umarell
{{Short description|Bolognese slang term}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
File:Umarells.jpg and Via Rizzoli, Bologna, in 2016]]
Umarell (Italian spelling of the Bolognese Emilian word umarèl, {{IPA|egl|umaˈrɛːl}}; plural umarî) are men of retirement age who spend their time watching construction sites, especially roadworks{{snd}}stereotypically with hands clasped behind their back and offering unwanted advice to the workers.{{Cite web |last=De Santis |first=Silvia |date=2016-02-06 |title=Umarèlls a Bologna, pensionati in prima fila per assistere ai lavori in corso. "Ogni giorno controlliamo quel che succede nei cantieri" (VIDEO, FOTO) |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2016/02/03/umarell-bologna-pensionati-in-prima-fila--al-cantiere_n_9149772.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428235909/https://www.huffingtonpost.it/2016/02/03/umarell-bologna-pensionati-in-prima-fila--al-cantiere_n_9149772.html |archive-date=2021-04-28 |access-date=2017-07-28 |website=L'Huffington Post}} Its literal meaning is "little man" (also {{lang|egl|umaréin}}).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yk55attlc4UC&q=zdaura+bologna+umarell&pg=PT116|title=101 cose da fare a Bologna almeno una volta nella vita|last=Bianchini|first=Margherita|publisher=Newton Compton Editori|year=2011|isbn=9788854125469|pages=Item 40|access-date=2020-10-03|archive-date=2021-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223042350/https://books.google.com/books?id=Yk55attlc4UC&q=zdaura+bologna+umarell&pg=PT116|url-status=live}} The term is employed as lighthearted mockery or self-deprecation.
The modern term was popularised in 2005 by local writer Danilo Masotti{{cite news |last1=Masotti |first1=Danilo |title=Bologna, all'inaugurazione di Piazzetta degli umarells c'erano tutti. Pure i contestatori |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2018/04/21/bologna-allinaugurazione-di-piazzetta-degli-umarells-cerano-tutti-pure-i-contestatori/4305185/ |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=21 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125202944/https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2018/04/21/bologna-allinaugurazione-di-piazzetta-degli-umarells-cerano-tutti-pure-i-contestatori/4305185/ |archive-date=2020-11-25 |language=it-IT}}{{Cite web |last=Manici |first=Elisa |date=14 April 2014 |title=La nostalgia degli 'umarells' è paralizzante. Bisogna cominciare a immaginarsi un futuro diverso |url=https://www.ferraraitalia.it/la-nostalgia-degli-umarells-e-paralizzante-bisogna-cominciare-a-immaginarsi-un-futuro-diverso-9013.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416191005/https://www.ferraraitalia.it/la-nostalgia-degli-umarells-e-paralizzante-bisogna-cominciare-a-immaginarsi-un-futuro-diverso-9013.html |archive-date=2014-04-16 |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=Ferraraitalia.it - Quotidiano di Ferrara - l'informazione verticale |language=it-IT}} through three books and an associated blog.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bolognatoday.it/eventi/umarells-danilo-masotti-salaborsa.html|title='Oltre il cantiere. Fenomenologia degli umarells': se ne parla con Masotti|work=BolognaToday|access-date=2017-07-26|archive-date=2017-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729013403/http://www.bolognatoday.it/eventi/umarells-danilo-masotti-salaborsa.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.ansa.it/emiliaromagna/notizie/2016/11/08/esce-oltre-il-cantiere-di-masotti_40506dc2-da24-4b05-a8a4-71479a879c35.html|title=Esce 'Oltre il cantiere' di Masotti - Emilia-Romagna|date=2016-11-08|work=ANSA.it|access-date=2017-07-26|language=it|archive-date=2020-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625194434/https://www.ansa.it/emiliaromagna/notizie/2016/11/08/esce-oltre-il-cantiere-di-masotti_40506dc2-da24-4b05-a8a4-71479a879c35.html|url-status=live}} The word was included in the Italian Zingarelli dictionary in 2021{{Cite web|date=2020-12-03|title=La parola 'Umarell' entra nel vocabolario Zingarelli|url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2020/12/03/la-parola-umarell-entra-nel-vocabolario-zingarelli_44bfb0ff-5c06-4ecb-9e4c-cde7690ac5e8.html|access-date=2020-12-03|website=Ansa|archive-date=2020-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203144539/https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2020/12/03/la-parola-umarell-entra-nel-vocabolario-zingarelli_44bfb0ff-5c06-4ecb-9e4c-cde7690ac5e8.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2020-12-03 |title=Gli 'umarells' bolognesi si aggirano ufficialmente nella lingua italiana |url=https://www.dire.it/03-12-2020/538555-gli-umarells-bolognesi-si-aggirano-ufficialmente-nella-lingua-italiana// |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208112353/https://www.dire.it/03-12-2020/538555-gli-umarells-bolognesi-si-aggirano-ufficialmente-nella-lingua-italiana/ |archive-date=2020-12-08 |access-date=2020-12-03 |website=Dire}}{{Cite web|date=2020-12-03|title=Bologna, gli "umarells" entrano nel vocabolario Zingarelli|url=https://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/bologna/cronaca/20_dicembre_03/bologna-umarells-entrano-vocabolario-zingarelli-31df7ea8-3578-11eb-80dd-7dd4650d7b3b.shtml|access-date=2020-12-03|website=Corriere di Bologna|archive-date=2021-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506003335/https://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/bologna/cronaca/20_dicembre_03/bologna-umarells-entrano-vocabolario-zingarelli-31df7ea8-3578-11eb-80dd-7dd4650d7b3b.shtml|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Bartezzaghi |first=Stefano |date=3 December 2020 |title=Dal cantiere al dizionario: l'Umarèll è finito sullo Zingarelli |url=https://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/12/03/news/e_l_umare_ll_fini_sul_dizionario_zingarelli-276844779 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126221912/https://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/12/03/news/e_l_umare_ll_fini_sul_dizionario_zingarelli-276844779/ |archive-date=2021-01-26 |access-date=2020-12-03 |website=la Repubblica |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=2020-12-03 |title="Pensionato che si aggira, con le mani dietro la schiena...": la parola "Umarell" entra nel vocabolario" |url=https://www.bolognatoday.it/cronaca/umarell-vocabolario-zingarelli.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210061044/https://www.bolognatoday.it/cronaca/umarell-vocabolario-zingarelli.html |archive-date=2021-02-10 |access-date=2020-12-03 |website=Bolognatoday |language=it}} and in 2024 was included by Language Council of Sweden in the annual list of new Swedish words – the {{ill|Språkrådets nyordslista|sv}}.{{Cite web |title=Nyordslistan 2024 |url=https://www.isof.se/svenska-spraket/nyord/nyordslistan-2024 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=www.isof.se |language=sv}}{{Cite web |last=Svensson |first=Anders |date=2024-12-27 |title=Vi presenterar 2024 års nyordslista – Här är orden som bygger bo i svenskan |url=https://spraktidningen.se/artiklar/har-ar-orden-som-bygger-bo-i-svenskan/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Språktidningen |language=sv-SE}}
Instances of use
In 2015, the city of Riccione, approximately {{convert|130|km|mi|-1|abbr=off}} southeast of Bologna, allocated an {{Euro|11,000}} budget to pay a wage to umarells to oversee worksites in the city – counting the number of trucks in and out to ensure materials were delivered/removed according to the receipts, and guarding against theft when the site was otherwise unattended.{{Cite news |last=Bortolotti |first=Luca |date=18 December 2015 |title=Riccione, il Comune paga i pensionati per sorvegliare i cantieri |language=it |work=la Repubblica |url=http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2015/12/18/news/riccione_il_comune_paga_i_pensionati_per_sorvegliare_i_cantieri-129742130/ |url-status=live |access-date=2017-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728162016/http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2015/12/18/news/riccione_il_comune_paga_i_pensionati_per_sorvegliare_i_cantieri-129742130/ |archive-date=2017-07-28}} The town of San Lazzaro di Savena, {{convert|6|km|mi|frac=2|abbr=on}} to the South-East of Bologna, awarded the "Umarell of the year" prize to a local resident, Franco Bonini.{{Cite web|url=http://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/fotogallery/2015/6/uma/premiato-l-umarell-dell-anno-2015-2301502583427.shtml|title=Anziano al cantiere: premiato il migliore del 2015|website=Corriere di Bologna|language=it-IT|access-date=2017-07-26|archive-date=2015-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612233147/http://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/fotogallery/2015/6/uma/premiato-l-umarell-dell-anno-2015-2301502583427.shtml|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |title=Un bolognese realizza il sogno dei pensionati: nominato capo cantiere - Tgcom24 |work=TgCom24 |url=http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/cronaca/emilia-romagna/un-bolognese-realizza-il-sogno-dei-pensionati-nominato-capo-cantiere_2116245-201502a.shtml |url-status=live |access-date=2017-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728172321/http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/cronaca/emilia-romagna/un-bolognese-realizza-il-sogno-dei-pensionati-nominato-capo-cantiere_2116245-201502a.shtml |archive-date=2017-07-28}}
In 2016, the local cultural association called {{lang|it|Succede solo a Bologna}} ("It only happens in Bologna") released the "Umarèl card" as a fundraiser for continued restoration of the San Petronio church.{{Cite web|url=http://www.succedesoloabologna.it/umarel-card/|title=Le nostre Card|website=www.succedesoloabologna.it|language=it-IT|access-date=2017-07-26|archive-date=2021-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228041407/https://www.succedesoloabologna.it/umarel-card/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=2016-02-02 |title=Bologna per gli anziani: ecco la Umarèl card per seguire i cantieri in prima fila |language=it |work=La Repubblica |url=http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/02/02/foto/una_vip_card_per_guardare_i_cantieri_bologna_paradiso_degli_anziani-132559452/1/#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2017-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728200829/http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/02/02/foto/una_vip_card_per_guardare_i_cantieri_bologna_paradiso_degli_anziani-132559452/1/#3 |archive-date=2017-07-28}} Separately, a mobile app called Umarells was released that tracked the location of ongoing roadworks and construction sites.{{Cite news |last=Giusberti |first=Caterina |date=2016-01-13 |title="Trova il cantiere": una app per gli umarells |language=it |work=la Repubblica |url=http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/01/13/news/_trova_il_cantiere_una_app_per_gli_umarells-131187007/ |url-status=live |access-date=2017-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728160902/http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/01/13/news/_trova_il_cantiere_una_app_per_gli_umarells-131187007/ |archive-date=2017-07-28}}{{Cite web |last=Troncana |first=Alessandra |date=2016-01-14 |title=Ecco Umarells, l'app che segnala ai pensionati tutti i lavori in corso |url=http://corriereinnovazione.corriere.it/2016/01/14/ecco-umarells-l-app-che-segnala-pensionati-tutti-lavori-corso-24ae45a8-baa7-11e5-8d36-042d88d67a9f.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111165219/https://corriereinnovazione.corriere.it/2016/01/14/ecco-umarells-l-app-che-segnala-pensionati-tutti-lavori-corso-24ae45a8-baa7-11e5-8d36-042d88d67a9f.shtml |archive-date=2021-01-11 |access-date=2017-07-26 |website=Corriere della Sera |language=it}} The fast food restaurant chain Burger King also "hired" several umarells as part of a social media marketing campaign promoting its increased presence in the country.{{Cite news |last=Jardine |first=Alexandra |date=10 May 2016 |title=Burger King Recruits Construction-Spotting Pensioners to Oversee its Expansion in Italy |language=en |work=Ad Age |url=https://adage.com/creativity/work/king-umarells/46978? |access-date=8 October 2023 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}
In July 2017, the Bologna city council's "consultative commission for street naming" approved the naming of a public square to the East of the city centre in the Cirenaica district {{lang|it|Piazzetta degli Umarells}} in recognition of the local fame of the concept and the name – noting with conscious irony that the square was under construction at the time.{{Cite news |title=L'omaggio del Comune Nasce in Cirenaica la piazza degli Umarells - la Repubblica.it |language=it |work=la Repubblica |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2017/07/21/lomaggio-del-comune-nasce-in-cirenaica-la-piazza-degli-umarellsBologna07.html |url-status=live |access-date=2017-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625005407/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2017/07/21/lomaggio-del-comune-nasce-in-cirenaica-la-piazza-degli-umarellsBologna07.html |archive-date=2020-06-25}}{{Cite news|url=http://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/bologna/notizie/cronaca/2017/20-luglio-2017/a-bologna-arriva-piazzetta-dedicata-umarells-2401819891415.shtml|title=A Bologna arriva la piazzetta dedicata agli "Umarells"|work=Corriere di Bologna|access-date=2017-07-26|language=it-IT|archive-date=2021-01-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122071508/https://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/bologna/notizie/cronaca/2017/20-luglio-2017/a-bologna-arriva-piazzetta-dedicata-umarells-2401819891415.shtml|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.bolognatoday.it/cronaca/umarell-cirenaica-piazza.html|title='Umarell': una piazza dedicata in Cirenaica|work=BolognaToday|access-date=2017-07-26|archive-date=2021-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226162406/https://www.bolognatoday.it/cronaca/umarell-cirenaica-piazza.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/07/23/bologna-e-piazzetta-degli-umarells-sia/3748542/|title=Blog {{!}} Bologna, e piazzetta degli umarells sia|date=2017-07-23|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|access-date=2017-07-26|archive-date=2021-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227193717/https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/07/23/bologna-e-piazzetta-degli-umarells-sia/3748542/|url-status=live}}{{mapbox|type=point|id=Q104869390|from=|raw=}}In April 2018, the public square was inaugurated by city councillor Matteo Lepore, the district president Simone Borsari, the "lord of the umarells" Franco Bonini, the stand-up comedian Maurizio Pagliari (Dulio Pizzocchi), and the writer Danilo Masotti.{{Cite web |date=16 April 2018 |title=Inaugurata in Cirenaica la Piazzetta degli Umarells | Archivio notizie da luglio 2012 a giugno 2021 |url=http://www.comune.bologna.it/news/inaugurata-cirenaica-la-piazzetta-degli-umarells |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122194154/http://www.comune.bologna.it/news/inaugurata-cirenaica-la-piazzetta-degli-umarells |archive-date=2021-01-22 |access-date=2018-05-25 |website=Bologna}} A year later the street-sign for the square was stolen.{{Cite web|url=https://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2019/10/16/foto/piazzetta_umarell-238724385/|title=Bologna, rubato il cartello di piazzetta degli Umarells|date=2019-10-16|website=La Repubblica|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=2021-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208112845/https://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2019/10/16/foto/piazzetta_umarell-238724385/|url-status=live}}
In April 2020, the comic magazine Topolino dedicated an episode to the umarell Gerindo Persichetti.{{Cite web |last=Rosato |first=Paolo |date=21 April 2020 |title=Gli Umarells vigilano anche a Paperopoli |url=https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/bologna/cronaca/gli-umarells-vigilano-anche-a-paperopoli-1.5116505?fbclid=IwAR00aeMNml6TpuQpo_kCJg_G1R1-HwJj7R_xlNBDGzdozW8GlxrNpoPpKqk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621084132/https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/bologna/cronaca/gli-umarells-vigilano-anche-a-paperopoli-1.5116505?fbclid=IwAR00aeMNml6TpuQpo_kCJg_G1R1-HwJj7R_xlNBDGzdozW8GlxrNpoPpKqk%2F |archive-date=2020-06-21 |access-date=2020-04-21 |website=Il Resto del Carlino |language=it}} In December 2020 in Pescara, the real estate developer Sarra installed windows to allow Umarells to observe three construction sites.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-12|title=Ecco finestre per 'Umarell', così anziani osservano cantieri - Abruzzo|url=https://www.ansa.it/abruzzo/notizie/2020/12/12/ecco-finestre-per-umarell-cosi-anziani-osservano-cantieri_7875e88a-45f7-4f7f-91c5-bfd17d60b7f3.html|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Agenzia ANSA|language=it|archive-date=2021-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514093406/https://www.ansa.it/abruzzo/notizie/2020/12/12/ecco-finestre-per-umarell-cosi-anziani-osservano-cantieri_7875e88a-45f7-4f7f-91c5-bfd17d60b7f3.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Ribaudo |first=Alessio |date=2020-12-12 |title=A Pescara finestre per umarell, così ritornano nei cantieri (in sicurezza) |url=https://www.corriere.it/cronache/20_dicembre_12/a-pescara-finestre-umarell-cosi-ritornano-cantieri-in-sicurezza-8eaf2214-3c6c-11eb-a276-def331e0f87e.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506035019/https://www.corriere.it/cronache/20_dicembre_12/a-pescara-finestre-umarell-cosi-ritornano-cantieri-in-sicurezza-8eaf2214-3c6c-11eb-a276-def331e0f87e.shtml |archive-date=2021-05-06 |access-date=2021-03-05 |website=Corriere della Sera |language=it}} Since 2019, an annual calendar has been sold in Bologna newsstands. In 2021, a board game La Giornata dell’Umarell (An Umarell's Day) was released.{{Cite web |last=Rossin |first=Massimiliano |date=1 October 2021 |title=La Giornata dell'Umarell: arriva il gioco della vita da pensionato |url=https://www.ilcittadinomb.it/stories/Cronaca/la-giornata-dellumarell-arriva-il-gioco-della-vita-da-pensionato_1408646_11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201102627/https://www.ilcittadinomb.it/stories/Cronaca/la-giornata-dellumarell-arriva-il-gioco-della-vita-da-pensionato_1408646_11/ |archive-date=2021-12-01 |access-date=2021-12-01 |website=www.ilcittadinomb.it |language=it}}
See also
- {{annotated link|Armchair general}}
- {{annotated link|Back-seat driver}}
- {{annotated link|Dutch uncle}}
- {{annotated link|Gongoozler}}
- {{annotated link|Kibitzer}}
- {{annotated link|Railfan}}
- {{annotated link|Rubbernecking}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{Cite book |last=Masotti |first=Danilo |title=Umarells 2.0. Sono tanti, vivono in mezzo a noi, ci osservano... e noi osserviamo loro |publisher=Pendragon Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-8883428579 |location=Bologna |language=it |trans-title=Umarells 2.0. They are many, they live amongst us, they observe us... and we observe them}}
- {{Cite book |last=Masotti |first=Danilo |title=Oltre il cantiere: fenomenologia degli Umarells |publisher=Pendragon Press |year=2016 |isbn=9788865988077 |location=Bologna |language=it |trans-title=Beyond the Construction Site: the Phenomenology of the Umarells}}
- {{Cite book |last=Masotti |first=Danilo |title=Umarells per sempre:Forever |publisher=Pendragon Press |year=2021 |isbn=978-88-3364-322-9 |location=Bologna |language=it |trans-title=Umarells forever}}
External links
{{Wiktionary|umarell|sidewalk superintendent}}
- {{Commons category-inline|People watching roadworks}}
- Umarell defined at Urban Dictionary
- The [https://umarells.wordpress.com/ Umarells] blog