Things Italian Parents Say That Make No Sense

Growing up Italian, our parents said things that sounded threatening, confusing, and completely unhinged, and nobody ever questioned it.

In this episode of the BOH Podcast, I break down some of the phrases I grew up hearing that made absolutely no sense once I stopped and thought about them.

From “I brought you into this world and I can take you out,” to counting hits with “esu uno,” to telling people to “go to Napoli” like it’s an insult, to the moment I accidentally caused a full family blow up at the dinner table by saying “yettu sangu” instead of bless you.

This episode is about growing up Italian American, family confidence, chaotic logic, and how nobody ever explained anything, they just said it louder.

If this sounds familiar, you grew up like I did.