Comments on: Learn Italian in Song: Tu Vuo’ Fa’ L’Americano

By: Fakeid Salman Mohammad

Fakeid Salman Mohammad — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:07:58 +0000

Tu vuo’ fa’ l’americano
Literally: You want to be the American
Meaning: You’re an American wannabe

Come te po’ capi’ chi te vo’ bbene
si tu lle parle miezzo americano?
quanno se fa ll’ammore sott’ ‘a luna
comme te vene ‘ncapa ‘e di’ “I love you”?

How can the one who loves you (your girl friend) understand you
If you speak to her in Half-american
When you make love under the moon (When there’s love to be made, under the moon)
How does it occur to you to say “I love you”? ( Where do you get off saying “I love you”?)

By: Zanzu

Zanzu — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:26:27 +0000

Pretty good translation, but “comme t vene ‘ncapp ‘e di’ “I love you”? Means more literally, “Come ti viene nella testa di dire ‘I love you’?”. Or how does it come to you to say I love you, or what makes you think to say I love you.

And, Comm t po’ capi’ chi te vo’ bbene?, means How can the one who loves you understand you.

I hope I helped.
Stàteve bbuon’!

By: Ladylaleebella

Ladylaleebella — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:48:53 +0000

Thanks for sharing the lyrics. Tante grazie

By: Vuo Fa L’Americano: Do you want to be an American? « When Nutmeg Met Basil

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:34:20 +0000

[...] a rough translation of the [...]

By: miller

miller — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:04:44 +0000

why they write uncomplete words?? it’s diffycult understand on that way. don’t you think??

By: Richard Davies

Richard Davies — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:18:08 +0000

I remember an English version of this being used on an advert (I think it was for jeans, not totally sure) a few years ago.

By: maria

maria — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:04:36 +0000

here is a video with the complete lyrics…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23np2iwMQaE
thx for the idea!

By: Marco

Marco — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:09:12 +0000

perhaps I can help you, I live near Naples

cu nu stemma arreto = con uno stemma dietro = with a logo behind.

passa scampanianno pe’ Tuleto = passi scampanando per (via) Toledo = you walk jingling on Toledo (street). Via Toledo is the Naples’ Main Street.

nuguappo (nu guappo) = un bullo = a bully (literally the “guappo” is a gangster).

Come te po’ capi’ chi te vo’ bbene si tu lle parle miezo americano? = come può capirti chi ti vuole bene se tu le parli mezzo americano?= how can someone who loves you, understand you, if you speak to her half american? (i.e. half american and half neapolitan language).
Please note that “te” is the object of the verb “capi’(= capire = understand)” and “chi (te vo’ bbene)” is the subject of the auxiliary verb “po’(= può = can)”.

I hope I have been of some help and enjoy the neapolitan songs!

Ciao dall’Italia!
Marco