Street
omerta
What does omerta mean?
Omertà is the code of silence forbidding cooperation with authorities. Breaking it, by informing, is punishable by death within the organization.
"He kept omertà through the whole trial and never named a soul."
Origin
Southern Italian dialect, possibly from 'umiltà' (humility) or 'omu' (man).
Frequently asked questions
What is omertà?
It is the Mafia code of silence, which forbids cooperating with the authorities. Breaking it by informing is punishable by death within the organization.
Where does the word 'omertà' come from?
It comes from Southern Italian dialect, possibly from 'umiltà' (humility) or 'omu' (man).
What happens if you break omertà?
Within the Mafia, informing on the organization violates omertà and is traditionally punishable by death.
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