Re
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Re or bre (also in form more/mori and numerous variations thereof) is an interjection common to languages of Balkan linguistic union (Albanian, Bulgarian, Greek, Macedonian, Romanian, Serbian and Turkish). It has more or less the same notation as Spanish Che, and is used in colloquial speach to gain collocutor's attention, put an emphasis, and/or express surprise or astonishment.
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[edit] Etymology
The etymology is not positively established, but the most widely accepted theory is that it derives from μωρέ (pronounced moré ("you baby-acting person"), vocative case of the ancient Greek word μωρός (moron)), used as an exclamation by the ancient Greeks.[1][2]
In Cyprus, the use of re further points to its derivation of the word word μωρός: When addressing women with the expression, Greek Cypriots employ ra (ρα), which likely to be derived from the feminine gender of μωρός (μωρά).
Earlier forms of re, derived from moré, are vré and oré, exported into Turkish language as bre and be[citation needed] and still used today.
An alternative theory suggests that the word was imported to Balkans by Romani speakers, who carried it from Indic languages where aré and ré are used in a similar manner. functioning as an "interjection of calling, of astonishment, of contempt, of disrespect (as to an inferior), of anger, etc.". [2]
[edit] Usage
Its original offensive meaning today (moron) is generally lost and is now used in a vocative sense as though it meant "friend", and thus corresponds in some ways to expressions such as "mate", "pal", "man", "dude". Like these words, it may be used both before or after a phrase: "Ρε, αυτή είναι καλή μπύρα" ("Man, this is some good beer"), or, "Πάμε για καμια μπύρα, ρε" ("Let's go get a beer, man"). Still it's not proper to be used when addressed to seniors and when said against strangers or in loud mood, it is considered offensive.
Like "hey!" it can be used as an exclamation, often used to get attention or express surprise, and so it corresponds in some ways to exclamations such as "wow!".
In the general mood of the language, sometimes re by itself is considered rude, if not offensive (eg. "Stand up, re" > "You, stand up now!"). However if followed by sy ("you") or the addressee's name it is considered milder, and friendly (eg. "Stand up, re George" > "Stand up, my friend George"). Of course the above is not always standard since everything depends on the context and the voice intonation.
It is very common for Greeks raised in Greece but living abroad (especially in the UK) to use re semi-jokingly when speaking English in the same way they use it when they speak Greek (e.g. "Are you serious re?", "How are you re Jim?" ) Similarly, Greek rappers will use it along with the interjection man! as in "Re man".
[edit] "Re gamoto"
In Greece, re is often accompanied by a slang word or a profanity, such as gamoto or gamoti (γαμώτο or γαμώτη, meaning fuck!, an exclamation of fury, surprise or admiration that is considered vulgar[1]).[3] In 1992, in her first statement to the Greek journalists minutes after the 100 m hurdles race at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Voula Patoulidou, the surprise winner, dedicated her medal to her home country by saying "Για την Ελλάδα, ρε γαμώτο" ("For Greece, fuck!"), a catchphrase that is still in use; it became emblematic in Greece, and was used and paraphrased in various occasions by the Greek mass media, satirists, Greek bloggers, and ordinary people.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "vre (in Greek)". Encyclopaedia The Helios. (1952).
- ^ a b Brian D. Joseph (The Ohio State University). Balkan Lexicon: The Case of Greek vré / ré and Relatives. Balkanistica Vol. 10 (1997), pp. 255-277.
- ^ (1998) "gamwto", Dictionary of modern Greek (in Greek). Thessaloniki: Institute of Neo-hellenic Studies. ISBN 960-231-085-5.
- ^ Goodbye "re gamoto". The Hellenic Radio (ERA). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
