“WOP” is the
English pronunciation of the Ital-Neapolitan word “GUAPPO”. The word defines those who belong to the Guapperia
o “Camorra”, a criminal organization similar to the Sicilian Mafia located mostly in the province of Campania (an Italian Province) and its capital Napoli, Italia. The term is still commonly used especially in Central-South
Italy (Meridione) to describe those that either belong to the organization or those that are arrogant to the point of inducing a fight. It was brought to the
USA by early Italian immigrants from the province of Campania who named those suspected to belonging to the Guapperia “Guappi”, in a similar fashion the Sicilians used the term “Mafiosi”. Widely used in
Chicago where most immigrants from Campania settled, one of its native sons Al Capone was a typical Guappo, it was confused by the non Italian population to indicate people of Italian origins, similarly the word “Paesano”. The term has been erroneously explained to
mean “Without Papers” because of the initials “
WP” by those, Italian descent or not, that have little knowledge of Italian
history and dialects. The term has taken a derogatory meaning in North
America and for many refers to people of Italian origin or background.
