Discover Venetian: The Language of Venice

Often considered just a regional dialect, Venetian is actually much more than a variation of Italian. It is a distinct language with a rich history, unique linguistic features, and a vital role in the culture and identity of the Venetian people. In this article, we’ll explore its most important characteristics.

A Global Language

Venetian, known as Vèneto or Veneziano in its native form, developed in the Veneto region. It is spoken not only in and around the city of Venice, but also in nearby provinces such as Trento, in the city of Trieste, and within Venetian communities across Istria and Dalmatia. Furthermore, the language has spread internationally: descendants of Venetian emigrants in South America, especially in southern Brazil and Argentina, still speak it today. Interestingly, many of them are more fluent in Venetian than in standard Italian.

A Brief History of Venetian

Venetian dates back to the Middle Ages and became the official language of the Venetian Republic, also known as the Serenissima. Thanks to Venice’s strategic location as a commercial and cultural hub, the language flourished during the Republic’s long reign from 697 AD to 1797 AD. It served as a lingua franca throughout the Mediterranean, widely used in trade, diplomacy, and literature. As a result, Venetian influenced many neighboring languages such as Greek and Serbo-Croatian and played a key role in intercultural exchange.

Venetian in Modern Times

Today, although standard Italian is dominant in Venice and other large cities and is the language used in the media, workplaces, and schools, Venetian is still widely spoken, especially in rural areas and among older generations. If you speak Venetian in any small village in the region, people will most likely understand you and reply in the same language.

Regional Varieties

While Italian became standardized as the national language in the 19th century, Venetian remained fragmented, showing significant variation from region to region, and even from village to village. As a result, the language spoken in Treviso differs noticeably from the variety spoken in Vicenza. For example, the sentence Maria is a beautiful girl in Venice would be Maria xe na bela tosata, while in the province of Belluno people would say Maria l'e na bela tosata.

Venetian vs. Italian: How Are They Different?

Venetian and Italian are both Romance languages derived from Latin, but they differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Venetian has its own set of sounds, uses different verb conjugations, and shows unique grammatical features. For example, Venetian changes the order of pronouns in questions. These distinctions make Venetian a true language in its own right, not just a dialect.

Is It a Standard Language?

Venetian is generally not used in writing, and most people speak it only in everyday life. Over the years, linguists and writers have made efforts to standardize Venetian for written use. These efforts include using special letters, such as the letter x, to represent sounds typical of Venetian that do not exist in standard Italian. Even with these efforts, Venetian remains mainly a spoken language.

Common Venetian Expressions

Below are some common everyday expressions that highlight how different Venetian can sound from standard Italian.

Ciao (hello) is the same as in Italian, but did you know that it actually originated in Venetian? It comes from the expression Sciao vostro (your servant or your slave). You can learn more about this topic here.

Some Important Venetian Words

Here’s a short list of common Venetian words and expressions you might hear. Some of them are very difficult to translate directly.

Ció

An informal interjection with no literal translation. It can be used to express surprise, agreement, or emphasis. Although many Italians see it as a hallmark of Venetian speech, it’s actually not so widely used in the Venetian Lagoon.

Ostrega

Another word used to express surprise or astonishment. It is similar to ció but stronger, and people usually use it when they are very surprised by something.

Schei

A slang term for money. It comes from the German word Scheingeld (meaning banknote) and corresponds to the Italian soldi.

No gho schei in sto momento (I don’t have money right now)

Mona

A funny word meaning fool or idiot. Even though it is not very strong, it also has a second, more vulgar meaning, so use it with caution. Some people may laugh, while others may get angry if you say Ti xe mona (you are an idiot) to them!

Gòto

A small glass of wine or spirits, and an essential word in Venetian. You will definitely use it if you want to try the typical Venetian bacari, small wine bars where people enjoy aperitivi similar to Spanish tapas, accompanied by a glass of wine or another drink. For example:

Andemo a farse un gòto in ostaria? (Let’s go have a drink in the tavern)

Freschin

This word is very difficult to translate. It describes the strong smell of fresh fish, stagnant water, or raw eggs. Linguists are not sure where this word comes from; it may share the same origin as the Italian word fresco. We included it here simply because it’s quite amusing, and probably no other language has a single word to describe a similar concept.

Ghe xe n'odor de freschin qui? (There’s a freschin smell here)

Caìgol

The local word for fog. It’s useful to know, as fog is common in the Pianura Padana (Po Valley).

Conclusion

So, the next time you visit Venice or any other part of the beautiful Veneto region, take a moment to appreciate not only its iconic canals and historic architecture, but also try to pick up a few local words and expressions.