Czech Koruna Exchange Rate
4 weeks ago
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Ježíš Maria
Czechs are the most secular nation in Europe. The communists must have really beat religion out of them but Czechs have quite a few religious expressions that are used daily.
Not a day goes by that you don't hear Ježíš Maria! (or Ježíš Marja). Often used as an expression of surprise. The equivalent English translation would be "Jesus, Mary and Joseph!"
If you surprise, excite or anger a Czech you can also hear Pane Bože!..."Lord God!" Or even pro Kristovy rány!. This one translates to "for Christ's wounds!"
Ježíškovy oči means "Jesus' eyes". But most of the time, people say Ježkovy oči which means "hedgehog's eyes."
When someone at work taught me "hedgehog's eyes" I thought they were crazy. As if I would ever need this for "survival Czech". But you actually hear it all of the time.
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or "Boha jeho!" (something like "My Lord!")
ReplyDeleteit's quite oldfashioned but people, especially older ones, use it. It mostly expresses disappointment with someone's actual behavior or fault. The explanation could be different but I know it this way.
Sarka
Thanks Šarka. I haven't heard this one yet. Or at least I don't think I have to this point. But now that I know what it is I'm sure I'll start to hear it.
ReplyDelete"Ježíš Marja!" - Kolja
ReplyDeleteThe link doesn't work for some reason.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ti5szMc-QM
Aaah, this post seems more useful than your later one on the grammar.
ReplyDeleteI have lived in Greece for nearly 10 years and what turned me off to learning the language was trying to be correct instead of just understood.
Cheers,