Caporegime vs. Capodecina

[B.]

These terms are used interchangeably and both seem to be "official" terms held throughout many generations of mafia members. Capodecina refers to the traditional crew of ten members to a captain (though this wasn't followed strictly) and over time as the organization changed this became used for anyone who held middle management rank even if they didn't have a crew of soldiers under them. In everything I've read, capodecina seems like the more common term used during the older days of the organization (pre-1960s).

Caporegime is the other term officially used by the organization but I'm not sure when it became popular. It comes up often in 1960s FBI reports. It is used interchangeably with capodecina, but seems more appropriate for the way the position developed in the US given they were no longer "head of ~ten".

I don't know when it started getting shortened to "capo", but it seems to have come about later on, as "capo" used to be the term for boss pre-1930s. Probably went hand in hand with the "Americanization". Things like captain, lieutenant, etc. are just pure Americanization and don't really raise many questions.

Any thoughts or insight on these two terms?

[Angelo Santino]

I think Caporegime came out with Valachi. In Sicilian cosa nostra speak it's capodecina or capo di decina. I don't know of any earlier sources for the former. But it's interesting how you hear the family referred to as the "brugad," that came up in the Eboli FBI files as well as Salerno in 1987.

[Dwalin2014]

I thought the term "caporegime" is used only in America, while "capodecina" is a Sicilian term.

[Lupara]

I think the term "caporegime" was popularized by The Godfather.

[B.]

I thought the term "caporegime" is used only in America, while "capodecina" is a Sicilian term.

Yeah the -regime part is definitely an Americanization. It's strange though that it's sort of a hybrid between Italian and English.

I think the term "caporegime" was popularized by The Godfather.

Interesting, you might be right as far as the popularization goes. The term shows up in FBI files before the Godfather came out, sometimes as "caporegima" and it was being used on the street by that time, so I'd be curious when and where it originally came about.

Also seems that members from the last few decades are more likely to use the term caporegime when trying to sound "official" and that capodecina rarely comes up.

[CG1]

I don't know the rhyme and reason behind it, but for example Michael Franzese uses caporegime in interviews where as The Gotti Tapes -book transcripts shows that the Gambino admins talked about capodecina (provided the the transcription is correct). Maybe it could also be that different families or different parts of NY used a different term for some unknown reason.

[CG1]

But it's interesting how you hear the family referred to as the "brugad," that came up in the Eboli FBI files as well as Salerno in 1987.

Isn't that just a misspelling of borgata? Hasn't that been around forever in mob speak?

[Angelo Santino]

But it's interesting how you hear the family referred to as the "brugad," that came up in the Eboli FBI files as well as Salerno in 1987.

Isn't that just a misspelling of borgata? Hasn't that been around forever in mob speak?

I always thought so, now I'm not so sure. I've seen it used in Gen wiretaps and Cafaro testimony. No other member from another family used that term. Not sure if it has any relevance at all to be honest.

In terms of Caporegime. Valachi was the first one to coin that term. It then spread like wildfire, just like this "thing of ours" got morphed into La Cosa Nostra as an official name. The Mafia didn't advertise itself as Cosa Nostra until after the 1980's. There's no evidence of the term being used before it got popular. Members born in the 40's and 50's grew up watching the news heard of La Cosa Nostra applied to the neighborhood gangsters and that added to their mystique. With the public naming/shaming/defining it solely as a criminal organization that's where you see the drop off point of legitimate members who were doctors, lawyers, a priest (if you believe Bonanno). The mob fascination culture inspired a generation and when that gen came to power is when you heard John Gotti or Ralph Natale on wiretap disucssing and organization named "La Cosa Nostra."

When the FBI presented Valachi on national television laying out a secret, exclusive criminal organization that had it's hooks into everything from politicians, judges down to the neighborhood gang, that galvanized the public and increased their interest in Italian organized crime. Add the Godfather and later on Goodfellas into the mix... certains terms got considerable face time. Godfather, consigliere became household terms. I would argue it's possible Caporegime came about due to Valachi but it would be interesting if the term was used by other families from that same period. Licata of Jersey used caporegime, Fratianno too, Gravano I don't believe did. Capodecina is the correct term, but at some point caporegime became synonymous and interchangeable and now it means the same thing. I'm curious as well if Valachi got the ball rolling on that.

[bronx]

caporegime is bastardized,it is capodecina...gotti did not say la cosa rostra, unless it it is on a different one that is not from the apt. in the apt he does not say la

[CG1]

But it's interesting how you hear the family referred to as the "brugad," that came up in the Eboli FBI files as well as Salerno in 1987.

Isn't that just a misspelling of borgata? Hasn't that been around forever in mob speak?

I always thought so, now I'm not so sure. I've seen it used in Gen wiretaps and Cafaro testimony. No other member from another family used that term. Not sure if it has any relevance at all to be honest.

But it's always a transcript of spoken language no? The first time I remember seeing it is in the wiretap from -64 on Mary Ferrel here: http://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html ... 1&tab=page

I bet it's just borgata because it sounds like "brugad" when you don't know italian.

[Angelo Santino]

caporegime is bastardized,it is capodecina...gotti did not say la cosa rostra, unless it it is on a different one that is not from the apt. in the apt he does not say la

Correct, my bad.

[bronx]

hello Chris , it does sound like la..but he says "ah" cosa nostra

[toto]

brugad is from borgata. like some italian-americans say mozarel for mozzarella. they didn't hear it correctly and then messed the pronunciation more and then it becomes its own word.

[Pogo The Clown]

my bad

Pogo

[B.]

In terms of Caporegime. Valachi was the first one to coin that term. It then spread like wildfire, just like this "thing of ours" got morphed into La Cosa Nostra as an official name. The Mafia didn't advertise itself as Cosa Nostra until after the 1980's. There's no evidence of the term being used before it got popular. Members born in the 40's and 50's grew up watching the news heard of La Cosa Nostra applied to the neighborhood gangsters and that added to their mystique.

I don't think Valachi coined "caporegime". Does he use it at all in the book or in his testimony? I can't remember it, though I remember him using terms like "lieutenant", though maybe he was just trying to explain it in terms the average American would understand. He also throws the term "boss" around loosely a couple of times from what I remember. "Caporegime/caporegima" definitely appears independent of Valachi in FBI reports from before or around the same time Valachi began cooperating, though. Scarpa's early reports are filled with "caporegima".

As for Cosa Nostra... you're 100% right that "La Cosa Nostra" was never used by the mob itself until the FBI and media influenced the newer generations of guys (who barely understood Italian) to start saying it. The same can't be said for "Cosa Nostra" without the "La", though. Rocco Scafidi's info says that when he was inducted around 1950 he was told by his superiors that the organization was "mafia", then after he was shelved and reinstated in 1961, they told him it was called "Cosa Nostra" now. On the phone taps where Scafidi and Frank Monte are talking, they also refer to it as Cosa Nostra. Valachi also claimed it was called Cosa Nostra.