

One large beer, please. 

Una grande biera, per piacè.

A bottle, please. 

Una buttiglia, per piacè.

whisky 

whisky

vodka 

vodka

rhum 

rhum

water 

acqua

soda 

soda

Coke 

Coca

Est-ce que vous avez des apéritifs (dans le sens chips ou cacahuètes)? 

Avete aperitivi (ind'u sensu chips è cacahuete)

Encore un/une autre, s'il vous plaît. 

Un(a) altru(a), per piacè.

When do you close? 

À chi ora chjudete?

Buying

Do you have this in my size? 

Avete què ind'a mo taglia?

How much (is this)? 

Quantu costa?

That's too exspensive. 

Hè troppu caru.

Would you take _____? 

Accittate _____?

exspensive 

caru

cheap 

à bon pattu

Je ne peux pas le/la payer. 

Ùn possu pagallu(la).

I don't want it. 

Ùn ne vogliu micca.

Vous me trompez. 

Mi burlate.

I'm not interested. 

Ùn sò micca interessatu.

Bien, je vais le/la prendre. 

Bè, aghju da pigliallu(la).

Can I have a bag? 

puderesti dammi un saccu?

Do you ship (overseas)? 

Livrate à u strangeru?

I need... 

Aghju bisognu...

...toothpaste. 

...di dentifriciu.

...a toothbrush. 

...d'una brossa à denti.

...tampons. 

di stamponi. (X)

...soap. 

di savone.

...shampoo. 

di shampooing.

...painkillers (aspirin, ibuprofen). 

...un analgesicu.

...cold medicine. 

...un medicamentu per u rhume.

...stomach medicine. 

...di medicamentu per u stomacu.

...a razer. 

...di un rasoghju.

...batteries. 

...di pile.

...an umbrella. 

...di un paracua.

...a parasol. 

d'un parasole. (X)

...sunscreen. 

...di crema pè u sole.

...a postcard. 

di una cartulina. (X)

...des timbres à poste. 

di franchizie.

...du papier à lettres. 

di carta. (X)

...a pen. 

d'una penna. (X)

...de livres en français. 

...di libri in francese.

...des magazines en français. 

...di magazini in francese.

...un journal en français. 

...un ghjurnale in francese.

...d'un dictionnaire français-XXX. 

...di un dizziunariu francese-XXX.

Driving

Je voudrais louer une voiture. 

Vudriu appigiunà una vittura.

Je pourrais être assuré(e)? 

Purriu esse assicuratu(a)?

stop (sur un panneau) 

stop

sens unique 

senzu unicu

cédez le passage 

lasciate passà

stationnement interdit 

staziunamente difesu

limite de vitesse 

lìmita di vitezza

station essence 

stazione essenza

l'essence 

l'essenza

diesel 

diesel

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

Ùn aghju fattu nunda di male.

It was a misunderstanding. 

Hè un sbagliu.

Where are you taking me? 

Induva mi purteti?

Am I under arrest? 

So in statu d'arristazione?

Je suis citoyen français/belge/suisse/canadien. 

So francese/belgu/svizzeru/canadianu.

Je suis citoyenne française/belge/suisse/canadienne. 

So francesa/belga/svizzera/canadiana.

Je dois parler à l'ambassade/au consulat français/belge/suisse/canadien. 

Devu parlà à l'ambassada/à u cunsulatu francese/belgu/svizzeru/canadianu.

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

Vuderiu parlà à un avucatu.

Can I just pay a fine now? 

Puderiu simplicemente pagà un'amanda?

Learning more

How do you say _____ in Corsican? 

Cumu si dice _____ in corsu ?(X)

What is this/that called? 

Què cumu si chjama ?(X)