Mafia Jargons
- La Cosa Nostra - The term cosa nostra, which is sometimes translated from Italian to mean "our thing," originally referred to the general lifestyle of organized criminals in Sicily. When the Mafia moved to the United States, FBI agents listening in on wiretaps heard the term. They began using the term La Cosa Nostra (which is grammatically incorrect) to refer to the Mafia. In time, La Cosa Nostra referred specifically to American Mafioso, differentiating them from "old world" mobsters.
- Omerta - Omerta is the Mafia code of silence.
- Made man - This is a man who has been officially inducted into a Mafia family.
- Capo - The capo was originally the head of a family in Sicily. Now, the capo is more like a lieutenant who serves the family boss.
- Family - Each individual gang within the Mafia is known as a family. Not everyone within a family is actually related to one and other, although it is common for relatives of mobsters to be inducted into the same family as their brothers or fathers.
- Wiseguy - This is someone who is involved with the Mafia.