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.
Its name is said to derive from the Greek practice of oinerocriticism and is connected to the god of dreams , Morpheus. Other theories state that it is connected to Kabbalah, a Jewish practice of mystical interpretation.[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
The smorfia is linked to the superstitious gambling culture of Italy.[6]
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.[7]
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
| 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
- Knapp, Bettina L. (2000). "Dreams: Basic to Smorfia". Gambling, Game, and Psyche. State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-4384-2.
- "LA SMORFIA NAPOLETANA | European Heritage Days". www.europeanheritagedays.com. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- Brunnschweiler, Laura Cadamuro, Hannah (2024-11-12). "The Feast". Inter. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "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.
- "Pedro Cano's exhibition "IX Mediterranean seas" with 'Live CMN'". Campus Mare Nostrum. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2026.