zoccu

Sicilian

Alternative forms

• soccu
• nzoccu

Etymology

Univerbation of zò +‎ cu, equivalent of Italian ciò che. Compare coccu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t͡sɔk.ku/
• Rhymes: -occu
• Hyphenation: zòc‧cu
• This word triggers syntactic gemination. Hence zoccu vota (“sometimes”) is traditionally pronounced /ˈt͡sɔk.kʊ‿bˈbɔta/.

Determiner

zoccu (singular only, invariable)

1. some, any

   Zoccu vota cci jemu. ― Sometimes we will go there.

Usage notes

Zoccu precedes the noun and is invariant for gender and number. The noun is always singular, even though the sense is usually plural:

Tanu, chi m'hâ diri zoccu cosa, ca mi sta' taliannu?! ― Tanu, do you have to tell me something, that you look at me like that???

Derived terms

• zoccadunu
• zoccu banna
• zoccu cosa
• zoccu manera
• zoccu vota

 

Related terms

• coccu
• quarchi

 

Pronoun

zoccu (invariable)

1. (interrogative) Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.

   Zoccu voi?

   What do you want?

   Addumànnaci zoccu vonnu.

   Ask them what they want.

2. (fused relative) That which; those that; the thing(s) that.

   Iḍḍu sapi zoccu voli

   He knows what he wants.

3. (fused relative) Anything that; all that; whatever.

   Fazzu zoccu pozzu p'ajutàriti.

   I will do what I can to help you.

   Zoccu è meu è tou

   What is mine is yours.

Adverb

zoccu

1. some, about

   Synonym: circa