The Godfather Terms

The Mafia is a type of organized crime syndicate whose principle operations include organizing and overseeing illegal activities such as racketeering, extortion, prostitution, drug trafficking, bootlegging, political corruption, union infiltration, murder for hire, and gambling… read analysis of Mafia

The Five Families are New York City’s five major organized crime syndicates in the Italian-American Mafia. Their structure dates to 1931, when a Sicilian mob figure named Salvatore Maranzano formerly organized warring factions of… read analysis of Five Families

The title used by Vito Corleone, “Don” means “boss” or head of a crime family. An honorific title that denotes respect and power, the word originates in the Spanish titles “Don” and the feminine… read analysis of Don

Another title used by Don Vito Corleone. It is a term of endearment, respect, and authority. In the Catholic tradition, a godfather is a spiritual title bestowed upon a man by the parents of… read analysis of Godfather

A Mafia term meaning councilor or advisor who advises the Don. Represented by Tom Hagen and Genco Abbandando in Puzo’s novel, the consigliere also mediates disputes within the family and represents the family in… read analysis of Consigliere

The lowest “Made” member of a Mafia crime family, soldiers still command respect in the organization. Soldiers make up a caporegime’s crew. To become full members of the Mafia, soldiers are required to take… read analysis of Soldier

A phrase that means committing murder for a mob family. The phrase indicates that a man wishing to become “made” in the mob must first make “bones” out of another man by killing him, thereby… read analysis of Made his Bones

A Sicilian term that means “big shot” and “.95 Caliber,” referring to a particularly large and powerful rifle cartridge (hence, a “big shot”). In Puzo’s novel, Vito Corleone and other Mafia members refer to professionals… read analysis of Pezzonovante

A soldier who executes an order (usually murder) after the caporegime “presses the button,” or gives the order. read analysis of Button Man

A Sicilian term referring to a code of silence and honor that potential Mafia members are required to swear to become “Made” in a crime family. Adhering to omertà means that members must never inform… read analysis of Omertà

In the early twentieth century, the Black Hand was a type of freelance criminal active in New York’s Little Italy. Black hands extorted so-called “protection money” from storekeepers and individuals that, in reality, merely protected… read analysis of Black Hand

An organized criminal act that constitutes a type of substantial and repeated business activity. A popular type of Mafia racket is “protection,” in which mobsters demand that a business or individual pay them a fee… read analysis of Racket

An Italian word meaning an “infamy.” Don Corleone refers to pedophilia and drug dealing as examples of infamnia. read analysis of Infamnia

A phrase denoting a Mafia family’s preparation for war with one or more rival families. To prepare for wartime, a mob family sets up headquarters in various secret apartments. Mob soldiers then move into these… read analysis of Going to the Mattresses

A Mafia term for a murder. Generally, caporegimes and soldiers carry out hits on orders from the Don. Targets of mob hits include people who have betrayed or crossed the family. read analysis of Hit

An enforcer is a term for a Mafia associate who is responsible for handling those who do not abide by a mob family’s rules, policies, and deals. A Mafia enforcer generally relies on violence or… read analysis of Enforcer

An associate is an unofficial member of a crime family who is involved in Mafia rackets. Associates act as intermediaries between the family and other organizations/people, such as labor unions, drug dealers, and politicians. If… read analysis of Associate

A car driven by law enforcement or rival criminals that follows another Mafia member’s car in order to track its movements. read analysis of Tail

The Corleone Family keeps a list of people they bribe—especially police, lawyers, politicians, and other individuals with power and influence—in exchange for information and special treatment. They refer to this bribe list as their “payroll.” read analysis of Payroll

These are derogatory epitaphs used to describe people of Italian descent. Jack Woltz, Carlo Rizzi, and Moe Greene uses these terms to describe Corleone Family members. read analysis of Dago, Wop, Goombah, Greaseball, Guinea

An offensive Italian term for a homosexual. Don Corleone uses the term to mock a crying Johnny Fontane. read analysis of Finocchio

A derogatory term that younger Mafia members use to refer to older Dons, whom they view as unwilling to embrace new business ventures such as narcotics due to their outdated notions of decency. The term… read analysis of Moustache Pete

A type of shotgun commonly used in Sicily. read analysis of Lupera