Modern Dalmatian Language/Dialect

Sometimes referred to as Chakavski, Korzulot or Dalmatinski, modern Dalmatian is a dialect  in the Croatian region of Dalmatia. It is a mixture of the Croatian dialect of Chakavian and Vulgar Latin. It is speculated by some people to be the missing link between Italian and Romanian (although this is heavily disputed). The name Korzulot is in its self disputed, since this particular name has only been used vaguely, on a few pieces of ancient notaries. It can therefore be argued that its name was simply a reference point, to the local variant way of chatting Chakavian. Nevertheless, it must be mentioned, that differences do exist.

Alphabet

There are only 21 Letters.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, U, V, Z

Consonants
As rightly mentioned above, this particular accent happens to be disputed. As a result, while X, Y, W, and Q happen to be used only in foreign words, J, could be, but doesn't have to, be used. The sound of J, is pronounced; BO"Y", and is influenced primarily from Croatian.

Furthermore there are 3 additional sounds that correspond to both Italian and Croatian:

SH - Shkoj ("Sh"ip)

CH - Chara ("Ch"ocolate)

ZCH- Zchivia(San "J"aque)

Vowels
A - Basta (m"a"t) E - Festa (v"e"t) I - Lisho (sk"i") O - Pomadora (g"o"ne) O - Shkoj (n"o"t) U - Verdura (B"oo"k)
Vowel Groups
In some words two vowels are joined together and pronounced as one syllable (this is called a diphthong). The stress may be on the second vowel of the pair: Sini"o"rina, Gusti"e"rna, Mu"o", Bi"o"ndo.

Or on the first vowel: Pantar"u"o, M"a"uro, B"i"o, L"e"ut.

Or on the previous syllable: M"a"rio, "O"chi, "O"sti, "A"manat.

The text above has been taken from Wikipedia, (after they deleted this article, for the lack of references). It should be noted though, that the dialectal differences that co-exist with the Croatian language in today's Dalmatia, have never been properly researched & investigated, and as such, have never had legitimate references on which to base articles and books on. This is the unfortunate reason why information regarding Today's Dalmatian Vocabulary, Structures, & Grammar, is scares and unavailable.

D a l m a t i a n   D i c t i o n a r y

A

Alegria - Sreca, Biti sretan / Happiness, Being happy

Alodjat - Da se ustanis / To feel at home, to be settled

Adio - Zdravo / Goodbye

Alavia - Kako treba / Just right

Altroke - Da sad ne govorim / Let alone

Antidot - Ljek / Cure

Antika - Staro / Old, Ancient

B

Biblioteka - Knizara / Library

Bania - WC / Toilet

Breskaia - Breskva / Peech

Bicherin - Mala Salica / Little Cup

Bunaca - Mirno More / Calm Sea

Berekin - Kraljevska Luda / Joker

Brav - Teletina / Beef, Male Calf

Bambin - Mlado Djete, Isus / Little Child, Jesus

Bome - Naravno / Ofcource

Benzina - Gorivo / Petrol

C

Cito - Suti / Shut up

D

Ditinievo - Djetinstvo / Childhood

Desto - Desno / Right

Dokumenat - Papir, pismo / Paper, Letter, Notice

Dischentrat - Razbiti / To break

Dishperat - Raztuzit se / To feel depressed

Divers - Razlicito / Diverse

Denti - Zubi / Teeth

E

Etos - Glavni / Main Part

Epoh, Epohe - Nema vremena, kroz godine / Don't have time, through ages

Erupit - Popizdit, Najedit se / To get pissed off, to get angry

F

Frizi - Ogrebotine / Marks

Farmacia - Apoteka / Pharmacy

Forma - Zdravlje / Health, Shape

Falanga - Vojna Legija / Legion

Farabut - Mali Vrag / Little Devil

Frachez - Francuz / French person

Figurat - Da ti se svjet divi ljepoti / To look your best

Financ - Financiska Policija / Financial Police

Favola - Poanta Price / The point of the story, summery

Fortuna - Sreca / Luck

Frater - Brat / Brother

G

Gustirna - Bunar / Water Tank, Well

Generalno - Svaki Dan / General, Every day

Gloriet - Staklenik, prid kuce / Conservatory, Glass House

Galosha - Cipela u Cipeli / Internal shoe of a shoe (to keep your feet warm)

H

 

I

Izfrolan - Istrosen, Nagrizeni Molcima / Decaying, Used up 

Ierbo - Zato Jer / Because

J

 

K

Kalet - Ulicica / Street

Konferenca - Poslovni Razgovor / Meeting

Konkulan - Savijan, Prignut / When your back isn't straight

Kodex - Knizica Zakona, Biblija / Code of Laws, Old Bible

L

Lazat - Ici u Polje / Going to the field

Libro - Knjiga / Book

Lombrati, Lombrcat - Cinit buku / To make noise

Levant - Istocni Vjetar / Eastern Wind

Lisho - Ravno / Straight, ok

Leut - brod, veca mandolina / Type of Ship, Larger Mandolin

Lingva - Jezik, naglasak / Language, dialect

Lupan - Vuk, Cagaj / Wolf, Wild dog

Lampadura - Nevrijeme, Gromovi / Lightening Storm

Libertas - Sloboda / Freedom

Lun - Mijesec / Moon

Lavandin - Pilo / Washing basin

Lincuo - Posteljina, Navlaka / Blanket

Legromanat - Covjek koji prica price / Story teller

Lenga - Koralni dio Mora, Plicina / Coral Reef / Irregular Sea Floor

Luk - Torta od krusaka / Pear Cake (Christmas)

Leva Leva - Uvjek / Always

Largat - Rijesiti se / To get rid off

Ledjerat - Knjigovodja / To do book keeping

M

Mijun - Miljun / A million

Mandale - Datule / Palm Dates

N

 

O

 

P

Pritrujen - Premoren / Tired

Prin - Prije / Before

Procesiun - Procesija / Procession

Patakuni - Medeni Novac / Toy Money, Chocolate in the form of Coins

Piz - Teret / Cargo

Piehe - Hodati / Walking on foot

R

Ristaurat - Popravit / To restore

S

Stadjun - Sezona / Season, Time for

Serpetin - Zavojnica, Zmijzka Staza / Zig Zag Road

Sinistar - Ljevo / Left

Stati - Stojati / To Stand

T

Tria - Tri / Three

Tmica - Mracno / Dark

U

 

V

Viola - Ljubicasta / Purple

Vira - Vatra / Fire

Vichentu - Blizu / Nearby

Vintusha - Puran / Turkey, Guinea Fowl

Z

Zaudobien - Zaboravljen / Forgotten

 

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