The more I
travel the more interested I am becoming in languages; not really speaking
different languages but looking at how we develop different ways of describing
the same thing or how some languages have words for things other languages
don’t. It’s all so interesting to me,
even the different words that English speakers from different countries use.
Before I forget
all of the Georgian I learned I want to put together some interesting words or
phrases from the language. So here it
goes…
Zeg – the day after tomorrow. One word to accomplish what takes four words in
English.
Khvals zeg – in three days. Literally,
tomorrow’s day after.
Romeli khart –
Often used when you answer the phone and want to know who is calling you. You are literally saying, “which one are you?”
Batono – Mr.
However, it is used to ask “what?” when you don’t understand something
and also a common way to answer the phone.
So instead of saying “hello?” you say “Mr.?”
Qualbatono – Mrs.
The literal translation is “woman Mr.”
The way the word
color is used is really interesting to me:
Ara peri – nothing; literally, no (ara) color
(peri)
Kvela peri – everything; literally, every (kvela)
color (peri)
Ara ushavs – no problem, no worries; literally,
there’s no black
Deda
– mom.
Deda is also a common expression to use
in many different circumstances. A rough
translation of one of its uses is “oh my
god,” “oh god” or “oh no.” For
example, maybe you drop an egg on the floor, your response could be, “Deda!”
Another
translation might be “holy sh*t!” If you are watching a soccer game and someone
takes a shot that narrowly misses the goal, you say a quick “deda!” to express
that it was close.
It
can also be used for “damn it” or “f*ck.” For example, if you stub your toe you exclaim
“DEDA!”
It
can also translate to “jesus” when
used if someone catches you off guard and you are frightened.
Finally,
it also expresses a sense of disbelief.
For example, it is said when someone wields a gun or cheats on their
wife during the beloved Spanish soap operas. Or when I do something crazy like bake carrot
cake. “Cake with carrot?? Deda!”
Mama
– dad.
You can imagine the confusion young learners have when they learn that
mama means mother.
Rodsads
– when and where. It combines rodis (when) and sad (where) into one
word.
Mets
– me too.
Nothing very interesting about this one except that it's kind of an
addicting word to say, I think most of us who lived in Georgia still find
ourselves using it.
Tsqkhali
– water;
one of the most difficult words to pronounce happens to be the most vital thing
for humans. Young Georgians have difficulty pronouncing this one.
I find the
different way cultures decide to count is interesting, in Georgian, counting is
done by 20s.
Otsi – 20
Otsdaati – 30;
literally, 20 and 10
Ormotsi – 40;
literally, two 20s
Ormotsdaati –
50; two 20s and 10
60 – three 20s;
70 – three 20s and 10; 80 – four 20s; 90 – four 20s and ten
35 is 20 and 15
(otsdatkhutmeti)
55 is two 20s
and 15 (ormotsdatkhutmeti)
95 is four 20s
and 15 (otkhmotsdatkhutmeti) that’s a 6 syllable mouthful.
Today, my post
is featuring a cameo appearance by Blessing:
Blessing’s 2 cents
The word “aba”
is one of those words that many agree to have no English translation. It is a word with no specific meaning but when
you hear it, you know its intended purpose.
Apparently, the Germans also use this word and it also has to English
translation, but, the German and Georgian words are not used in the same
contexts. The
word “aba” in Georgia can be used as the words “so” or “so
what?” It can also be used as a way of asking how
else is something possible or saying to someone "what do you think happened?"
For
example:
Elaine:
"Do you know you are going to be late Blessing?"
Blessing:
"Aba?" Meaning "so?” or “so what?” or “what do you want me to do
about it?”
Blessing:
"I hope you told that creepy stalker where to get off."
Elaine:
"Aba?" Meaning “what do you think I did?”
Elaine:
"I had to find a way home even though it was so late"
Blessing:
"So did you get home by taxi?"
Elaine:
"No"
Blessing:
"Aba rogor?" Meaning “then how did you get home?”
Elaine:
"I walked"
Blessing:
"You walked?"
Elaine:
"Aba?" meaning what was I supposed to do or what else could I have
done
Blessing:
“Deda!” is now used because he cannot believe it.
Blessing:
"Do you like khinkali, Elaine?"
Elaine:
"Aba?" Meaning “of course, who doesn't” or “what do you think?”
There
are many other ways in which this word is used these are just a few. You have
to be around Georgians for a while to start noticing their different mannerisms
when they are using the word in different context.
