Selam gedim and bahlna:-
>merHaba AKWay
>qdm qedadm kemaKa ybzHun merAKa yeri'enan kbl afqdeley::
amien, gedim.
>Some of these idioms are bringing more questions to my mind. The
>question of origins. In other words, unless some one knows the story
>behind l'uK Halibo, l'uK Halibo would never make any sense. The same
>with "hbey gergera" or "SHdi meteten".
You are right. Well, the story of "l'uK Halibo" is about a boy who was
supposed to take a message to Halibo. An old man told him the day before
that he was going to send him to Halibo. This guy went to Halibo early
the next day without taking any message. When the old man called him
to give him the message, he told him that he already been to Halibo. This
is what I have heard.
>> 1. SebHi Sllti koynu = mqur: afka may zeml': bwHlnet zteserHe SebHi
>> (SebHi melkENa = the opposite!)
>I would have never guessed this one. Could there be a story behind it?
Neither would I. The author explains that "Sllti" or "hataf"(talkative)
woman puts more energy on her prestation than a beauty who has the
problem of vanity. As the saying goes: "melkENa abereNa."
>> 2. Hamus Hamus ybl alo = kmewt zQerebe (even old age)
>Let me give my wild guess on the origin of this one. This is only a
>guess. The other six days all come in pairs; i.e. there is a second
>chance. (senye-selus; Arbe-rebuE, qedame-senbet). Thus he has no
>second chance hence "Hamus-Hamus yybl alo". Though the direct link
>with this line is the saying "beyna kem Hamus".
May be you are right. How about a religious (far-fetched) explanation:
You know Christ was in Getesemane on thursday contemplating in agony.
Thinking about his sufferings the next day, Friday. But your explanation
is much better "beyna kem hamus." (Robinson Crusoe was Thursday
before he met Friday:-)
"Hamus fTret" BTW, means "Asha" denoting to the fifth day of Creation
when the animals were created, according to the author.
>> 4. smka Qeshi ySewAyo (May a priest call your name) = gaH bel: mut
>
>Had I not attended an orthodox, Selot-ftHat, about two years ago I
>would have never guessed this one. But any one who had attended such
>services can see that the name of the deceased is called hundreds of
>times, thus the saying.
>
> 5. seyTan bAti = Hayal: duldul: bQelilu zeywedQ
>
>Does any one know where the biggest cave in Eritrea is? Do we have
>caverns by any chance? It is my guess that some of the may-Chelots
>might have either caves or caverns. It would be nice to know some
>information on these.
>
> 6. zeybeAl qoSlna = zeymereSnayo: bzeydlayna slTan zHaze
>
>While at it, I recommend the Video Festival '96. It has a play of the
>story of Nguse wedi-eflu. The main point of the dispute between Nguse and
>his village was because theyy rejected him saying "ay beAl qoSlnan".
NB. qosli mwdaQ = Vote
>> 13. sheKona btey = mlku'E: zmarK qrSi akal : meshekel (posture)
>
>No wonder we have the song:
>
>sheKona btey'ye
>sheKona btey
>Hansab seAmni meQeneytey
>
>Who is that who says Tigrigna is not Romantic?:-) I guess to appreciate
>this saying we ought to see sheKona (hoof) of a new born calf.
>
>
>
>> 15. adgi lekatit = Ebara: kurmyti
>
>Why is this so? After all, lekatit is too early for forage to be
>scarce. Could it be that the donkey has worked hard as a water carrier for
>Tri, the month of enumerable weddings?
I think that is explanation too.
>> 23. af adi'u ASewe = ateskere
>
>What could be the origin of this saying?
I have no idea.
>> 24. zereba seleste = te'amannet (credibility) zelewo:
>> (rememeber "zereba 1 tHti meriet: zereba 2 lEli meriet)
>According to the comment you brought: "zereba 1 tHti meriet: zereba 2
>lEli meriet zerba 3 zer'i meriet". Shouldn't the meaning "no more secret".
>also apply?
I understand your point. But I guess according to the author, "zereba"
denotes here "testimony." Not " a secret among three"
>> 28. zereba'nsti = qolo TTQo: haTew-qeTew (it's just an idiom:-))
>nebsKa'ba awSa'Kaya AKWay:: tezeylo eti teHasibulka znebere a'man ab
>zbana aywAl::
:-)
>> 40. Hayli guraE(Abi Adi) = bgdi: (lEli AQmKa mgbar)
>
>Hayli guraE
>tedebirka ____.
>
>> 41. may zengeda = kentu: ruba zeyesagr: zeyTeqm
>This I think is understood to have the addition "swa" to it. That
>is : "zeyTeqm swa".
Not only swa. How about : "baElKa naeda may zengeda"
>> 43. mlO habe = nay mftaw mlkt (giving flowers to whom you love( West
>>trad.)
>I love this one. I really do. I think the vanity shopkeepers in Asmara
>should start to market and package "mlO", "Aye" or "kumel" instead of
>Chocolate as love gifts.
Yes, indeed
>> 44. bEray qulqul = zeyAqur: zeySmem: zeySewr
>
>This one, I can not imagine the link; help me.
I have no idea. But "bEray" is always used in negative contexts.
Rgds,
'h -n c Y yu : ncu::
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