Why “Socmel”?

Spend even one afternoon in Bologna and you’ll hear it. At a bar counter, over a plate of tortellini, when the parking ticket arrives. Socmel! (also written sòccmel: the spelling varies as much as the tone) is the Bolognese exclamation par excellence.

Let’s be honest: its literal origin is not for polite company. But like many words used for generations, the original meaning has worn away like the steps of a medieval tower, and today it’s simply an exclamation. It all depends on the tone:

• surprise: “Socmel, look at the queue for mortadella!”
• admiration: “Socmel, that pasta is paper-thin!”
• annoyance: “Socmel… it’s raining again.”
• affection: between old friends who haven’t met in a while, it’s almost a hug.

There’s even a texting abbreviation, “SCM”, and a stretched-out version for moments of true amazement: sooocmel.

We chose this name because it captures the spirit we want to share: a learned and food-loving city, witty and a little cheeky, still able to be amazed by itself. If you’re from Bologna, you know exactly what we mean. If you’re not, welcome: after a few porticoes, you’ll be saying it too.

Do you know a saying, an anecdote or a pronunciation that belongs here? Send it to us.