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Previous Next Up Topic Reference Information / Language / Grammar Notes / what does 'Pakalitsa' means? (422 hits)
- By sac.kabir Flag: gb Date 2010-05-08 13:23
Folks, I need to know what 'Pakalitsa' means. Spellings might be incorrect. I know its something  like Lady bug. Any 2-3 sentences that can help me understand? Is it rude?
Parent - By Simon Flag: wales Date 2010-05-08 21:24 Edited 2010-05-09 20:32
One word for a ladybird (the red insect with black spots, "ladybug" being the American name) is a "πασχαλίτσα".  Apparently, it's also called a "παπαδίτσα".  I've no proof of this, but knowing the two dictionaries I have here, I suspect the former is an older, and the latter a more modern term.

Pronunciation is: "πασχαλίτσα" = paschaleetsa (the "ch" as in Welsh or Scots Gaelic); "παπαδίτσα" = papatheetsa.  In each case, the stress is on the "ee" sound.

I've found no suggestion that either has a rude or abusive meaning, but many dictionaries skirt over that anyway, so it's still a possibility.

I've not found anything that corresponds directly with "pakalitsa".

S.
Έτσι είναι η ζωή!
Parent - By sac.kabir Flag: gb Date 2010-05-09 19:49
Really appreciate your help Simon. Quite useful.
Parent - By Simon Flag: wales Date 2010-05-09 20:34
No problem,  I realized after I'd shut down the computer that I'd represented the pronunciation of the letter "δ" by equating it with "d".  I've edited my post to correct it...

S.
Έτσι είναι η ζωή!
Parent - By sac.kabir Flag: gb Date 2010-05-10 22:30
Cool, actually its helpful. Some time my friends writes in Greek (for me alpha, gamma symbols :-)), is there a complete basic list of greek letters equivalent to English alphabets? Thanks mate.
Parent - By Renee1717 Flag: us Date 2010-05-10 23:18
Hi!  I think you might find this part of the site useful: http://www.speak-greek.co.uk/starting/alphabet.html  I have no idea about the ladybird/bug thing...Simon is probably right.
Renee
Parent By Simon Flag: wales Date 2010-05-12 21:34
That list looks pretty good.

The most difficult letter for me is "γ".  It's not quite a "g", not quite a "y" and has an element of "h" in there as well.

Best approach is a follows:

Pronounce an English "g" and think about what you're doing.  Notice that you close off the back of your mouth to create a hard, explosive "guh" sound.

Now try to pronounce a "g" without closing off the back of your mouth.  You will end up with the softer sound of a "γ".

S.
Έτσι είναι η ζωή!
Previous Next Up Topic Reference Information / Language / Grammar Notes / what does 'Pakalitsa' means? (422 hits)

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