can someone please tell me the exact meaning in Italian.

I think it means "thing of ours" or "our thing".

thanks, why does that word associate with the mafia?

The term was first used publicly by Joe Valachi, a Genovese family soldier, to describe the Mafia in the mid 60's at a Senate sub-committee hearing on organized crime.

In the novel, Puzo attributes a quote to Don Corleone at the meeting of the Dons:

" Sonna costra nostra "..."these are our own affairs"

thanks a lot.

i though it was a slang Italian word for Mafia.

Mardini and Plawrence have mentioned all that is neccessary. It hasn't actually got a literal translation, but the closest is "Our thing", which indicates that the mobsters who use the term mean that the mafia is their thing; it is available only to them and that no outsiders will ever get close to it.

i'm not that good at explaining such things, but i thought i'd give it my best shot to follow up on the others' answers.

mick

thanks a lot.

You do a damned good job of explaining things, Mick!

thanks a lot Commendatori Turnball!

mick

By the way Don V...Thanks, for saying Thanks,

thankful guy huh,lol

La Cosa Nostra means "Our Thing" and is the name of the Commission that Charles Lucciano established following the Castellammarese War.

La Cosa Nostra consists of the heads of the five New York families, as well as other bosses from around the country. At the time, Buffalo and Chicago were also involved with the Commission.

Lucciano established the Commission to bring order to prevent another war. All major hits have to be approved by the Commission.