Mon 26 Sep 2005
Hello everyone. Spent the last 2 days in bed with the flu, so nothing interesting there and didnt have anything to post about!
Today I feel much better, and I was on my way to work when I felt the car was slightly tipping sideways and was making that dreaded sound of a flat tire! Good thing I was near home and didnt even leave my street, or else I wouldve been really annoyed with a semi-flu fixing a flat tire in this gorgeous heat!
Anyway, good thing the car is home, and I am at work, so I avoided a sticky situation.
But that got me thinking about flat tires and the origin of our Kuwaiti naming for it. In Kuwait, we call a flat tire a “banchar”. Its one of those words that we use on a daily basis without thinking about it. Basically, its our version of the English word “puncture”.
punc·ture
v. punc·tured, punc·tur·ing, punc·turesn.
1. The act or an instance of puncturing.
2. A hole or depression made by a sharp object, especially a hole in an automotive tire.
The tire was punctured, so we call it a puncture, simple! But we take it a step further too……we Kuwaiticized the word and it became the root for another related word, “bancharchy”, which means auto-mechanic.
I think its fascinating to see how we adapted a foreign word into our Kuwaiti dictionary and we even started using it as a root for other words! Our language is evolving!
Any other words u can think of that we Kuwaiticized (I can think of many)? And even better if it was used to make other words (cant think of any)!?
44 Responses to “Flat tire….”
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September 26th, 2005 at 11:30 am
“Chub” A Kuwaiti version of the English word “Shut up”.
“Inchub” “Chubbay”.
Sorry
September 26th, 2005 at 11:36 am
TF, laaa I think its taken from an Indian word, which is also “chub”, but pronounced more like “chob”! Im not totally sure on that, so any of u Indian speaking ppl help me out!
Bes ur right about it, saarat a verb we all use daily, borrowed from a foreign language!
I hate that word btw, bes yalla itmooneeen ;P
September 26th, 2005 at 11:37 am
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September 26th, 2005 at 11:47 am
Dear Q;
Here are a few quickies:
The ever-popular anecdote about “Waneet” (=pickup truck). Is it a derivative of Vannette (= small van), or does it refer to a vehicle with 1/8th ton capacity, or simply the plate number of the first such truck in Kuwait?
I believe the word for screwdriver (“darnafeez”) is French (=”tournevis”)?
Photography was referred to as “3aks”, and still you hear people referring to a camera as: “3akkasah”. But do you know some people referred to a photographer as “kamarji”?
The low beam on cars is referred to as “sikken” (= “second”), while the high beam is “fass” (=”first”).
The area of “Geewan” refers to a map grip point G1.
When the telegraphic services started in Kuwait telegrams were called “tail”, people who received telegrams would comment: “il yoom wesalni tail”. The person who delivered them became “tailchi”, and today it’s a family name.
September 26th, 2005 at 12:11 pm
Hi adding words to the above list is the cards when played here in kuwait or the gulf region,
for Spades it is “sibeet”
and for Hearts it is “7aas”
also the Clubs is “Kalafs”
at last the Diamond is “Dayman”
c ya
September 26th, 2005 at 12:39 pm
Q, you’re right about Chub being derived from the Indian word “Chob” which means… well chub :p
the arabic word Vasa (Mazhariyah) is taken from the English word “Vase”…
September 26th, 2005 at 12:41 pm
Q80_demon, excellent stuff!! I never knew or even thought of the waneet or the darnafees things! Very informative, thx alot
khaled8181, eee ur right! Bes I also wonder about the words ‘maim’, ‘ghlaam’, and ‘baash’. I know they mean similar things to Arabic words but they sound like they were originally Turkish or Farsi! Wonder if sibeet 7aas kalafs and dayman are also derived from that language!
September 26th, 2005 at 1:15 pm
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September 26th, 2005 at 1:17 pm
Ok I got one; 3armoo6 (pear) is a Turkish word “Armoot”.
Istikana is a Persian word.
Oh god we don’t have a language!!!!
September 26th, 2005 at 1:46 pm
Obvious examples:
‘kabat’= cupboard
‘gla9′= glass
‘garee’= car (derived from the Indian version of car, since they don’t pronounce the ‘k’ sound, they would say gar)
‘gair’=gear
‘braik’=break
‘echayek’= to check
‘tshaik’= cheque
‘lamba’= lamp
‘baib’= pipe
‘garaj’= garage
‘tejoori’=treasury
TF: all langauges are derivative, take classical arabic, its a blend of Farisi, Hebrew, and Abbasinyan.
September 26th, 2005 at 1:56 pm
baskoot = biscuits
kleenex = kleenex
saikal = motorcycle
Semach = fish
September 26th, 2005 at 1:58 pm
fetch “elait” a kuwaiti version of light and there r some old people that i know when they answer the phone yegoloon HaLOOOOO mamqoo6aa ya3ni lahya ALOO WALA HELOO
September 26th, 2005 at 2:02 pm
Ana ba3ad 3endi wayed kalemaaat…hmmm….eeee ok
soosa = Sexy
baare3 = Pretty
beezahat = Pizza Hut
Kakaw bo la7am = Flake
mkdooonaled = Mcdonald’s
Maakesbenser = M&S
Gooti = Guti maal reyaal Madreeed ( amoooot 3alaaaih )
September 26th, 2005 at 2:05 pm
hahahhahahahah.. this is so funny
September 26th, 2005 at 2:17 pm
dorg…..drawer
telfezyoon…..Tele/TV
kaboos–> Kaboot –>condom
Ataree–> Atari –> Any videogame known to man is called that in Q8
Gareeda —> journal
9erwaal –> serwaal ( indian I think )
banj —> Bank
koktail –> cocktail
konflakes –> corn flakes
Kastar –> custard
Bar –> bar budoon mashroob
((box)) as in punch –> boxing
September 26th, 2005 at 2:45 pm
botel = bottle
sundaweechah = sandwich
treek = persian version (i think) of light
dsoos = persian version (i think) of gloves
bensil = pencil
Feez (tarboosh) = Fez
September 26th, 2005 at 3:30 pm
Bet u didn’t know these:
Peppermint = Bermait
Workshop = Warsha
September 26th, 2005 at 3:39 pm
You know.. I always thought “wanait” was on account that it used to have a 1.8 liter engine. The ever popular toyota hilux. so..
one-eight =>%$@!^=> wanait!
whats funny is “engalaizi” is actually italian! hehe
September 26th, 2005 at 4:46 pm
ظاهرة تداخل الكلمات في اللغة تتجدد بين حين و آخر و هذه الظاهرة تأخد الآن صدى واسع في أوروبا و بعض الدول و ذلك بعد فيلم ميل جيبسبن ( آلام المسيح) حيث ظهر المسيح و هو يتكلن اللغة الآرامية السريانية و حتى تم افتتاح المدارس و المعاهد في سوريا لتدريس اللغة الآرامية و تفتخر أنها موطن هذه اللغة و أن هناك أكثر من 120000 مواطن يتكلمون بهذه اللغة و خصوصا في مدينة معلولا
آرام بن سام بن نوح استوطن المنطقة الشمالية الشرقية من شبه الجزيرة العربية
و رأيت أن هناك الكثير من الكلمات في اللهجة الكويتية أتذكر منها
سكر (إغلق) و مرته و هي بالأصل مرتا
(زوجته) هي بالأصل كلمات آرامية
و كذلك كلمة بعل هي آرامية و تعني السيد أو الرب
و حمد الله على سلامتك و ما تشوف شر يا مستر كيو
September 26th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
I got a few:
Stakana = Stakan (russian for glass, propably taken from Iranian)
Treekat = meaning lights, was named becasue the light bulb brand used in old Kuwait was called three cats.
Some new high tech Kuwaitantics (from semantics):
Farmata : Format the hard disk
Mhanig : System is hanging or stopped.
Peace
September 26th, 2005 at 5:24 pm
Warsha.. workshop.. I like that
Ok, I get “banchar”, but where did the word “cheiwer” come from?
September 26th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
Doos 7ad il slater = step on the accelerator
September 26th, 2005 at 5:52 pm
The ones I love are actually Ba7 raini not Kuwaiti but because to me they are super funny, and creative I thought why not share them:
3ambuluse-Ambulence
Rondaboot-Roundabout
September 26th, 2005 at 6:14 pm
You can find in Saif Marzooq Al-Shamlan’s book “Min Tareekh Al-Kuwait” a chapter about the Kuwaiti vocabulary.
It includes parts about vocabulary of Turkish Origin (around 50), and vocabulary of Persian Origin (around 30).
Here are some:
1-Turkish Origin
Bairag (flag) = Bairaag
Titin (tobacco) = Titin
Danderma (ice cream) = Danderma
Choal (desert or wilderness) = Choal
Yakhoor/Jakhoor (Barn) = Akhoor
2-Persian Origin
Numoona (sample) = Numooda
Reznama (calendar) = Roznama (Diary or Journal)
You can read the book for more. It’s published by “That Al-Salasel”, they have two bookshops in the airport (Arrivals & Departures).
September 26th, 2005 at 6:23 pm
What about Football/Soccer?
Ba9 = Pass
Shoot = Shoot
Fingar = Kick using your biggest toe (finger)
Balenty = Penalty
Fawel = Foul
Goulchy = Goal Keeper
Labcheen = …?
Kert = Card
Doolma (Malfoof/Warag 3anab) is Iraqi.
September 26th, 2005 at 7:02 pm
طمباخية
September 26th, 2005 at 7:11 pm
more examples….
‘ban6aloon’ = pantaloons
‘nou6′ = banknotes
‘teeshirta’ = t-shirt
‘geenz’=jeans
‘jombazeee’=chimpanzee (that’s my favourite)
September 26th, 2005 at 7:34 pm
I just found out that Bor9a is an italian word “Borsa” which is obviously the stock-exchange.
September 26th, 2005 at 11:49 pm
ello
I don’t mean to intrude, I wanted to add a few (Saudied) words that my kuwaiti friends say.. I’m guessing they’re popular in Kuwait too.
kendayshin = AC
antal/antan = antenna
raywes = reverse
September 27th, 2005 at 4:22 am
two more:
Baranda= “Veranda” or i think Baranda is actually “railing” in Spanish
Blooza= Blouse
September 27th, 2005 at 5:41 am
Gari is actually the first brand of bicycles that came to Kuwait (etha mani qal6ana). Like calling tissue “Kleenex” or in-line skates “Rollerblades” or bandages “Bandaids;” they’re all names of the brand itself, so it’s really hard for consumers to distinguish which is which; it was quite a problem for the Rollerblade company to distinguish its brand.
September 27th, 2005 at 7:45 am
شروق
the word cheiwer is probably turkish.
The word chawerma (shawerma) the thing that goes around
September 27th, 2005 at 9:06 pm
Great post
October 5th, 2005 at 9:05 pm
I am looking for ideas to start my own blog about ebooks and you have give me a few ideas. Thank you. Good blog. I will check it each week.
October 8th, 2005 at 12:18 am
Hi,
I visited your site today.
I am a huge motorcycle fan myself. And I am thinking about starting my own motorcycle kit blog.
Wishing you the best.
Raymond
motorcycle kit
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June 22nd, 2006 at 10:58 am
Right, thatll do for now. Im off to see Ritmos da Cidade and Grupo Sambando with the Drumming Club.
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:17 am
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