[KeriVit]

My dad is Italian and growing up - he would something along the lines of "My-Done!" or "Ma-Done" - like (Oh God) or something like that.

What does it mean and how do you spell it?

[Goldfinger]

madre madonna ?

[V12]

could be ma donne or madonna

its along the lines of Mary or my lady or but lady

[acadian]

It's "MA-DONNA", means exactly what it sounds like...

[KeriVit]

Must be Ma Donne- like someone in English would say "Mary Mother and Joseph" or Oh Lord.

[KeyLimePi]

Yea, my family says it too. And it is just "Madonna," as in La Madonna, or the Virgin Mary. In English we use 'Christ' as an explicative, in Italian the use Mary. I think the emphasis shifts for effect the same way we sometimes do.

I've noticed my father says just 'Madonna' to show surprise or anger, but jsut mutters 'Madonna Mia' when he's particularly disgusted about something.

[KeriVit]

Thanks guys.