Amusing Czech words...

Discussion in 'General Language' started by miffy, Nov 9, 2006.

  1. miffy

    miffy Member

    I found these in The Meaning of Tingo: And Other Extraordinary Words from Around the World by Adam Jacot de Boinod. I love how you can express something quite complex in Czech in one word! And I'm absolutely sure there isn't a one-word English translation for any of these...

    Vybafnout - to surprise someone by saying 'boo!'

    Přesezený - to be stiff from sitting in the same position for too long

    Nedovtipa - one who finds it difficult to take a hint

    Litost - the state of torment created by the sudden realisation of one's own misery.
     
  2. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    Hey, I like those.

    especially nedovtipa and litost
    those are words I can see myself using.

    but my dictionary says litost means sorrow, refret
     
  3. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    regret
     
  4. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    Yes scrimshaw, you are right, lítost means regret/heartache/contrition...

    The "to be" in the definition of přesezený is in excess. We can create a lot of such words by using prefix "pře-" (it's analogous to "over-" in English "overwork") - e.g.

    Přeležený - stiff from lying in the same position for too long (přeležená ruka = a numb arm caused by lying on it)

    And nedovtipa is infrequent. Similar and more frequent is:

    Neposeda - one who is not able to sit still (~ fidget)

    All miffy's examples seem to be from this list.
     
  5. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    To je skvělé. Ted musím říct moudré věci jak...

    Knedlikový vodnik seděl v říčce pod mostě a zapřil se, protože se chtěl
    nepodilet na jeho knedliky s nikým.

    nebo

    Kverulant sedí se smolařem na lavičce u řeky a stěžuje si na hezké červanky. Je to smutno vidět jak se každý den jen víc a víc umodruji.

    Tyčovka kecá a kecá a babička jí uhrala.

    I hope I am not off topic. :lol:
     
  6. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    No skvělé, to vypadá na další zajímavý příběh.

    Vodník (literally watter-man) is a typical Central-European fairy. It's a green man living under the water. He's able to speak with water animals and even to magic - e.g. to transfigure himself into a fish. Usualy, he wears a green tailcoat and the water falls in drops from its tails.

    Some vodníks are evil and try to kill all people by drowning, some vodníks drown only evil people and there're also good-natured vodníks.
    They close the souls of drowned people into little pots hiden under the water.
    They live mostly in the neighbourhood of watermills. Often, they are sitting on the willow tree nearby water. They also hang gorgeous ribbons on these willow trees to entice young girls to water and to drown them.

    [​IMG]

    Scrimshaw, uhádneš, kdo nakreslil tohohle vodníka?

    Umudrovat se is a perfective verb, you can't use it with every day.

    I admit I didn't know the word tyčovka before and I still did not desire to include it into my active vocabulary.

    Scrimshaw, I'm not sure of your understandig of uhranout. This verb is nearly equivalent to English gorgonize or bewitch.
     
  7. MK

    MK Well-Known Member

    Really confused:

    Není "tyčovka" nějaký druh "pytlačky". Myslím, že to používají i rybáři k označení místa, kde si krmí ryby. (což se také nesmí). Vlastně něco jako bójka z tyček?!


    Jak může bójka mluvit?!
     
  8. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    MK, see the link I post before for detailed information about the word tyčovka.
     
  9. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    EDIT: I have no idea how it occured but my last post was doubled.
     
  10. MK

    MK Well-Known Member

    Thank you for the link wer.

    I think "bufeťák", "somrák", "ujec" and "tyčovka" are slang (I will not comment word předpo... ). I did not hear word tyčovka in this context but it reminded me of something simillar: "bába sprinterka". My schoolmates used it for older women who always "sprints" for untaken seats in underground.
     
  11. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    Wer díky
    Podle meho, hezký obraz vodníka nakreslil Pan Lada.
    Uhádnu dobře?
    Můžu vidět proč byl tak lidový umělec.
    Nakreslil mnoho znamenitéch obrázku, že ano?

    Máš pravdu. Použil jsem špatně slovoso uhranout.

    Mohl bych asi spiš řict neco takového jako
    Vodník zkusí uhranout mladou dívku, aby všla své jezírko.
     
  12. alenastef

    alenastef Well-Known Member

  13. alenastef

    alenastef Well-Known Member

  14. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    Ano, scrimshaw, byl to pan Lada.
    Jestli to náhodou nebylo naopak a dívka neuhranula vodníka? :twisted:
    Uhranout means also captivate, interest, attract... or even make somebody fall in love.
    Viva google.
     
  15. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    Děkuju Aleno
    To je hezké.
    Vodnik na topole.
    Tak pan Lada nakreslil svou obrázku podle znamenité pohadku?

    Zřejmě jsou vic, když to je první strohe. Kolik nich je?
     
  16. alenastef

    alenastef Well-Known Member

  17. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    Ráno, raničko panna vstala In the morning, the maiden gets up
    pradlo si v uzel zavázala she ties her clohes up in a sack
    Půjdu, matičko, k jezeru I will go, mama, to the pond
    šatečky sobě vyperu I will wash my scarfs

    Myslím si, že jsem dobře neudělal.
    Nechapu vyznamy slova raničko

    Mám strach ale Aleno pro tahle neopatrně panna.
    Neslyšela nikdy o Vodniku, který by jí tam mohl počkat?

    Na jaře se motyly poltetají v zahradě.
    Aha, je to čarodějnice, které dělaji uranuti.
    Bubujaga a svá skupina.
    To je zajímavý přibeh o kravatách a ikyselem mleku.
     
  18. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    o krávách a kryselem mleku.
     
  19. eso

    eso Well-Known Member

    Ale příběh o kravatách a mléku by byl jistě také zajímavý :)
     
  20. alenastef

    alenastef Well-Known Member

Share This Page