CasualCampanianoun
paisà
buddy / countryman / pal
Literal Translation
"from 'paesano' (fellow villager)"
Formal Equivalent
amico / compaesano
Examples in Context
"Paisà, come stai? Quanto tempo!"
"Buddy, how are you? It's been ages!"
"Ehi paisà, mi fai un favore?"
"Hey pal, can you do me a favor?"
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Cultural Note
Short for 'paesano' (person from the same town/country). Widely used in Southern Italy and among Italian-American communities. It implies shared roots, solidarity, and informal warmth. The 1946 Rossellini film 'Paisà' brought the word to international attention.
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