// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Smorfia say to the dream? You're a numbers match.
The smorfia (smorfia means "grimace" in Italian) is a traditional Neapolitan practice used to interpret dreams as numbers from 1 to 90.[1] According to superstition, betting on these numbers can lead to winning the lottery.[2] Whilst originating in Naples, the Smorfia is used throughout Italy.
Whilst it has it has uncertain origins, its name is said to derive from the Greek god of dreams and sleep, Morpheus. Other theories state that it's name comes from the Greek word "morphos", which means structure or form.[1]
It may have origins in the Jewish mystical practice of Kabbalah, particularly through gematria. The Neapolitan definition of cabala, however, differs from the traditional meaning and refers to wider supernatural practices. The 16th centruy Kabbalist Israel Saruk is credited with influencing the Neapolitan's usage of the word cabala in relation to smorfia.[3]
It originated as an oral tradition before being transcribed into books. These books often contain illustrations to accommodate the illiterate.[4] Whilst the traditional Neapolitan smorfia only contains 90 dream interpretations, modern smorfia books often contain thousands.[5]
Culture
[edit]The smorfia is linked to the superstitious gambling culture of Italy.[6] The numbers are often used in conversation as a euphemism for taboo topics, such as calling someone a 22 instead of a madman.[7]
Due to the lottery being banned in Italy during religious holidays in the 18th century, many Neapolitan families decided to play at home, leading to the creation of tombola. Italian tombola uses the numbers 1 to 90, corresponding to the smorfia. The caller will often mention its symbols whilst drawing the numbers.[4]
In his series of paintings "IX Mediterranean Seas" depicting nine cities across the Mediterranean, the Spanish painter Pedro Cano depicts Naples using the 90 symbols of the smorfia.[8]
The comedy troupe La Smorfia, consisting of Lello Arena, Massimo Troisi and Enzo Decaro, derived its name from this practice.
The traditional Neapolitan smorfia numbers
[edit]| Nº | English | Napoletano | Metaphorical meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | L'Italia | |
| 2 | Girl | 'A criatura | |
| 3 | Cat | 'A jatta | |
| 4 | Pig | 'O puorco | |
| 5 | Hand | 'A mano | |
| 6 | The one that looks towards the ground | Chella ca guarda 'nderra | The female sexual organ |
| 7 | Clay vase | 'O vasetto | |
| 8 | Madonna | 'A Madonna (pronunciato "Maronna") | |
| 9 | Offspring | 'A figliata | |
| 10 | Beans | 'E fasule | |
| 11 | Mice | 'E surice | |
| 12 | Soldier | 'E surdate | |
| 13 | Saint Anthony | Sant'Antuono | The day dedicated to the saint in the Calendar of Saints |
| 14 | Drunk | 'O 'mbriaco | |
| 15 | Boy | 'O guaglione | |
| 16 | Buttocks | 'O culo | Fortune |
| 17 | Bad luck | 'A disgrazzia | |
| 18 | Blood | 'O sanghe | |
| 19 | Laughter | 'A resata | |
| 20 | Party | 'A festa | |
| 21 | Naked woman | 'A femmena annuda (pronunciato "annura") | |
| 22 | Madman | 'O pazzo | |
| 23 | Idiot | 'O scemo | |
| 24 | Guards | 'E Gguardie | |
| 25 | Christmas | Natale | |
| 26 | Saint Anne | Nanninella | The day dedicated to the saint in the Calendar of Saints |
| 27 | Chamber pot | 'O càntaro | |
| 28 | Breasts | 'E zizze | |
| 29 | The children's father | 'O pate d ' ' e ccriature | Male sexual organ |
| 30 | The Lieutenant's balls | 'E palle d ' ' o tenente | Testicles |
| 31 | Landlord | 'O patrone 'e casa | |
| 32 | Eel | 'O capitone | |
| 33 | Age of Christ | L'anne 'e Cristo | |
| 34 | Head | 'A capa | |
| 35 | Small bird | L'auciello | |
| 36 | Castanets | 'E castagnelle | |
| 37 | Monk | 'O monaco | |
| 38 | Beatings | 'E mazzate | |
| 39 | Hanging | 'A funa 'nganna | |
| 40 | Boredom | 'A paposcia | |
| 41 | Knife | 'O curtiello | |
| 42 | Coffee | 'O ccafè | |
| 43 | The woman on the balcony | Onna ô balcone | A woman who exposes herself |
| 44 | Prison | 'E cancelle | |
| 45 | Good wine | 'O vino bbuono | |
| 46 | Money | 'E denare | |
| 47 | Deadman | 'O muorto | |
| 48 | Deadman who speaks | 'O muorto che pparla | |
| 49 | Meat | 'O piezzo 'e carne | |
| 50 | Bread | 'O ppane | |
| 51 | Garden | 'O ciardino | |
| 52 | Mother | 'A mamma | |
| 53 | Old man | 'O viecchio | |
| 54 | Hat | 'O cappiello | |
| 55 | Music | 'A musica | |
| 56 | Falling | 'A caduta | |
| 57 | Hunchback | 'O scartellato | |
| 58 | Gift | 'O paccotto | |
| 59 | Hair | 'E pile | |
| 60 | Lament | 'O lamiento | Complaining |
| 61 | Hunter | 'O cacciatore | |
| 62 | Murdered deadman | 'O muorto acciso | |
| 63 | Bride | 'A sposa | |
| 64 | Tailcoat | 'A sciammerìa | |
| 65 | Crying | 'O chianto | |
| 66 | Two spinsters | 'E ddoje zetelle | |
| 67 | The squid in the guitar | 'O purpo into'â chitarra | Sexual intercourse |
| 68 | Cooked soup | 'A zuppa cotta | |
| 69 | Upside down | sott'e 'ncoppa | |
| 70 | Palace | 'O palazzo | |
| 71 | Shit man | L'ommo 'e mmerda | An evil or reprehensible person |
| 72 | Wonder | 'A maraviglia | |
| 73 | Hospital | 'O spitale | |
| 74 | Cave | 'A rotta | |
| 75 | Pulcinella | Pulecenella | |
| 76 | Fountain | 'A funtana | |
| 77 | Devil | 'E diavulille | |
| 78 | Beautiful daughter | 'A bella figliola | A prostitute |
| 79 | Thief | 'O mariuolo | |
| 80 | Mouth | 'A vocca | |
| 81 | Flowers | 'E sciure | |
| 82 | Laid table | 'A tavula 'mbandita | |
| 83 | Bad weather | 'O maletiempo | |
| 84 | Church | 'A chiesa | |
| 85 | Souls of purgatory | Ll'aneme d''o priatorio | |
| 86 | Shop | 'A puteca | |
| 87 | Fleas | 'E perucchie | |
| 88 | Caciocavallo cheese | 'E casecavalle | |
| 89 | Old woman | 'A vecchia | |
| 90 | Fear | 'A paura |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Knapp, Bettina L. (2 December 1999). Gambling, Game, and Psyche. State University of New York Press. p. 131. ISBN 9781438409368.
- ↑ "LA SMORFIA NAPOLETANA | European Heritage Days". www.europeanheritagedays.com. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ Knapp 1999, pp. 130–138.
- 1 2 "The Neapolitan Smorfia". No Museum Needed. 2025-06-05. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ Giustino Rumeo (1866). Nuova Smorfia del giuoco del lotto di Gius. Rumeo (in Italian). National Library of Naples. L. Chiurazzi.
- ↑ D’Agati, Marina (2014-04-30). ""I Feel Like I'm Going to Win": Superstition in Gambling". Qualitative Sociology Review. 10 (2): 80–101. doi:10.18778/1733-8077.10.2.05. ISSN 1733-8077.
- ↑ Knapp 1999, p. 137.
- ↑ "Pedro Cano's exhibition "IX Mediterranean seas" with 'Live CMN'". Campus Mare Nostrum. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2026.