Cyprus-Forum.com

[Nikitas]

Halil,

Thanks for the word list. Some of those words, like kumbaro, banco, bagapontis etc have dome to Turkish via Greek use but in fact they are of Italian origin. Probably they are in use from Venetian times.

[halil]

Halil,

Thanks for the word list. Some of those words, like kumbaro, banco, bagapontis etc have dome to Turkish via Greek use but in fact they are of Italian origin. Probably they are in use from Venetian times.

Some TC's words and meanings in Modern Turkish.

KIBRISLICA TÜRKÇE KIBRISLICA TÜRKÇE
Garacocco Siyah susam Gel be bura Buraya gel
Gavvolem Allah kahretsin Gave Kahve
Gabira Kızarmış ekmek Buncaccık Minicik
Guli Yavru köpek Beytambal galsın Eksik kalsın
Gancelli Bahçe kapısı Avlu Bahçe
Gıccatcık Kızcağız Bandabulya Lefkoşa'daki Belediye Çarşısı
Gilli Erkek eşek Susta Yay
Magarına bulli Makarna & tavuk Mısmıl Kaliteli/Sağlam
Basbalya Tokat Belesbit Bisiklet
Ispaho İnce ip Hasba çıkar Kes sesini
Harnıp Keçiboynuzu Ziligurti Kes sesini
Yusuf Mandalina Sakgulli Torba
Napang? Nasılsın? Sakgo Mont/Ceket
Macun Reçel Fanella Fanila
Genne Kendine Yüro Tur atmak
Hade Hadi Tekne Evye
Peşgir/Tor Havlu Bitda Börek
Potin Ayakkabı Piron Çatal
Bandofla Terlik Çakizdez Yeşil zeytin
Domularga/Domadez Domates Gurgura Boğaz
Badadez Patates Bullez Yer elması
Gulumbra Bir çeşit turp Babutsa Diken inciri
Babuç/Babıç Pabuç Haçan da Ne kadar çabuk!
Haçana beş? Kaç kere? Basdiç Acı badem kurabiyesi
Gusbo Kazma Zibil Çöp
Pünez Raptiye Govcalamak Kovalamak
Fago Çok ileri derecede görme sorunu olan Fica Yosun
Alizavra/Mişaro Gökyeşil (Kertenkele) Gakgulli Sümük
Deplek Darbuka Lamarina Sac
Lamicana Su şişesi Belo Köpek
Pataniya Battaniye Öteğü gün Önceki gün
Gadef Kadeh Tayka Dakika
Isbano Köse Van Kamyonet
Böğce Bugün Birceğez Bir tane
Pirili Misket Zevlemek Alay etmek
Gındırık Aralık bırakmak Maksıl Mahsül
Leymonatda Limonata Golifa zannetding galiba Kolay sandın galiba
Kakdırmak İtmek VordoVosgoGuello Aptal
Kakma Tekme Haksilo Kes sesini
Şafk Işık Bavuri Bidon
Seki Basamak Göver Koy ver
Lengger Kova Pisgot Bisküvi
Ciracık Yaşlı Rum kadını Gabbal Durmaksızın
Tapba lamarina Hızlı giden araba Barya Arkadaş grubu
Gapbella Bere Glaç Debriyaj
Boru Korna Solina Boru
Dümen Direksiyon Garavulli Salyangoz
Pasedembo Kabak çekirdeği Gatsavida Tornavida
Gatsot Cimri Pensa Kerpeten
Bas Otobüs Managül Oje
Gırmızılık Ruj Gorniz Korniş
Darı Mısır Oraşda Orada
Guduru Ezbere Laşga Gevşek
Lera Pis Cirilenmek Yuvarlanmak

[Tim Drayton]

Since nobody here was able, or interested enough, to answer my queries about the private secondary school in Kyrenia named Güvence Eğitim Merkezi which allegedly introduced Greek language lessons onto its curriculum, I phoned the school this morning to ask about the situation. I was informed that they taught Greek for all of last academic year, that they were given permission by the Education Ministry to do so, but that this year they haven't put on Greek language lessons because there was no demand. I am just reporting what I was told. I think there is an interesting story there for a journalist to look into - particulary with a view to establishing whether any kinds of pressures were applied on the shool behind the scenes to get them to remove Greek classes from the curriculum. I have my suspicions.
By the way, does it really matter what motivates members of one community to learn the language of the other? The prime motivation may be instrumental in both cases - easier access to civil service employment or easier access to employment in the south. However, surely if more peple can communicate with members of the other community this will foster an atmosphere of greater mutual understanding and harmony. I wonder. I can't help noticing that some of the strongest defenders of partition on both sides of the divide are also people who are fluent in both of the official languages of the island. The arch-partitionist himself is a prime example.

Am I predisposed towards conspiracy theories? I have heard of burying bad news, but burying an inconvenient post under a huge amount of irrelevant verbiage is a new one on me. Following the above post, a member who takes an extreme ideological stance in terms of the usually second-hand material he posts here has made not one but two virtually irrelevant posts consisting of long lists of words which are defined in Turkish. Have I hit on something here that the partitionists wish to keep quiet? Or am I paranoid?
I am now half inclined to make a beeline for Kyrenia on my next visit to the north and try to dig up some dirt.
Just in case Halil's lengthy posts are genuine, let me ask a genuine question in connection with them. I have noticed that Turkish Cypriots refer to the plant known in English as the prickly pear (of which there is a splendid example of massive proportions near the main square in the formerly mixed village of Fasoula close to Limassol) as "babutsa". Now according to the excellent etymological dictionary of Cypriot Turkish by Orhan Kabataş which is in my possession, this word derives from the Greek "παπου’τσα". I wonder if this is the word GCs use for this plant, which according to an English - Greek dictionary that I have in front of me is known as "φραγκο΄συκο" in standard Greek. This word sounds very similar to the Greek word for "shoes", i.e. "παπου΄τσια", and I have often wondered if there is any connection.
(I aplogise for any mistakes I may have made in writing Greek. I am doing my best!)

[denizaksulu]

Since nobody here was able, or interested enough, to answer my queries about the private secondary school in Kyrenia named Güvence Eğitim Merkezi which allegedly introduced Greek language lessons onto its curriculum, I phoned the school this morning to ask about the situation. I was informed that they taught Greek for all of last academic year, that they were given permission by the Education Ministry to do so, but that this year they haven't put on Greek language lessons because there was no demand. I am just reporting what I was told. I think there is an interesting story there for a journalist to look into - particulary with a view to establishing whether any kinds of pressures were applied on the shool behind the scenes to get them to remove Greek classes from the curriculum. I have my suspicions.
By the way, does it really matter what motivates members of one community to learn the language of the other? The prime motivation may be instrumental in both cases - easier access to civil service employment or easier access to employment in the south. However, surely if more peple can communicate with members of the other community this will foster an atmosphere of greater mutual understanding and harmony. I wonder. I can't help noticing that some of the strongest defenders of partition on both sides of the divide are also people who are fluent in both of the official languages of the island. The arch-partitionist himself is a prime example.

Am I predisposed towards conspiracy theories? I have heard of burying bad news, but burying an inconvenient post under a huge amount of irrelevant verbiage is a new one on me. Following the above post, a member who takes an extreme ideological stance in terms of the usually second-hand material he posts here has made not one but two virtually irrelevant posts consisting of long lists of words which are defined in Turkish. Have I hit on something here that the partitionists wish to keep quiet? Or am I paranoid?
I am now half inclined to make a beeline for Kyrenia on my next visit to the north and try to dig up some dirt.
Just in case Halil's lengthy posts are genuine, let me ask a genuine question in connection with them. I have noticed that Turkish Cypriots refer to the plant known in English as the prickly pear (of which there is a splendid example of massive proportions near the main square in the formerly mixed village of Fasoula close to Limassol) as "babutsa". Now according to the excellent etymological dictionary of Cypriot Turkish by Orhan Kabataş which is in my possession, this word derives from the Greek "παπου’τσα". I wonder if this is the word GCs use for this plant, which according to an English - Greek dictionary that I have in front of me is known as "φραγκο΄συκο" in standard Greek. This word sounds very similar to the Greek word for "shoes", i.e. "παπου΄τσια", and I have often wondered if there is any connection.
(I aplogise for any mistakes I may have made in writing Greek. I am doing my best!)

The word 'pabuc/pabuch' is used in Cypriot Turkish to denote 'slipper' or in general terms 'shoes'. The word used here 'babutsa' is most likely derived from that word because of the shape of the 'stems' (not leaves) they have modified leaves in the shape of spines, to reduce water loss.
Pabuc/pabuch itself is most likely derived from Greek. When I get home I will check it out in my 'Original Redhouse'.

[T_C]

As far as I know babutsa is a Greek word. I saw it among a list of Turkish Cypriot words which were of Greek origin ....

[shahmaran]

Pabuc is also used in Turkey, i dont think it is original to Cyprus...

[Tim Drayton]

Pabuc is also used in Turkey, i dont think it is original to Cyprus...

I had never thought of that connection. According to the Türk Dil Kurumu dictionary, this Turkish word comes from the Farsi "pa-push". "Pa" is the Farsi for "foot", I think. So did the Greek word for "shoe" come from Farsi via Turkish, or is the similarity coincidental?

[denizaksulu]

As far as I know babutsa is a Greek word. I saw it among a list of Turkish Cypriot words which were of Greek origin ....

In that case Pabuc/Pabuch is definitely of Greek origin.

In Halils list 'bullez' is translated as 'yer elmasi'.

Am I wrong then in thinking that 'yer elmasi' is in fact 'Jerusalem Artichoke? (Helianthus tuberosus)' and Bullez is an offshoot of Colocasia/Gologas?

I can not wait to get home to check this out.

T_C, help me out here.

[denizaksulu]

Pabuc is also used in Turkey, i dont think it is original to Cyprus...

I had never thought of that connection. According to the Türk Dil Kurumu dictionary, this Turkish word comes from the Farsi "pa-push". "Pa" is the Farsi for "foot", I think. So did the Greek word for "shoe" come from Farsi via Turkish, or is the similarity coincidental?

That s very interesting Tim. Push also means 'behind' in Persian. Something worn on hind legs? But ofcourse Greek and Persian beling to the Indo-Aryan Languages group. Two different routes to the word Pabuch/babutsa. Fantastic. Maybe Alexander the great 'left his slipper ' in Persia. Pabucunu Iran da birakti.

[Tim Drayton]

Pabuc is also used in Turkey, i dont think it is original to Cyprus...

I had never thought of that connection. According to the Türk Dil Kurumu dictionary, this Turkish word comes from the Farsi "pa-push". "Pa" is the Farsi for "foot", I think. So did the Greek word for "shoe" come from Farsi via Turkish, or is the similarity coincidental?

That s very interesting Tim. Push also means 'behind' in Persian. Something worn on hind legs? But ofcourse Greek and Persian beling to the Indo-Aryan Languages group. Two different routes to the word Pabuch/babutsa. Fantastic. Maybe Alexander the great 'left his slipper ' in Persia. Pabucunu Iran da birakti.

I am fairly sure that at least one word has made it to Greek from Farsi via Turkish, that being Karpuz to Καρπούζι.
Actually, the reason that I have raised this question is because the word given as the Greek root of "babutsa" is similar to the Greek word for "shoe" but not identical. This is something that has made me curious ever since I heard TCs use this word.

Evet, Büyük İskender pabucunu dama atmadığına göre İran'da bırakmış olmalı.