κουρντίζω/kurdízo
Istanbul Greek Idiom #142: Κουρντίζω/kurdízo (> χορδή/hordí=chord) means (1) to wind a clock or regulate a musical instrument, (2) to wind up/annoy a person, (3) to think obsessively of a problem. Central Greek κουρδίζω/kurdízo means #1 & #2, but not #3. Turkish kurmak from same.
βόιβο/vóivo
Istanbul Greek Idiom #143: A derisive taunt is βόιβο/vóivo (from Ladino guevo from Old Spanish hueuo from Latin ovum). Although the literal meaning of βόιβο/vóivo/guevo is egg, in this case it probably refers to male unmentionables.
ζαρζαβάτια/zarzavátia
Istanbul Greek Idiom #144: Vegetables are λαχανικά/lahaniká in Central Greek and ζαρζαβάτια/zarzavátia (from Turkish zerzevat from Persian سبزى) in Istanbul Greek. A green grocery is a ζαρζαβατσίδικο/zarzavatsíδiko and the grocer is a ζαρζαβατσής/zarzavatsís.
κιόσκι/kióski
Istanbul Greek Idiom #145: A κιόσκι/kióski (from Turkish köşk from Persian كوشك) is a kiosk or gazebo in Central Greek and also a mansion in Istanbul Greek.
μπόσικος/bóşikos
Istanbul Greek Idiom #146: Empty is άδειος/áδios in Central Greek and μπόσικος/bóşikos (from Turkish boş) in Istanbul Greek, which also borrowed one of my favourite Turkish expressions: μπόσβερ/boşver, meaning "never mind" or "don't worry about it" (literally "give empty").
καμπάκικος/kabákikos
Istanbul Greek Idiom #147: Hollow or empty like a pumpkin is καμπάκικος/kabákikos (from Turkish kabak, meaning pumpkin, squash or courgette/zucchini). Καμπάκικος/kabákikos also means tasteless.
γιαρμά σεφταλί/yarmá seftalí
Istanbul Greek Idiom #148: in Central Greek and also γιαρμά σεφταλί/yarmá seftalí in Istanbul Greek (both from Turkish yarma), a type of large peach that splits easily in half. Γιαρμάς/yarmás also means rude or inelegant in Istanbul Greek.
συνταξιώτης/sindaxiótis
Istanbul Greek Idiom #149: A word unique to Istanbul Greek is συνταξιώτης/sindaxiótis (m) & συνταξιώτισσα/sindaxiótisa (f), meaning student from the same grade (literally co-grader).
Photo: Ζάππειον/Zapyon School (formerly for girls, now co-ed) & the pupil entrance, in Taksim.
χαμπέρια/habéria
Istanbul Greek Idiom #150: Νews are ειδήσεις/iδísis in Central Greek & χαμπέρια/habéria (> Turkish haber > Arabic خَبَر) in Istanbul Greek. The word haber is so catchy that it also passed into Ladino. Cen. Gk uses the word only in the expression τι χαμπάρια;/ti habária/what news?
χάνι/háni
Istanbul Greek Idiom #151: A large office/professional building or an inn for a travelling caravan is a χάνι/háni (from Turkish han from Persian خان ).
Photo: Zincirli Han in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar.
ελμάσι/elmási
Istanbul Greek Idiom #152: Diamond is διαμάντι/δiamándi (from Ancient αδάμας/aδámas) in Central Greek and also ελμάσι/elmási in Istanbul Greek (from Turkish elmas from Persian ألماس).
βγήκανε στα τρυφερίτσια/vyíkane sta tryferítsia
Istanbul Greek Idiom #153: When two people flirt using terms of endearment, we say βγήκανε στα τρυφερίτσια/vyíkane sta tryferítsia/they went out on little tendernesses. Here our birds call each other σεκερίμ/şekerim & τζανίμ/canım (Istanbul Gk tendernesses borrowed from Turkish).
κιουφετζής/kiufetzís
Istanbul Greek Idiom #154: Α basketmaker is a κοφινοποιός/kofinopiós in Central Greek and a κιουφετζής/kiufetzís (from Turkish küfe from Arabic كفّة) in Istanbul Greek. Κιουφετζής/kiufetzís can also mean porter (the person who carries stuff with a basket).
τσιτσεκτσής/çiçekçís
Istanbul Greek Idiom #155: A florist is an ανθοπώλης/anthopólis in Central Greek & also a τσιτσεκτσής/çiçekçís (from Turkish çiçekçi) in Istanbul Greek. Professions are among the word groups most frequently borrowed from Turkish into Istanbul Greek.
ντοντουρμάς/dondurmás
Istanbul Greek Idiom #156: Ice cream is παγωτό/pagotó in Central Greek and also ντοντουρμάς/dondurmás (from Turkish dondurma) in Istanbul Greek. The ice cream seller is παγωτατζής/pagotadzís in Central Greek and also ντοντουρματζής/dondurmadzís in Istanbul Greek.
καϊμάκι/kaymáki
Istanbul Greek Idiom #157: in Istanbul Greek is (1) a thick dairy cream made by boiling milk and (2) the foam atop coffee. In Central Greek it is #2 and a mastic-flavoured ice cream often served with sour cherry. From Turkish kaymak.
εκμέκ κανταΐφι/ekmek kadaífi
Istanbul Greek Idiom #158: For us, εκμέκ κανταΐφι/ekmek kadaífi (> Turkish ekmek kadayıfı) is a syrupy bread dessert served w/ kaymak (see #156); but in Central Greek, it refers to a syrupy dessert made w/ thread-like pastry & layered w/ Chantilly cream. Photo: Istanbul version
κρύβω/krívo
Istanbul Greek Idiom #159: In Central Greek, the verb κρύβω/krívo means "I hide." In Istanbul Greek, it can mean the same and it can also mean "I archive" or "I put/store away" (from the original Ancient Greek meaning of the verb κρύπτω: "to put in a box").
αδικιωρισμένος/aδikiorizménos
Istanbul Greek Idiom #160: Αδικιωρισμένος/aδikiorizménos (>άδικη ώρα/unjust hour) means cursed, unlucky or miserable, like the person who stepped in this cement or perhaps an underhanded person (and, alas, we all know a few of those).
Ντουνιά γκιουζελί/dunyá giuzelí
Istanbul Greek Idiom #161: Ντουνιά γκιουζελί/dunyá giuzelí (borrowed from Turkish dünya güzeli = world beauty) is a characterisation for an exceptionally beautiful woman. It is also the title (written in Turkish letters) of one of Constantine Cavafy's Hidden Poems.
χαμούρι/hamúri
Istanbul Greek Idiom #162: Dough is ζύμη/zími in Central Greek but χαμούρι/hamúri (from Turkish hamur from Arabic خمير) in Istanbul Greek. The person who makes the dough is a χαμουρτζής/hamurdzís (m) or χαμουρτζού/hamurdzú (f).