If you are planning a stay in Padua in our apartments, you may already know that Padua is the city of the “three withouts”:
- the Saint without a name, namely the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua (simply called “the Saint” because of the strong devotion of the people of Padua toward the Franciscan friar, originally from Lisbon and patron saint of our city, where he lived and finally died in 1231)
- the Meadow without grass, namely Prato della Valle (in the past, the term “pratum” simply meant a large space used for trade and commerce)
- the Café without doors, the famous Caffè Pedrocchi (so called because, from its opening in 1831 until 1916, it kept its doors open day and night to welcome students, intellectuals, and patriots. This custom ended during World War I to prevent the Austrian enemy from spotting the lights in the middle of the night)
But to truly breathe in the spirit of the city, it is not enough to visit its monuments: you also need to listen to the local speech—ironic, colorful, and direct—which can still be heard today among the market stalls, under the Salone, or during an aperitif in Piazza delle Erbe.
Padua is in fact an ancient and cultured university city, thanks to the historic University of Padua, but it also preserves a very strong popular soul.
The Paduan dialect tells stories of rural life, trade, and everyday experiences. Here are some of the most common expressions—past and present—with their meanings.
Expressions you’ll hear at the market
“El se strassina come ‘na soca”
“He drags himself like a log of wood.”
Refers to someone very slow, tired, or lazy.
“Vanti col Cristo che ‘a procession se ingruma”
“Move along with the Christ, or the procession will pile up.”
Where “Christ” refers to the crucifix at the head of a religious procession. It’s used to urge someone to move or hurry up.
“Costa un ocio dea testa / costa un boto!”
“Costa un ocio dea testa / costa un boto!”
“It costs an eye from your head / it costs a bang!”
It costs a lot!
Sayings related to food and wine
“‘Ndemo a ber un’ombra.“
“‘Ndemo a ber un’ombra.”
“Let’s go drink a shadow (glass of wine).”
A tradition shared across the entire Veneto region. “Ombra” (shadow) is a glass of wine, so called because in Venice wine sellers used to keep their demijohns under the shadow of the bell tower to keep them cool.
“Andar par sùche”
“To go around for pumpkins.”
It means to ramble, lose the thread of conversation, or talk nonsense. It often happens after the third spritz!
“L’acqua smarsisse i pài”
“Water rots the poles.”
This saying is used by Venetians if, at the bar, someone dares to order a non-alcoholic drink or—horror of horrors—water.
“Mai magnà pasta e fasoi insieme”
“Never eaten pasta and beans together.”
Said about someone with whom you are not familiar.
“La boca no zè straca fin che non la sa de vaca”
“The mouth is not tired until it tastes of cow.”
Meaning that a good meal should always end with cheese.
Sayings related to the city
“Va’ a ciche drìo el Pedrochi”
“Go look behind the Pedrocchi.”
Used when you want to get rid of someone, sending them away in a joking way. Caffè Pedrocchi is one of Padua’s iconic places, symbol of the bustling city center and convivial life.
“Perso pal caìgo”
“Lost in the fog.”
Refers to someone who understands nothing or is completely disoriented.
“Va’ in Prà dea Vae a contare ‘e statue”
“Go to Prato della Valle and count the statues.”
Stop bothering me—go waste time somewhere else. It refers to the fact that Prato della Valle, one of the largest squares in Europe, has got dozens of statues along its ellipse.
“Gran dotore, gran mato“
“Great doctor, great madman.”
A tribute to our historic university. It suggests that great geniuses always have a touch of madness. If you happen to see someone celebrating a graduation in a bizarre way in the city center streets, this saying explains everything.
“Restare in braghe de tea”
“To be left in one’s underwear.”
To go bankrupt. In the past, insolvent debtors had to declare bankruptcy by stripping down to their underwear (“braghe de tea”) in the Palazzo della Ragione and striking their buttocks three times on the Vituperium Stone — still present in the building today.
Pearls of wisdom and curiosities
“Col ‘suto va ben anca ‘a tempesta”
“With dry weather, even a storm is fine.”
In times of drought, any kind of rain is welcome: in difficult moments, people adapt to any solution that brings some relief.
“No ‘vere tute le fassine al cuerto”
“Not to have all the firewood bundles under cover.”
It means having something out of place—in other words, someone who is not entirely sound of mind.
“Come che te gò fato te desfo”
“As I made you, I can destroy you.”
Often used by our mothers when we made them very angry. There is also a variant: “I made you in 9 months and I can destroy you in 9 seconds!” No translation of the meaning is really needed.
“Un alto e un basso fa un guaìvo”
“A high and a low make a ‘guaìvo,’ a middle.”
A true distillation of Venetian wisdom. A philosophical way of saying that life’s ups and downs always balance out, and there’s no point in worrying too much about misfortune.
“Ghe vol sinque schei de mona”
“It takes five cents of stupidity.”
We close the list of our favorite Venetian sayings with one of many expressions related to “schei,” meaning money. The term “schei” to indicate money dates back to the period of Austrian rule, when the German inscription “Scheidemünze” (small change) was minted on small coins. Over time, this term entered common language. In our case, it means that sometimes, to avoid trouble or for a quiet life, you have to pretend to be a bit stupid, pretend not to understand, and act with a bit of naivety.
Discovering Padua through its words
During your stay in Padua, understanding these expressions can be one of the most authentic ways to enter the city’s daily life.
Among historic markets, lively squares, and evening aperitifs, the Paduan dialect continues to live in everyday conversations. A small cultural treasure that makes the experience in the city even more special.
Photo credits:
expedia.it
lavecchiapadova.it
ilbolive.unipd.it
latterievicentine.it
blogdipadova.it