Any Hungarians on the Forum

[ahi]

Originally Posted by Polyglot27

Hol van minden ki?

How far doth thy knowledge of mine fine mother tongue extend, good Sir?

Also, "mindenki" is "everyone" or "everybody"; "minden ki" is "everything out" (albeit it sounds awkward enough when interpreted thus that it wouldn't be misunderstood).

But let me echo your own sentiments:

Hol a francban van mindenki?!

(There is a funny story behind the bolded word... and I shall share it with you, mine forum-mates. But not in this post. Care to guess at it in the meantime?)

- Ahi

[ahi]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

polyglot, you really speak hungarian as well ???? i won't be surprised (since i know you...) but i will be impressed !!! at the next meetup we'll have to have a little discussion !

Does that mean, Zelda that you speak a little bit of Hungarian yourself?

- Ahi

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by ahi

Does that mean, Zelda that you speak a little bit of Hungarian yourself?

- Ahi

only in my dreams. by "as well" i was referring to polyglot's mastery of various other languages (he really merits his pseudo !!).

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by ahi

How far doth thy knowledge of mine fine mother tongue extend, good Sir?

Hmm, your monther tongue is hard to understand... When my mother speaks Hungarian (haltingly, I must say), I can't make heads or tails of it...

[ahi]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Hmm, your monther tongue is hard to understand... When my mother speaks Hungarian (haltingly, I must say), I can't make heads or tails of it...

Understandable due to it being rather different from English.

It is easier for Finns and Turks, on account of structural similarities.

What is your Mom's first language, if I may ask?

- Ahi

[ahi]

Originally Posted by ahi

Hol a francban van mindenki?!

No guesses? Oh well...

The word "franc" is the archaic name for "France", unsurprisingly enough. Nowadays Hungarians call France, "Franciaország" (lit. "french country").

The word "franc", however survives as a mild to moderate curse word of sorts.

"Hol a francban?" - Where in France?

"Mi a franc?" - What the France?

"Menj a francba!" - Go to France!

"A francba!" - [Go] to France!

"Mi ez a francos dolog?" - What is this french (lit. France-y/) thing?

et cetera ...

It should, at this time, be noted that present-day Hungarians do not associate the word "franc" with "France" or really anything in particular. Unless the person in question has read about, has had it pointed out to them, or wondered about it a bit of their own accord, it is likely to be perceived as a curse word with no primary meaning. Kind of like "darn" in English, but its original meaning slightly more obscured.

Anyways though... why do livid Hungarians send their countrymen to France?

Simple! The use of the word as a curse originates way back during the times of the plague (or not terribly long thereafter). It was rumored in Hungary that the plague had originated in France, and so France become seen as a place of death.

"Go to France!" was basically a slightly more creative way of saying, "Go and die!" or "Go catch the plague and die from it!"

Wasn't that a nice story? My apologies to any Frenchmen or Frenchwomen--both for the irreverent use of your country's name and for the weak responsibility of sorts Hungarians must own up to, for Sarkozy having been loosed upon your fair nation!

- Ahi

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by ahi

No guesses? Oh well...

The word "franc" is the archaic name for "France", unsurprisingly enough. Nowadays Hungarians call France, "Franciaország" (lit. "french country").

The word "franc", however survives as a mild to moderate curse word of sorts.

"Hol a francban?" - Where in France?

"Mi a franc?" - What the France?

"Menj a francba!" - Go to France!

"A francba!" - [Go] to France!

et cetera ...

that's hilarious !!! i must start using those curses myself.

It should, at this time, be noted that present-day Hungarians do not associate the word "franc" with "France" or really anything in particular. Unless the person in question has read about, has had it pointed out to them, or wondered about it a bit of their own accord, it is likely to be perceived as a curse word with no primary meaning. Kind of like "darn" in English, but its original meaning slightly more obscured.

Anyways though... why do livid Hungarians send their countrymen to France?

Simple! The use of the word as a curse originates way back during the times of the plague (or not terribly long thereafter). It was rumored in Hungary that the plague had originated in France, and so France become seen as a place of death.

"Go to France!" was basically a slightly more creative way of saying, "Go and die!" or "Go catch the plague and die from it!"

very interesting story ! thanks for the etymology. i'm always a fan.

Wasn't that a nice story? My apologies to any Frenchmen or Frenchwomen--both for the irreverent use of your country's name and for the weak responsibility of sorts Hungarians must own up to, for Sarkozy having been loosed upon your fair nation!

- Ahi

yes, i don't mind the use of france as a curse but i am holding a grudge for that one.

[vivaldirules]

Go to France!

Now there's a curse I would gladly suffer. Could I please stay once I get there?

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Go to France!

Now there's a curse I would gladly suffer. Could I please stay once I get there?

you are always welcome here. any chance i could get you to bite sarko ? just claim you saw a squirrel and lost your head.

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

you are always welcome here. any chance i could get you to bite sarko ? just claim you saw a squirrel and lost your head.

But I thought he was a squirrel who had lost his head. No?

[ahi]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

yes, i don't mind the use of france as a curse but i am holding a grudge for that one.

Understandable, but, to be frank (<-- ), the whole unpleasant situation could have easily been averted if a certain young French law student had had the good sense not to grant liberties to a certain philandering Hungarian aristocrat!

- Ahi

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

But I thought he was a squirrel who had lost his head. No?

Sssh! Ixnay on the eheadingbay of enchfray eadhsay of atestay! That turned out badly the last time that trend caught on!

[ahi]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Sssh! Ixnay on the eheadingbay of enchfray eadhsay of atestay! That turned out badly the last time that trend caught on!

On the contrary, I think French democracy remains strong precisely on account of the ever present threat of violence against the political leadership!

No--honestly! I might be wrong, but I really do think that!

- Ahi

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by ahi

On the contrary, I think French democracy remains strong precisely on account of the ever present threat of violence against the political leadership!

No--honestly! I might be wrong, but I really do think that!

- Ahi

I see what you mean. Your theory is food for thought, so let them eat cake. (Because the donuts are mine mine, all mine!).

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

But I thought he was a squirrel who had lost his head. No?

if only.

Originally Posted by ahi

Understandable, but, to be frank (<-- ), the whole unpleasant situation could have easily been averted if a certain young French law student had had the good sense not to grant liberties to a certain philandering Hungarian aristocrat!

- Ahi

*sigh* yes, you make a good point... but still !!!! you won't get off that easy... (the moral of the story is, look out for philandering hungarian aristocrats !!!)

Originally Posted by ahi

On the contrary, I think French democracy remains strong precisely on account of the ever present threat of violence against the political leadership!

No--honestly! I might be wrong, but I really do think that!

- Ahi

er, you do know that we abandoned those practices when the aristocracy went out of style, right ? (although, there might be a case for bringing them back, in certain cases !)