Piedmontese — false and courteous. A self-deprecating proverb suggesting that behind impeccable politeness lies a reserved, calculating nature that never fully reveals itself.
This is one of the most famous proverbs about Piedmontese character and is, remarkably, often quoted by Piedmontese themselves with a mixture of pride and amusement. Turin was the capital of the House of Savoy for centuries, a court city where diplomacy was the highest art. The Savoy dynasty survived and eventually unified Italy not by force alone but by extraordinary political cunning — always courteous, always smiling, always rearranging alliances in their favour. The Piedmontese absorbed this courtly tradition: they are famously polite, reserved, and careful with words. Neighbours found this combination unreadable and therefore untrustworthy. The proverb is fundamentally unfair (courtesy is not dishonesty) but it captures something real: the Piedmontese rarely say what they think directly, preferring the oblique approach. In Turin this is considered a virtue; everywhere else it causes suspicion.
One of the most famous characterisations of Piedmontese identity. The proverb reflects Turin's history as a court city and the Savoy tradition of diplomatic subtlety.
A Milanese businessman after a meeting in Turin
— L'incontro è andato benissimo, erano gentilissimi. — Piemonteis, falsi e corteis. Aspetta a vedere cosa firmano.
— The meeting went very well, they were extremely polite. — Piedmontese, false and courteous. Wait and see what they sign.
A Torinese laughing at himself
Siamo famosi per questo: piemonteis, falsi e corteis. Io preferisco dire che siamo diplomatici. Ma è la stessa cosa.
We are famous for this: Piedmontese, false and courteous. I prefer to say we are diplomatic. But it is the same thing.
A Rome-based journalist writing about Turin
A Torino ti accolgono con un sorriso e non sai mai cosa pensano davvero. Piemonteis, falsi e corteis — lo dicono di sé stessi.
In Turin they welcome you with a smile and you never know what they really think. Piedmontese, false and courteous — they say it about themselves.
Two Torinesi at a café
— Hai detto al tuo capo che l'idea era stupida? — No, gli ho detto che era interessante ma che aveva bisogno di sviluppo. — Ecco: piemonteis, falsi e corteis.
— Did you tell your boss the idea was stupid? — No, I told him it was interesting but needed development. — There you go: Piedmontese, false and courteous.