"Sann-a" still speaks: the Savonese dialect between tradition and rebirth

What is Savona called in dialect?

In the Savonese dialect, Savona is called Sann-a —and this word alone says a lot about a language that has woven centuries of port, seafaring, and artisan history, shaping itself to the rhythm of the sea and the voices of the market.

The Savonese dialect— savoneise , but generally called zeneise —refers to the Ligurian variety spoken in the urban center of Savona. Scientific classification identifies it as a subvariety within the central dialects of the region.

Three dialects in one province

One of the most interesting features of the Savona area is its internal linguistic richness. Three distinct linguistic areas can be identified within the province: on the coast from Varazze to Noli, Genoese-type varieties are spoken; from Varigotti to Taggia, a Central-Western Ligurian dialect is spoken; in the Sassello area, a dialect of the so-called "Oltre-Giogo Occidentale" type is spoken, with some transitional features toward Piedmontese; finally, in the Bormida Valley, a mostly Piedmontese dialect is spoken, with strong Ligurian influences.

One province, four linguistic souls: an intangible heritage that few Italian territories can boast.

Guardians of the language: dictionaries and dialect courses

The survival of the Savonese dialect is no coincidence—it is the fruit of the passionate work of scholars and enthusiasts who have documented its vocabulary and grammar over the years.

Among the living are GB Nicolò Besio, with his "Dictionary of the Savonese dialect" (L. Editrice, 2013), and Professor Ezio Viglione — known as Ezio da Ciann-a — who holds dialect courses at the Unitrè of Savona.

A dictionary and regular courses: practical tools for those who want to learn this language, not just out of tourist curiosity but to truly understand the city's deepest identity.

The trallallero: when dialect becomes song

One of the most fascinating expressions of the Savonese dialect is the trallallero — the typically Ligurian polyphonic song, where the voices intertwine without instrumental accompaniment in complex and ancient harmonies.

The typical Ligurian polyphonic trallallero singing has seen the Savonese dialect used by groups such as "l'Aurora" di Valleggia, "O Brandale", "I portuali", "La Foce" and the longest-running and most famous singing team in the city, the "Secondo Grosso", founded in the late 1930s and active until the late 1980s.

Hearing a trallallero in the Savonese dialect is an experience that no tour guide can replace.

A few words to help you get your bearings

For the curious visitor, here is a small glossary of the Savonese dialect — words you might hear walking through the alleys :

• Sann-a — Savona
• Caroggio — the narrow alley of the historic center
• Ciann-a — the square (hence the nickname of Prof. Viglione)
• Campanassa — the bell of the Brandale Tower, symbol of the city
• Fette — fried farinata slices, the most Savonese street food there is
• Trallallero — the traditional Ligurian polyphonic song

Why dialect is also a tourist attraction

Listening to the Savonese people talk to each other, picking up a few words at the local market, understanding the origins of a street or neighborhood name: these are experiences that transform a visit into an authentic encounter with a place. Dialect isn't just a folkloristic curiosity—it's the living layering of centuries of history, commerce, and popular culture.

Savona knows this, and protects it.