Polentone

Polentone (Italian pronunciation: [polenˈtone]; plural polentoni, feminine polentona) is an epithet of the Italian language originally coined with a joking connotation^[1][2] to indicate a great polenta eater and, subsequently, used by the inhabitants of Southern Italy to indicate the inhabitants of Northern Italy in a depreciative sense.^[3]

Origin and meaning

The first known attestation of the term dates back to 1798, in the form polendone in a short story by Domenico Batacchi, with the meaning of a slow and lazy person^[4] with awkwardness and awkward movements;^[3] in this sense it is an ancient Tuscan popular term.^[2]

With the meaning of "

Polenta is historically a very common food in the poor cuisine of Northern Italy. In fact, until the early years of the 20th century, polenta was the staple food of the populations of northern Italy (namely Lombardy, Veneto and Piedmont). For the poorest classes, it could have negative consequences on the health of many subjects who were often victims of pellagra, even if it saved them from many food shortages.^[7] Polentone, as a linguistic stereotype, has therefore taken on a derogatory meaning in southern Italy, and indicates a boorish person.^[8]

See also

• Racism in Italy
• Italy's North-South economic divide
• Terrone

References