question about origin of terms used in Syrian Jewish community

[Evelyn Dean-Olmsted]

Hello,

I'm doing research in the Syrian Jewish community in Mexico City.   My young adult and teenaged consultants have told me some words and phrases that they say come from Arabic, but I'm not entirely sure that all of them do (I'm only just beginning to study Arabic formally myself).   I was wondering if someone might be able to look at the items below and give me some hints as to their origin.  The transliterations are my own, hope they are intelligible.  I'm using /j/ to represent an voiceless velar fricative, as it does in Spanish. 

Thanks much,

Evie

Shajáta  - explained to me as "typically Oritental," esp. the more negative stereotypes of Syrian Jews in Mexico
Fájam - Bad, horrible
S'bale - Trash
Alamák - May G-d accompany you
Habibi - My love
Arúz/Aríz - May we see you as a bride/groom
Barminán - G-d forbid
Jámse - G-d forbid
Sefra dáime (daimer?) - May your hands/table always be full, a response when someone compliments food
Roji - my love, my life
Jazita - Poor little thing - Explained to me as a combination of the Arabic "jazin" and the Spanish diminuitive ita/ito
Idjire (in this case the j is like English) - female servant
Se di ándak - May you give birth to a boy

These were told to me by an Ashkenazi teen who attends school with many halabi girls:

Shu javar - How strange, or, that has nothing to do with it
Sajten, Sajten awafi - provecho (in Spanish), bon apetit
Gershi: expression of relief
Fertshi:  expression of relief (same word as previous?)
Shúfala: Said when you see something crazy or absurd (or in my consultants words, "está loca la niña") 

--
Evelyn M. Dean-Olmsted, M.A.
PhD Candidate
Indiana University Anthropology Department
Student Building 130, 701 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405-7100

In Mexico City:
Home: (52-55) 5395-0763
Cell: 044-55-1486-7349

[Dr. Avraham Ben-Rahamiël Qanaï]

Evie,

 

        Most of the expressions do come from Arabic. Here is the proper pronunciation and derivation of each (if you have any problems reading this, set the View encoding to UTF-8):

 

Shajáta  - explained to me as "typically Oriental," esp. the more negative stereotypes of Syrian Jews in Mexico

 

This is actually the Aramaic שחתא Shahata, haemorrhoids, “a pain in the a**”

Fájam - Bad, horrible

 

This is the Arabic فحم Fahm, coal

S'bale - Trash

 

This is the Arabic زبالة Zabala, filth, dung, trash

Alamák - May G-d accompany you

 

This is the Arabic أللّه معك Allah Ma‘ak, [may] God [be] with you

Habibi - My love

 

This is the Arabic حبيبي Habibi, my beloved one

Arúz/Aríz - May we see you as a bride/groom

 

These are the Arabic عروس ‘Arus, bride, and عرييس ‘Aris, bridegroom

Barminán - G-d forbid

 

The is the Aramaic בר-מנן Bar-Minan, literally “other than this”, used in Ladino to mean “heaven forbid”

Jámse - G-d forbid

 

This is the Arabic خمسة Khamsa, literally “five”, a shortened form of خمسة عليك Khamsa ‘Aleik, literally “five upon you”, the five being the fingers of the hand and the hand being a defence against the evil eye (cf. the hand-shaped amulets against the evil eye)

Sefra dáime (daimer?) - May your hands/table always be full, a response when someone compliments food

This is the Arabic سفرة دايمة Sufra Da’ima, “may [your] table [be] always [full]”

 

Roji - my love, my life

 

This is the Arabic روحي Ruhi, my spirit/soul

Jazita - Poor little thing - Explained to me as a combination of the Arabic "jazin" and the Spanish diminutive ita/ito

 

From the Arabic حصن Hasin, a chaste woman, plus the Ladino diminutive ending -ito

Idjire (in this case the j is like English) - female servant

This is the Arabic اجيرة Ajira, a female servant

 

Se di ándak - May you give birth to a boy

A mixture of Ladino and Arabic: Ladino Se di, [may it] be given, and the Arabic عادك ‘Andak, by/with you

 

Shu javar - How strange, or, that has nothing to do with it

This is the colloquial Arabic Shu Khabar, the literary Arabic اية شي ةو خبر Aya Shay Hu Khabar, literally “what thing is it [that is] news?”

 

Sajten, Sajten awafi - provecho (in Spanish), bon apetit

 

This is the Arabic صحّتين Sahhtein which is a doubling of the Arabic صحّة Sahha, health. أوافيAwafi is the plural of وفي Wafi, abundant. Since health is doubled, the adjective is plural

Gershi: expression of relief

 

Perhaps this is the Arabic كرشي Kirshi, my stomach

Fertshi:  expression of relief (same word as previous?)

 

?

Shúfala: Said when you see something crazy or absurd (or in my consultants words, "está loca la niña") 

This is the Arabic شوف أللّه Shuf Allah, “See, O God!”

 

                                                                                    Avraham

[rdhob...@notes.cc.sunysb.edu]

Just a slight modification of one of Avraham's etymologies: "Sajten awafi - provecho (in Spanish), bon apetit" is probably from صحتين وعافية sahhtein w-`aafye 'two healths and vigor'.  It's the ordinary expression for 'bon appetit' among Palestinians, and no doubt elsewhere too.

Bob Hoberman

[Uri Horesh]

Could also be 3awaafi عوافي (plural of 3aafye). That would be consistent with the "dual and up" explanation.

--
Uri Horesh
Director, Arabic Language Program

Modern Languages
Franklin & Marshall College
PO Box 3003
Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
uri.h...@fandm.edu

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----- Original Message -----
From: rdhob...@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
To: aqa...@facsl.com
Cc: emd...@indiana.edu, "jewish-languages" <jewish-l...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 8:17:06 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [Jewish Languages] Re: question about origin of terms used in Syrian Jewish community


Just a slight modification of one of Avraham's etymologies: " Sajten awafi - provecho (in Spanish), bon apetit" is probably from صحتين وعافية s a hh tein w-`aafye 'two healths and vigor'.  It's the ordinary expression for 'bon appetit' among Palestinians, and no doubt elsewhere too.

Bob Hoberman

[David Pinto]

Habibi - My love

 

This is the Arabic حبيبي Habibi, my beloved one

 

-0-

 

Habibi may also be used between two Muslim men, without any connotation of sexuality.

 

David Pinto

Montreal, Canada

"Dr. Avraham Ben-Rahami? Qana?#34; <aqa...@facsl.com> wrote:

Evie,

 

        Most of the expressions do come from Arabic. Here is the proper pronunciation and derivation of each (if you have any problems reading this, set the View encoding to UTF-8):

 

Shajáta  - explained to me as "typically Oriental," esp. the more negative stereotypes of Syrian Jews in Mexico

 

This is actually the Aramaic ש?ת? Shahata, haemorrhoids, ?œa pain in the a**??lt;/FONT>

Fájam - Bad, horrible

 

This is the Arabic ?Ø­? Fahm, coal

S'bale - Trash

 

This is the Arabic زبا?ة Zabala, filth, dung, trash

Alamák - May G-d accompany you

 

This is the Arabic Ø£???? ?ع? Allah Ma?˜ak, [may] God [be] with you

Habibi - My love

 

This is the Arabic حب?ب? Habibi, my beloved one

Arúz/Aríz - May we see you as a bride/groom

 

These are the Arabic عر?س ?˜Arus, bride, and عر??س ?˜Aris, bridegroom

Barminán - G-d forbid

 

The is the Aramaic ?ר-??? Bar-Minan, literally ?œother than this?? used in Ladino to mean ?œheaven forbid??lt;BR>

Jámse - G-d forbid

 

This is the Arabic Ø®?سة Khamsa, literally ?œfive?? a shortened form of Ø®?سة ع??? Khamsa ?˜Aleik, literally ?œfive upon you?? the five being the fingers of the hand and the hand being a defence against the evil eye (cf. the hand-shaped amulets against the evil eye)

Sefra dáime (daimer?) - May your hands/table always be full, a response when someone compliments food

This is the Arabic Ø³?رة دا??Ø© Sufra Da?™ima, ?œmay [your] table [be] always [full]??lt;/FONT>

 

Roji - my love, my life

 

This is the Arabic Ø±?Ø­? Ruhi, my spirit/soul

Jazita - Poor little thing - Explained to me as a combination of the Arabic "jazin" and the Spanish diminutive ita/ito

 

From the Arabic Ø­Øµ? Hasin, a chaste woman, plus the Ladino diminutive ending -ito

Idjire (in this case the j is like English) - female servant

This is the Arabic Ø§Ø¬?رة Ajira, a female servant

 

Se di ándak - May you give birth to a boy

A mixture of Ladino and Arabic: Ladino Se di, [may it] be given, and the Arabic Ø¹Ø§Ø¯? ?˜Andak, by/with you

 

Shu javar - How strange, or, that has nothing to do with it

This is the colloquial Arabic Shu Khabar, the literary Arabic Ø§?Ø© Ø´? Ø©? خبر Aya Shay Hu Khabar, literally ?œwhat thing is it [that is] news???lt;/FONT>

 

Sajten, Sajten awafi - provecho (in Spanish), bon apetit

 

This is the Arabic صح?ت?? Sahhtein which is a doubling of the Arabic صح?Ø© Sahha, health. Ø£?ا??Awafi is the plural of ??? Wafi, abundant. Since health is doubled, the adjective is plural

Gershi: expression of relief

 

Perhaps this is the Arabic ?رش? Kirshi, my stomach

Fertshi:  expression of relief (same word as previous?)

 

?

Shúfala: Said when you see something crazy or absurd (or in my consultants words, "está loca la niña") 

This is the Arabic Ø´?? Ø£???? Shuf Allah, ?œSee, O God!??lt;/FONT>

 

                                                                                    Avraham

----- Original Message -----

From: Evelyn Dean-Olmsted

To: jewish-l...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Thursday, 20 November, 2008 15:15

Subject: [Jewish Languages] question about origin of terms used in Syrian Jewish community

Hello,

I'm doing research in the Syrian Jewish community in Mexico City.   My young adult and teenaged consultants have told me some words and phrases that they say come from Arabic, but I'm not entirely sure that all of them do (I'm only just beginning to study Arabic formally myself).   I was wondering if someone might be able to look at the items below and give me some hints as to their origin.  The transliterations are my own, hope they are intelligible.  I'm using /j/ to represent an voiceless velar fricative, as it does in Spanish. 

Thanks much,

Evie

Shajáta  - explained to me as "typically Oritental," esp. the more negative stereotypes of Syrian Jews in Mexico
Fájam - Bad, horrible
S'bale - Trash
Alamák - May G-d accompany you
Habibi - My love
Arúz/Aríz - May we see you as a bride/groom
Barminán - G-d forbid
Jámse - G-d forbid
Sefra dáime (daimer?) - May your hands/table always be full, a response when someone compliments food

Roji - my love, my life
Jazita - Poor little thing - Explained to me as a combination of the Arabic "jazin" and the Spanish diminuitive ita/ito
Idjire (in this case the j is like English) - female servant

Se di ándak - May you give birth to a boy

These were told to me by an Ashkenazi teen who attends school with many halabi girls:

Shu javar - How strange, or, that has nothing to do with it
Sajten, Sajten awafi - provecho (in Spanish), bon apetit
Gershi: expression of relief
Fertshi:  expression of relief (same word as previous?)

Shúfala: Said when you see something crazy or absurd (or in my consultants words, "está loca la niña") 

--
Evelyn M. Dean-Olmsted, M.A.
PhD Candidate
Indiana University Anthropology Department
Student Building 130, 701 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405-7100

In Mexico City:
Home: (52-55) 5395-0763
Cell: 044-55-1486-7349

---

Reclaim your name @ymail.com or @rocketmail.com. Get your new email address now!

[Dr. Avraham Ben-Rahamiël Qanaï]

David,

 

        I did not mean to imply any connotation of sexuality. The Arabic حبيبي Habibi, my beloved one, is used to convey fondness, so people will commonly use it for friends and family.

[Dr. Avraham Ben-Rahamiël Qanaï]

Lee,

 

        Aha! I didn’t think of that because of the Spanish transliteration (had it been written in Hebrew letters, I would have immediately recognised it as חזיניטא Hazinita. In Mexican Spanish the Z is pronounced like an S in English. Obviously the transliteration is a mixture of Spanish and English pronunciation of the letters. Ladino Hazino/Hazina definitely sounds much more plausible. You are also correct in that the usual diminutive ending in Ladino is -iko/-ika, but O have heard some speakers occasional use -ito/-ita. Since those speakers were living in Argentina, it is most likely that the -ito/-ita ending is due to Spanish influence.

 

                                                                                Avraham

----- Original Message -----

From: Lee Goldberg

To: aqa...@facsl.com

Sent: Friday, 21 November, 2008 13:11

Subject: Re: [Jewish Languages] Re: question about origin of terms used in Syrian Jewish community

This one sounds like it might have been influenced by the Ladino 'Hazino' ('ill'), mixed with Spanish 'pobrecito' ('poor thing').  (Ladino usually forms diminutives with '-iko'/'-ika'.)

--- On Thu, 11/20/08, Dr. Avraham Ben-Rahamiël Qanaï <aqa...@facsl.com> wrote:

Jazita - Poor little thing - Explained to me as a combination of the Arabic "jazin" and the Spanish diminutive ita/ito

From the Arabic حصن Hasin, a chaste woman, plus the Ladino diminutive ending -ito

[Joseph I. Lauer]

    I apologize for the delay in posting the following.  

    I forwarded the question about the origin of terms used in the Mexico City Syrian Jewish community to Dr. Jack M. Sasson of Vanderbilt University.

    He responded with some suggestions and comments regarding some of the terms.

    He offered them as a native Halabi and permitted me to communicate them to the list.

    Dr. Sasson's suggestions and comments follow the asterisks, with some formatting changes.

    His e-mail address is: jack.m...@vanderbilt.edu 

    Joseph I. Lauer

    Brooklyn, New York

****************************

Question: Shajáta  - explained to me as "typically Oriental," esp. the more negative stereotypes of Syrian Jews in Mexico.

Dr. Qanaï: This is actually the Aramaic שחתא Shahata, haemorrhoids, "a pain in the a**"
Dr. Sasson: More likely from Arabic shahata (shin het tet, no aliph), meaning a slipper. It is used to punish kiddies, and so also a metaphor for correcting someone.

Question: Jámse - G-d forbid
Dr. Qanaï: This is the Arabic خمسة Khamsa, literally “five”, a shortened form of خمسة عليك Khamsa ‘Aleik, literally “five upon you”, the five being the fingers of the hand and the hand being a defence against the evil eye (cf. the hand-shaped amulets against the evil eye) 

Dr. Sasson: You use five and multiples thereof to ward off the evil eye. It is totally unacceptable for someone to use the number five or multiples of it, as using chamse [= jamse] when speaking to someone* might be taken as an indictment that that someone has evil intent.

For example: if one is asked "how many children do you have?" and answers "five", the person who asked the question will be insulted because by answering "five" one is warding off the evil eye. All sorts of round-about ways can be offered to replace this "five" if one really has five children.

Question: Jazita - Poor little thing - Explained to me as a combination of the Arabic "jazin" and the Spanish diminutive ita/ito
Dr. Qanaï: From the Arabic حصن Hasin, a chaste woman, plus the Ladino diminutive ending -ito
Dr. Sasson: More likely from Arabic hazit (tet), meaning a sad-sack; feminine is hazita.

Question: Se di ándak - May you give birth to a boy
Dr. Qanaï: A mixture of Ladino and Arabic: Ladino Se di, [may it] be given, and the Arabic عادك 'Andak, by/with you
Dr. Sasson: Never heard that one. Halabis rarely incorporate Ladino words, except as kinship terms.

Question: Gershi: expression of relief
Dr. Qanaï: Perhaps this is the Arabic كرشي Kirshi, my stomach
Dr. Sasson: Likely "something else" (gher shay')

Question: Fertshi: expression of relief (same word as previous?)
Dr. Sasson: Fertshi is "fard shay", meaning "same thing".

Question: Shúfala: Said when you see something crazy or absurd (or in my consultants words, "está loca la niña")
Dr. Qanaï: This is the Arabic شوف أللّه Shuf Allah, "See, O God!"

Dr. Sasson: Puzzler; may be shuf halak, "look at her condition"?

Halabi Jews avoid mention of God in vernacular usage except in such ossified words as Inshallah.

[Joseph I. Lauer]

    A second apology.

    The last entry should have read "shuf hala" (not "shuf halak"):

Dr. Sasson: Puzzler; may be shuf hala, "look at her condition"?

Halabi Jews avoid mention of God in vernacular usage except in such ossified words as Inshallah.