Rotten Men (Rotten Love Duet #2)

Glossary of Terms and Definitions

Amore — Love.

Anziano — Senior.

Bambinos — Children.

Bastardo (plural bastardi) — Bastard.

Bella — Beautiful.

Bratva (Russian organized crime or Russian mafia) — A collective of various organized crime elements originating in the former Soviet Union.

Capo (short for caporegime or capodecina) — Rank used in the Mafia for a made member of the crime family who heads a “crew” of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization. Caporegime is an Italian word, which is used to signify the head of a family in Sicily, but has now come to mean a ranking member, similar to captain or senior sergeant in a military unit. In general, the term indicates the head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate who commands a crew of soldiers and reports directly to the Don (Boss) or an Underboss or Streetboss.

Capo dei capi — Captain of captains.

Cara mia — My dear.

Cazzo — Dick.

Ciao — Bye.

Commilitoni — Fellow soldiers; brothers-in-arms.

Consigliere — A position within the leadership structure of the Sicilian, Calabrian, and American Mafia. He is an advisor or counselor to the boss, with the additional responsibility of representing the boss in important meetings both within the boss’ crime family and with other crime families. The consigliere is a close, trusted friend, and confidant—the mob’s version of an elder statesman. He is an advisor to the boss in a Mafia crime family and sometimes is his right-hand man. By the very nature of the job, a consigliere is one of the few in the family who can argue with the boss and is often tasked with challenging the boss when needed, to ensure subsequent plans are foolproof.

Consorte – Husband or wife, consort, spouse.

Cosa Nostra — The Italian-American Mafia is a highly organized criminal society. The organization is often referred to by members as Cosa Nostra and by the government as La Cosa Nostra. The organization’s name is derived from the original Mafia or Cosa Nostra, the Sicilian Mafia.

Cugina, cugino (plural cugine) — Cousin.

Famiglia — Family.

Figlia (figlio) — Daughter (son).

Fratello (plural f ratelli) — Brother.

Goomahs (Italian-American slang) — The mistress of a Mafioso.

Idioti — Idiots.

Joie-de-vivre — A keen or buoyant enjoyment of life.

Leccaculo — Kiss ass.

Made Man — In the American Mafia and Sicilian Mafia, a made man is a fully initiated member of the Mafia. To become “made”, an associate first has to be sponsored by another made man. An inductee will be required to take the oath of Omertà, the mafia code of silence. After the induction ceremony, the associate becomes a “made man” and holds the rank of soldier in the Mafia hierarchy.

Mafioso — A member of the Mafia.

Mammà — Mom.

Mastrolindo (Italian slang) — A big, bald guy.

Non mi rompere i coglioni — Don’t break my balls.

Omertà — Southern Italian code of silence that places importance on silence in the face of questioning by authorities or outsiders and willfully ignoring and generally avoiding interference with the illegal activities of others. It originated and remains common in Southern Italy, where banditry or brigandage and Mafia-type criminal organizations (like the Camorra, Cosa Nostra, 'Ndrangheta, and Sacra Corona Unita) are strong.

The Outfit (also known as The Chicago Outfit, the Chicago Mafia, the Chicago Mob, the South Side Gang, or The Organization) — Italian-American organized crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, which dates back to the 1910s. It is part of the American Mafia originating in Chicago’s South Side.

Papà — Dad.

Porca miseria — Damn it.

(Il) Porco — The pig, swine, or hog.

Principessa (plural principesse) — Princess.

Pronto — Ready (Italian way of answering the phone).

Rosa — Rose.

Sposo, sposa — Husband, wife.

Soldato (plural soldati) — Soldier, which is the first official level of both the American Mafia and the Sicilian Mafia in the formal Mafia hierarchy or cadre. The promotion to the rank of soldier is an elevation in the chain of command from the associate level. The associate must prove himself to the family and take the oath of Omertà.

Stronzo — Asshole.

Tesoro mio — My treasure.

Ti amo cosi tanto, tu sei la mia vita — I love you so much, you are my life.

Vaffanculo — Fuck off.

Vera famiglia — Real family.