cumpari

Sicilian

Alternative forms

• cumpà (apocopic variant)
• mpari (aphaeretic variant)
• mbari, mbare (aphaeretic and voiced variant, typical in South-Eastern Coast, nearby Catania)

Etymology

Possibly derived from an Occitan/Norman stratum (compare Old French pere), ultimately from Late Latin compater, compatrem, from Latin cum + pater. Cognate with Catalan compare, French compère, Italian compare, Neapolitan cumpà. See parrinu for a similar morphology.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kumˈpa.ɾi/, [kʊɱˈpa.ɾɪ]
• Hyphenation: cum‧pà‧ri

Noun

cumpari m (plural cumpari)

1. (peer title) male witness at one's wedding, best man
2. An address used mutually between the groom and his own best man
3. (by extension) friend, buddy

   Com'è cumpari, chi si dici? What's up buddy, how are you doing?

4. (by extension, trivial, slang) a guy
5. (interjection) man!

Coordinate terms

• cummari

Derived terms

• cumparijari
• cumpà
• mpari

 

Descendants

• ⇒ English: goombah

See also

• cumpanaggiu
• cumpanàticu