Language/Abkhazian/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions
Hi Abkhazian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on Abkhazian idiomatic expressions. If you want to improve your Abkhazian vocabulary, make sure to check out the vocabulary section on Polyglot Club for more words and expressions.
Introduction[edit | edit source]
In any language, idiomatic expressions add a fun and unique flavor to communication. Abkhazian is no exception! Idioms are expressions whose meanings cannot be deductions based on the meanings of their individual words. For example, the English expression "kill two birds with one stone" means to accomplish two objectives with a single action. In Abkhazian, we have our own idiomatic expressions that reflect our culture, traditions, and sense of humor. Let's dive in!
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Numbers and Counting in Abkhazian & Time Expressions in Abkhazian.
Animal idioms[edit | edit source]
Abkhazians love animals, and many of our idioms revolve around them. Here are a few examples:
| Abkhazian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Аџырра арзи арт алырра. | Adzırra arzi art alırra. | A wolf changes his coat, but not his character. (People may change their appearance, but not their personalities.) |
| Аҩыс иҟәскәа абежь. | Aps ıkәskәa abeź. | It is raining cats and dogs. (It is raining heavily.) |
| Аџьы исәә оратәыз абоҳәҧҧертә. | Adzə iseə oratəız abohəpphertə. | A hedgehog's wife is never made into a fur coat. (One's own family members should not be taken advantage of for personal gain.) |
Let's see these idioms in context in a dialogue:
- Person 1: Аџырра арзи арт алырра. (Adzırra arzi art alırra.)
- Person 2: Дыл абысыҧ иҟәскәа аpz ıcı. Шәҧ ҳа ҳъытәланда лъанҳаит. (Dıl abysıpph ıkәskәa apz ıcı. Şap ҳa ҳətəlanda l′anhait.)
- Person 1: Аџьы исәә оратәыз абоҳәҧҧертә. (Adzə iseə oratəız abohəpphertə.)
Translation:
- Person 1: A wolf changes his coat, but not his character.
- Person 2: It is raining cats and dogs. There is no way to walk now.
- Person 1: A hedgehog's wife is never made into a fur coat.
Food and drink idioms[edit | edit source]
As you may know, food is very important in our culture. Here are some idiomatic expressions related to food and drink:
| Abkhazian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Арзәны аура абиахь абагәыз. | Arzəny aura abiax′ abagəız. | Eating honey with the spoon of the nose. (Describing someone who spends money extravagantly.) |
| Ажарала ҳақәа апҳалашқәа. | Ažarala haqəa aphalashqəa. | The soul does not eat. (You cannot satisfy your spiritual needs with food.) |
| Аҵры ирра кәми игәара. | Aƶry irra kəmi igəara. | To pour water on someone's mill. (To help someone with something.) |
Let's see these idioms in context in a dialogue:
- Person 1: Арзәны аура абиахь абагәыз. (Arzəny aura abiax′ abagəız.)
- Person 2: Джегьы лъыхъэ аҩырра, кәм ҳабраҵҵақәа аҳарҳапит. (Ceg′ə l′yx′ə aƶırra, kəm habrahhhak′əa aharpit.)
- Person 1: Аҵры ирра кәми игәара. (Aƶry irra kəmi igəara.)
Translation:
- Person 1: Eating honey with the spoon of the nose.
- Person 2: He buys a lot of cars, he spends money extravagantly.
- Person 1: To pour water on someone's mill.
Miscellaneous idioms[edit | edit source]
Finally, here are some Abkhazian idiomatic expressions that don't fit into any specific category:
| Abkhazian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Aбл апашьа, ҵы лъыхъэ апылла. | Abl ap'aśa, ćy l′yx′ə apylla. | The more you eat, the more hungry you get. (Describing a situation where the more you have of something, the more you want.) |
| Ахәыгә лыхәылын аспырра абла шәхәӡәӡь. | Axəığə lyxəılın aspyrra abla şəhəźəź. | The jackal said "if you fall, I will carry your bone." (This idiom describes someone who pretends to be helpful, but really has ulterior motives.) |
| Аҳәыҧыҭқәа лъуақәара акәатә. | Aхəыppыҭqəa l′uaqəara akaatə. | To dance at two weddings. (Trying to do two things at the same time.) |
| Аҩ-ҩратәэҵ иҳәга ата жәырра. | Aps-apsəəƶ ihəğa ata jəırra. | To see the devil in every corner. (Being overly suspicious or paranoid.) |
Let's see these idioms in context in a dialogue:
- Person 1: Aбл апашьа, ҵы лъыхъэ апылла. (Abl ap'aśa, ćy l′yx′ə apylla.)
- Person 2: Аҳәыҧыҭқәа лъуақәара акәатә. (Aхəыppыҭqəa l′uaqəara akaatə.)
- Person 1: Ахәыгә лыхәылын аспырра абла шәхәӡәӡь. (Axəığə lyxəılın aspyrra abla şəhəźəź.)
- Person 2: Аҩ-ҩратәэҵ иҳәга ата жәырра. (Aps-apsəəƶ ihəğa ata jəırra.)
Translation:
- Person 1: The more you eat, the more hungry you get.
- Person 2: To dance at two weddings.
- Person 1: The jackal said "if you fall, I will carry your bone."
- Person 2: To see the devil in every corner.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Idiomatic expressions are like little pieces of culture that add color to our daily communication. In this lesson, we covered some of the most commonly used idiomatic expressions in Abkhazian. Make sure to practice these expressions in context to fully understand their meanings. To improve your Abkhazian further, look for a language partner on Polyglot Club, where you can find native speakers and ask them any questions you have.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Household Chores and Cleaning & How to say Good Bye?.