Understanding locals may take more than a dictionary
When does a story drink water and what do you do when confronted with the dreaded black dog?
These and many more questions arise when you come to Cyprus and learn a little Greek.
Overhearing Cypriots while strolling through town or sipping hot ‘kafes’ in village coffeeshops can prove to be more challenging than expected and leave many a non-Cypriot baffled.
A quite normal conversation among locals around lunchtime could sound a bit like this when translated:
“Yesterday my intestine stuck (very hungry) and I went and made it a vineyard (ate a lot).”
“Now that you mention it, my navel fell (very hungry).”
“Let’s go nowhere and eat nothing (let’s go somewhere and eat something).”
Now, if you think this story ‘drinks water’ (questionable), wait till you hear what two long-lost friends might have to say:
“We made black eyes to see you! (we haven’t seen you in ages).”
“I’ve wanted to come for a while. My tongue grew hair (talked non-stop) trying to convince my wife.”
“Doesn’t she like Cyprus?”
“She’s the tip of the mint (very particular).”
Two locals arguing about the authenticity of a story could demand a bit more than a dictionary:
“Horse with a sheep’s tail! (unbelievable tale).”
“He who has the fly gets flied! (if it bothers you, then you identify with it).”
“Go search for the black dog! (go to hell).”
But go very easy on the black dog (one of the worst things you can tell someone in Cyprus), as that is where friendships end for good.
Two others who witnessed the argument might say:
“They made it snow (made a mess of it).”
“Yeah, my fat melted for her (I felt sorry for her).”
“He makes the flea a camel (a lot ado about nothing).”
“And she doesn’t have a bit of beard (she has no shame).”
Why did all this happen? One might argue it’s because ‘that’s what the cat wants’. You know, the one that sells mahallepi (the cat that sells mahallepi for three pennies a dish is used when you want to avoid answering). Of course, one cannot ‘smell one’s nails’ to know (expect to know everything). Whatever the case, it’s better to ‘take a big bite’ than to say ‘big words’ (local proverb meaning put food in your mouth, not words).
Need verification? Take the Cyprus Mail with you on your next outing and ask the locals. You’ll be jotting down more, having a laugh while deciphering them and making some new friends for life on the way. But definitely leave the black dog out of it.