The term "La Cosa Nostra" is a fiction created by FBI agents that didn't understand what they were hearing, and didn't understand how to interpret the Italian language correctly. They put the term La Cosa Nostra out there to the public, and after decades of its use today there are even street guys (made men) who call it that. WRONG!

There is no "La" in Cosa Nostra. It is grammactially incorrect number one as far as Italian goes. And number two, it sounds ridiculous when deciphered into English. Doesn't make sense. Yet, to this very day many in law enforcement, the FBI, etc. refer to it that way. Hence the term, "LCN"....Certain mafia members do as well (typically the American born mamelukes that don't even understand what they're saying).

Cosa Nostra is the true name of the organization. Essentially the organization really has no name, because "Cosa Nostra" in Sicilian, Italian, means "our thing." The term was actually a euphemism to refer to an "entity" or a "body" of men that was left unnamed, and was really the Mafia by any other term you care to use. Dating to hundreds of years ago there was always different names given to crews from different towns in Sicily; Picciotteria, Fratelli, Fratellanza, etc etc. But by any other name;

The Brotherhood (which is actually what it was, and is supposed to be. A closed society of men)
The Honored Society (Societa' Onorata, in Calabrese)
The Camorra (in Napolitano)
The Mafia (in Sicilian)
The Arm (Buffalo)
The Office (New England)
The Outfit (Chicago and in other midwestern states such as Kansas City, etc)
The Boys
The Mob
.......etc., etc., each of these terms is a reference to what is essentially the Mafia.

Cosa Nostra (our thing) became a term popular back in the 1960s after Bobby Kennedy and his ilk started really breaking balls on everybody. Slowly, because of the bad publicity, the word Mafia was used less and less and the term "Cosa Nostra" became more popular among the troops to try and throw shade on the guys. Today, its commonplace, but it's use hasn't stopped the public and LE from now understanding what's what....it is the mob, the mafia.

Rats have destroyed that entire concept and shadowy term of "Cosa Nostra" years ago. Today, sadly, it's usage is as common as water.