Strange term in your langugae

Posted by Mamlazic@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 9 comments

What are some really strange words that are commonly used but would really raise eyebrows if they are new. Two of my favorites from Serbian would be

Bubarus -translated to English- Bug Russian -meaning- German Cockroach
Bubašvaba -translated to English- Bug German -meaning- Common cockroach or Cockroach in general

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laveol@reddit

I mena, bubamara is also an amazing word for us in Bulgaria. We call the bug kalinka. I also find pozoriste amusing since Pozor means disgrace in Bulgarian.

As for our own language, I truly like the term инджектопляктор (inject-o-plack-tor) meaning a device you don't know the name of and/or whatever it might do.

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Outrageous_Trade_303@reddit

I truly like the term инджектопляктор (inject-o-plack-tor) meaning a device you don't know the name of and/or whatever it might do.

lol! In American English that would be a whatchamacallit (ie whatever you may call it).

In Greek we use the word μαραφέτι (marafeti, from the Turkish marifet, meaning "smart" or something like that) or ματζαφλάρι (matzaflari) which is of unknown etymology (sounds like Italian) and Greek dictionaries define it as "something that you don't know it's name or you don't want to say it" and it might also mean the male's genitals.

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Fatalaros@reddit

We straight up call those annoying weeds between the crops "Germans"

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Divljak44@reddit

German is an exonym, given to bunch of tribes by Romans.

Since Romans were Grekophiles, and learned Greek this could very well be the origin of the word lol

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