Corsica: Its Words and Phrases
Mathilda is a traveler at heart; she loves discovering new places and sharing her discoveries with you.
Sometimes just a few words are enough to bring people together. Understanding the island also means understanding its people, their languages, its sounds, and its expressions full of character.
The Corsican Language: From Yesterday to Today
Corsican is not a patois, but a language in its own right, with several dialects depending on the micro-region. Someone from Bastia doesn’t speak quite the same way as someone from Ajaccio, and the people of Bonifacio have… their own distinctive features.
Spoken for centuries, the Corsican language has been enriched over the course of the island’s various occupations. Long passed down within families, even as French became the dominant language in schools, it has had to travel a long road toward recognition.
Of Latin origin and closely related to Italian, the Corsican language is distinguished by its sounds, pronunciations, and vivid expressions. Until the end of the 19th century, it was passed down primarily orally, through everyday conversation and traditional songs—both religious and folk. Its development as a written language gradually took hold in the early 20th century.
Le corse à l’oreille
Quelques particularités donnent au corse sa musicalité. Pour vous lancer, quelques règles de prononciation suffisent. Pas de panique : nul besoin de parler corse couramment pour se faire comprendre !
The stress is usually on the penultimate syllable (mamma, mom; dumane, tomorrow), but it can also fall on the antepenultimate (the second-to-last) syllable (sabatu, Saturday) or the last syllable (libertà, freedom).
Another distinctive feature: single and double consonants can change the meaning of a word. Cane means “dog,” while canne refers to reeds.
Corsican has five vowels, the pronunciation of which sometimes differs from that in French. Above all, remember that the “u” is pronounced “ou” and that final vowels should not be omitted but only softened: they contribute to the musicality of the language.
Finally, it’s best to use the correct place names: “Porto-Vecchio” in French becomes “Portivechju” in Corsican, and “Bonifacio” becomes “Bunifaziu.” As for “Bonifatch” or “Porto-Vek,” we advise you to avoid them… Corsicans might take offense!
Corsican Vocabulary You Should Know
A few words and phrases to help you communicate with locals during your stay.
Essentials
Hello, Good evening: Bonghjornu, Bona sera
Welcome: Benvenuti
Goodbye: Avvèdeci
Please: Pè piacè
Thank you / I thank you: Grazie / Vi ringraziu
Cheers (also when toasting): A Salute
See you soon / See you later: À dopu / À prestu
The Trip
Boat: U battèllu
Hotel: Osteria
Train: U trenu
Car: A vittura
Tour: U giru
Things to do: chi fà
Experience: Sperienza
Let's go: Andemu
A few words, a smile, and a desire to connect: that’s already a wonderful way to get to know Corsica!
Pinzutu pronounced Pinsoute
Pinzutu (or pins, its diminutive), meaning pointed, is the nickname given by Corsicans to foreigners from the mainland. Some say it comes from the pointed shape of the hats worn by French soldiers who came to Corsica to subdue the islanders under Louis XV. Other origins are put forward, but this is the best-known and most widely accepted!
