#Východné pobrežie

[k-a-i-r]

Little introduction to the slang of Košice

When I was searching for some typical local expressions used in the everyday life in Košice, all my friends recommended unanimously the alternative city guide KSC. It is written and published by the local NGO „Východné pobrežie“ (English: Eastside) and includes a little dictionary of the local colloquial language, which is used here in town.

Unfortunately, I had to find out, that the book KSC is completely sold out and therefore guarded as a treasure by the few who could have caught one.

It was kind of an odyssey until I had the book in my hands. Thanks to the support of Juliana Sokolová and the help of Igor Kupec, the result is an overview of the most commonly used expressions. Enjoy!

  Košice slang      English                               

ara!                    watch out!                                                                       

barz                    very                                                                    

Bazmeg City       place name Košíce                                                 

bitang                 a mischievous person                                                 

brika                   a tram                                                 

čaja                    girl, young woman, girlfriend                   

čávo                    young man with relaxed way of walking

                            and a massive self-esteem     

das                      approximately                                                

dakus                  a bit              

deges                  idiot                                                    

dig                       highlighting the information that follows            

dzivý/fasa            cool, crazy, weird, amazing                                       

flipovať                 to have fun, to hang out                                            

gádžo                  a villager, a non-Roma

geňo                   very offensive                                                    

hej ne?                isn’t it? (lit. Yes, no?)                                                   

het                      away, there

koňar                  citizen of Prešov                            

lámať čaje           to woo (women)                                           

lignúť                   to loose very heavily    

lóve                     money                                                               

mište                   fantastic,awesome                                       

muka                  boredom                                                                      

nožkar                young man interested in women,

                          cars, his muscles and mobile phones

ojeb                    lie, betrayal                                      

pecka                 great, amazing                                                

šrác                    boy, young man, boyfriend                                     

segiň                  poor guy (ironically)                                                      

šupak                 a person who failures                                

šuvix                   nothing in comparison to this

vraňar                a citizen of Košice                                          

VKV                    abbreviation for „infamous strong wind

                           attacking Košice“          

zjeb                     something funny, weird

And last but not least, the most important expression:

Add to every beginning of your sentence the word „ta“

ta                       well, so

                          often used to highlight the start of a new sentence  

Examples :

Ako sa máš? – Ale, ta!         How are you? - Oh well... don’t ask.

Ta de                                    No, in no way.                 

Ta ne?                                  Yes, of course                  

Ta jak!                                  Of course it is

Ta hej, ne?                           Well, of course                               

Ta…                                     Well (shrugging shoulders)                       

Ta ty tu?                               You here?                                         

  Inspired by the texts of Viktor Hvižďák und Juliana Sokolová in the dictionary of the alternative city guide of Košice KSC 2010, published by „Východné pobrežie“ (Mišo Hudák und Lucia Jarošová).

Text and photo by Kristina Forbat