On the WTFity of Hebrew.
Jun. 17th, 2009 01:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stellarwindThe name of the seventh letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, 'Zayin', derives from an archaeic word for 'weapon' or 'sword' (because of its vaguely swordlike shape). However, through the years, the usage of that word kinda left its original connotations and became a slang for the penis, and all its deriviates in the language also got related meanings.
This led to some epic roffles when the word and its deriviates were used in serious speeches, and terms like "Lezayen" (old meaning 'to arm', 'to supply with weapons', 'to reinforce' - new meaning 'to fuck') ended up making speeches frelling embarassing.
New words were invented since to replace them (most of them derived from the word for 'ammunition') but some of them are still used - such as 'Kochot Mezuyanim' (armed forces), or 'Beton Mezuyan' (Reinforced Concrete), or 'Shod Mezuyan' (Armed Robbery).
So yeah, I was reminded - a while back, I watched a random movie where two people burst into a bank, armed with gun, and started yelling out 'THIS IS A FUCKING ROBBERY!'. And, well, the subtitles 'Ze shod mezuyan!'... they fit both accounts. And that is just wrong.
But yeah, there's no doubt that 'Beton Mezuyan' would deter would be 'Shodedim Mezuyanim' (armed robbers). And I have no doubt they'd curse at it. >>;
"It's no use. It's made of fucking concrete!"
"... how are we supposed to execute a fucking robbery like this?"
"Oh crap, here come the fucking forces! RUN!"
Also, Torkoal.
This led to some epic roffles when the word and its deriviates were used in serious speeches, and terms like "Lezayen" (old meaning 'to arm', 'to supply with weapons', 'to reinforce' - new meaning 'to fuck') ended up making speeches frelling embarassing.
New words were invented since to replace them (most of them derived from the word for 'ammunition') but some of them are still used - such as 'Kochot Mezuyanim' (armed forces), or 'Beton Mezuyan' (Reinforced Concrete), or 'Shod Mezuyan' (Armed Robbery).
So yeah, I was reminded - a while back, I watched a random movie where two people burst into a bank, armed with gun, and started yelling out 'THIS IS A FUCKING ROBBERY!'. And, well, the subtitles 'Ze shod mezuyan!'... they fit both accounts. And that is just wrong.
But yeah, there's no doubt that 'Beton Mezuyan' would deter would be 'Shodedim Mezuyanim' (armed robbers). And I have no doubt they'd curse at it. >>;
"It's no use. It's made of fucking concrete!"
"... how are we supposed to execute a fucking robbery like this?"
"Oh crap, here come the fucking forces! RUN!"
Also, Torkoal.
