Harry Terhanian.com

bohrdut deghuh eengahv?

Literally this saying means, “Did it fall on your belly button?” It conveys the sense
“Did you get what you wanted?” “Are you happy?”

In the folklore of many countries, the belly button is symbolic of satisfaction because it is the remains of the tube that nourished the child in the mother’s womb.

The navel is considered as a skin area of heightened sensitivity. When gently touched it may result in sensations of pleasure. In the Song of Solomon, a book in the Hebrew Bible, there are allusions to exotic things in nature, with frequent interweaving of nature with erotic imagery. In Solomon’s lavish praise of his love – the country girl, Sulaimi – the navel is mentioned as follows: “thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor”

mahd khadznehl duhvahv

He suprised us (by his unexpected bravery, work,or sacrifice)

mahduh mahdeen chee zahrgahv

When someone doesn’t work as he is supposed to, this saying is used to indicate
the person did no work at all.

puhjeeskuh puhjeesk cheh, kuhloughuhn yehgoghuhn eh puhjeesk

Literally this proverb says, the doctor is not a doctor, one whose reaches the right conclusion
(kuhloughuhn yehgoghehn – one who comes to the head or understands the solution) is the real doctor.

The doctor is not the doctor, the one who understands (and cures) is the doctor

tzehrkeen yehdehvuh ou ahrchevuh chee keedehr

The above indicates a person who is lacking knowledge. It is a way of saying such a person is stupid.

tzehrkuh dahkehn baghuh chee khohtehr

When a person is very lazy, this saying is used to indicate how useless he is.

tzehrkut goudahss oknoutioun, tevut guh bahhahnchen

hahmdehss hahmdehss bouhdoughuh yeghahv gehss

suhghdohreh hahseev uhnoghuh kahsht cheeguhrnahr oudehl

In order to make something very tasty and nutritious, one should not be stingy about using good ingredients. Otherwise, the end result will be a mediocre dish.

Kahsht is a soup made with a goat’s head and feet. It is disgusting. However, in eastern Turkey and parts of the Caucasian mountains, some perople (Armenians included) consider it a delicacy. The soup is simmered with the animal parts for at least 24 hours. Its horrible smell pervades the entire village.In the early morning people come with their bowls to taste the kahsht soup during the cold season. In order to mask the horrible taste of the animal parts, a large amount of garlic is used as a seasoning. You could say that kahsht is a garlic soup with severed limbs of an animal in it. It can contain brown lentils and other herbs and vegetables.

seerdus muhjeghee chahp guhlee

When one is very upset and agitated in mind, this saying is used.The mopsquito is a noisome creature that can cause trouble. Similarly, when one’s emotions are exasperated and he can no longer tolerate a situation, he may say seerdus muhjeghee chahp guhlee.

seerdut laiyn puhrneh

The heart is considered the seat of emotions. When an Armenian says seerdut laiyn pehrneh he means “be patient, don’t get angry and fly off the handle.”

vehtz keerruh tuhree

This literally means “I told him to get the hell out of here.” It conveys the sense of “get lost.” The six letters refers to the Turkish word “sikdir,” which means f-you.

Vahnkeen heenk mahduh ahchkut gourtzneh

This saying makes an allusion to the relic of Saint Minas which is a forearm from the elbow to the tip of the five fingers. This holy relic is kept at the museum of the Armenian Monastery in Jerusalem which is located in the Armenian quarter. There is a small room in the church dedicated to Saint Minas which dates back to the 6th century AD. The relic was originally in a church in Turkey dedicated to Saint Minas. It was brought to Jerusalem for safe keeping.

When the saying is spoken emphatically it is used as a curse. If it is asked as a question, it is used as a warning to inspire one to make a vow of penitence.

Saint Minias (Minas, Miniatus) (Italian: Miniato, Armenian: ?????) (3rd century) is venerated as the first Christian martyr of Florence, Italy. The church of San Miniato al Monte in Florence is dedicated to him. According to legend, he was an Armenian king or prince serving in the Roman Army -or making a penitential pilgrimage to Rome – who had decided to become a hermit near Florence.

He was denounced as a Christian and in 250 AD brought before Emperor Decius, who was persecuting Christians. Miniato (Minas) refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods, and was put through numerous torments –he was thrown into a furnace, was lapidated, and was thrown to a lion or a panther at an amphitheater- from which he emerged unharmed. Finally, he was beheaded near the present Piazza della Signoria, but his legend states that he picked up his own head. Miniato (Minas) then crossed the Arno river and returned to his hermitage on the hill known as Mons Fiorentinus (Monte di Firenze).

Some of Minas’ relics rest in a crypt in the church dedicated to him, begun by Alibrando, Bishop of Florence, in 1013 and endowed by Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.

vohruh (hehdouhkuh) bahduhretz

When someone out of envy expends a lot of energy and time to undo someone else, but fails, this saying is used to indicate their depicable failure.

vohr is the Turkish word for anus and hehdouhk is the Armenian word.