Non-Verbal What is the ancient sign of warding off evil? The moutza today. It’s the “moutza.” The moutza is a Greek hand curse — the palm extended, fingers spread out, the hand thrusting forward, usually accompanied by the terrible sound of “Na!” — which means, “Here, take it!” In Greece, the palm of the hand thrust towards somebody with the fingers splayed is an offensive gesture similar, but bearing less offense, to giving the finger. From modern Greek πωπώ (also in form ποπό and with reduplication to three or seven syllables), interjection expressing surprise, admiration, disapproval, disgust, sorrow, etc. It’s the language in which Greece’s famous philosophers wrote their works, and its in the Ancient Greek translation that the modern-day bible was preserved throughout the centuries. "The Moutza" by Michael Vadon via Wikimedia. Rude Hand Gestures of the World | Amusing Planet Greek people like also to chuck, it means "no". What does re mean in Greek? If, when speaking to someone in Greek, a person makes the talk to the hand gesture with their fingers open, they’re basically saying that your family was shit. Noun. μου αρέσει verb, phrase. The moutza pops up when Greeks are really disgusted or angry; a gesture of disgrace it is meant to ridicule or show disapproval. Very difficult. Hand gestures mean different things in different countries. Thumbs up While this is a positive gesture in the US, for some Greeks, it’s quite offensive. The “Moutza” This one looks pretty innocent, right? το όνομά μου είναι phrase. Why was it difficult for Greece to unite under a single ... Do the moutza. What does Leventi mean in Greek? What is the Greek rude finger? Greek gestures and Tzetzes Moutza is a traditional insult hand gesture among the Greeks. A is for abundant, your cheer knows no bounds. moutza Curses! Hand it to the feds to insult us on every corner ... moutza ( plural moutzas ) A insulting and contemptuous gesture made with the fingers spread and palms thrust forward, traditional in Greece. Ancient Greek Symbols – History and Meaning - Symbol Sage Talk:Mountza - Wikipedia What is an agreement to work together in Greece? Valknut Symbol Meaning [Origins of Odin's Triangle] It is one of the lucky signs found on the person's hand. If they were lucky, the blackening agent would merely be charcoal. Today the moutza continues to be a large insult throughout Greece. How to pronounce moutza in Greek | HowToPronounce.com insult us on every corner A is for accepting, your forgiving nature. Ancient temples in Greece include the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens, the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion. A mountza or moutza (Greek: μούντζα or μούτζα [ˈmud͡za]) also called faskeloma (Greek: φασκέλωμα [faˈsceloma]) is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks. What does a thumb between two fingers mean? mountzas) Alternative form of moutza The two countries have an extensive economic, military, and strategic relationship. Hamsa is a talismanic symbol that people believed to protect them from harm against evil forces. The gesture is known in Greek as "moutza". A mountza or moutza (Greek: μούντζα or μούτζα [ˈmud͡za]) also called faskeloma (Greek: φασκέλωμα [faˈsceloma]) is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks. Incidentally, the moutza's basic meaning is an aggressive, "To hell with you!" While the Japanese don't employ the moutza, they have a very similar gesture with the thumb tucked in. Entries with "moutza" mountza: mountza (English) Noun mountza (pl. A hand gesture is arguably the most effective form of expression, whether you’re defaming a friend’s … Greece is known for being the cradle of Western Civilization, the birthplace of democracy, the Olympic Games, and its ancient history and magnificent temples. What protects against the evil eye? Not true, the moutza is a thing, yes, but you can't mistake it for other gestures. How to say moutza in Greek? Most of us would think you’re waving. Pronunciation of moutza with 2 audio pronunciations. I suppose the English translation means “Cheers,” but it’s more than that, it means “cheers for all of us.” The closer the gesture is to the other person’s face the more threatening it is considered. Are India and Israel friends? Used in: Greece, Africa, Pakistan. A "mountza" or faskeloma is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks which consists of extending all fingers of one or both hands and presenting the palm or palms towards the to-be-insulted person in a forward motion. There you have it. It sounds like cluck to a horse or something, in my opinion this is really really really bad thing. This article is within the scope of WikiProject Greece, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Greece on Wikipedia. O is for objective, always impartial. 3. But most likely, it is worse—like shoving sh** on someone’s face. See example in Note 4.38 "Video Clip 4.1". The ‘moutza‘ is only one (maybe the best known) of the many hand gestures used by Greeks. Stavros Spyrou Niarchos was a Greek billionaire shipping tycoon. This can be an expression of excitement or conviction rather than a sign of anger at their conversation partner. What are the three Greek ideals? J is for jubilant, the upbeat you! What is throat slash gesture? Adam Ingles is right. In Greece, when talking about someone or to someone, it’s considered moderately rude to point at him or her with your finger. The Romans also imported indigo dye, but blue was the colour of working class clothing; the nobles and rich wore white, black, red or violet. The Mountza (or Moutza) is the ancient Greek version of extending the middle finger at someone. mou arései I like, I like it, fancy. The closer the palm is to the receiver’s face, the greater the insult. The moutza pops up when Greeks are really disgusted or angry; a gesture of disgrace it is meant to ridicule or show disapproval. Moutza is a typical offensive Greek gesture that if you don't know about, it will definitely put you in a rough spot. In Greek, the word re is used to add emphasis to phrases, but can also be taken as an insult if used when speaking to strangers. Is it rude to point in Greece? If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. It is often coupled with the expletives "να", "παρ'τα" or "όρσε", meaning "here", "take these" and "there you go", respectively. O is for objective, always impartial. Meaning: To hell with you!/I rub **** in your face!/I'm going to violate your sister! 5 /5. to ónomá mou eínai my name is. A "moutza", or mountza, (μούντζα) or "faskeloma", "φασκέλωμα" is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks which consists of extending all fingers and presenting the palm towards the to-be-insulted person in a forward motion. It is the Greek way of wishing their friends, family and kins a good month ahead of them, their way of wishing you well. The closer is the hand to the person's face, the more threatening the gesture is. The 'anatomy' of a 'moutza' is this: open palm, fingers well apart, faced at the 'receiver' with a bit of force and most likely followed by a nasty Greek word or a simple 'NA', aka 'here you are'. In Greece this gesture is in fact often used for offenses in traffic. In Greece, the "hand out" gesture is known as the moutza, and it dates back to the time of the Byzantine Empire, when criminals would be paraded through the streets on horseback, their faces blackened to indicate their shame. The “moutza” (derived from the word for “cinder” or μούντζος moutzos ) has the connotation of smear, smudge or dirt on the face. -- … The Five Fathers. A Moutza ( Greek μούτζα múdza) Mountza ( μούντζα múndza) or Faskeloma ( φασκέλωμα fɐsˈce̞lo̞mɐ) is a traditional gesture of insult in Greece: For the gesture, all fingers of one or both hands are stretched out and the palm (s) in the direction of the person to be insulted Person shown in a forward motion.. Today, Greeks are the majority ethnic group in the Hellenic Republic, where they constitute 93% of the country's population, and the Republic of Cyprus where they make up 78% of the island's population (excluding Turkish settlers in the occupied part of the country). “The Moutza” by Michael Vadon via Wikimedia. Do accept an invitation for a lunch or dinner at their home. I have read that this gesture is actually called “moutza” or “mountza” and you say the word, Na, to accompany the hand gesture. It’s often accompanied by curses and swear words! What are the values of Greece? See Also in Greek. What does MOUNTZA mean? … When Greeks hand-signal the number 5 to someone they take care not to overextend the fingers or face their palm towards the person , lest it be mistaken for a mountza. If a Greek person gives somebody the moutza, it means they think the recipient is an idiot (to put it mildly). One of the most common swear gestures in Greek is "Moutza". Opening your palm to your target and stretching out your fingers seems harmless enough to most Westerners. It's a moutza only of you put a forward motion into it with an open palm accompanied by a "NA", nobody would mistake a wave or a stop/refuse gesture as a moutza The terrible news that the Greek government seeks to fine taxi drivers for giving the moutza is an insult to freedom. Giving the thumbs up to somebody in Greece is equivalent to giving the middle finger to an American. moutzas) A insulting and contemptuous gesture made with the fingers spread and palms thrust forward, traditional in Greece. The insult can also be doubled by what is known by a “double moutza”, where both hands are “moutza” and one palm rests against the back of the other hand. να • (na) added before the dependent or present verb forms to form the different subjunctive moods, serving a variety of different clausal functions and to express imperatives, wishes or hypotheticals: Pronunciation of moutza with 1 audio pronunciation and more for moutza. We just always called it, “throwing the Na”. 12:01 PM - May 19 #6. Do Greek people talk a lot? What does 5 fingers mean in Greece? Culture Guides Languages Greece δικός μου pronoun. This gesture is made by splaying out the fingers and of the hand and facing the palm towards the person at the receiving end. But most likely, it is worse—like shoving sh** on someone’s face. Rude Hand Gestures of the World by Romana Lefevre is a photographic guide to the many ways of using hand gestures to offend people in different parts of the world. Or not giving a fuck…. Greek Etymology 1 . The Greek insulting gesture of the moutza, involving the spread palm directed at the target (or at oneself, in a Greek equivalent of the facepalm), is traditionally derived as cognate to μουτζούρα "smudge", and referring to pillorying criminals by smearing ash (or worse) on them. Ancient Greek, the Ancestor of Modern Greek is widely regarded as a dead language. Meaning. The average Greek man may be looking for a companion, but he is certainly not looking for an equal partner. Alt. Mountza A "mountza" or faskeloma is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks which consists of extending all fingers of one or both hands and presenting the palm or palms towards the to-be-insulted person in a forward motion. – Greek “moutza” – “V” with two fingers – Lots of others: to be used with extreme caution Non-verbal accents • Just as with verbal accents, individual variations in body language – Greeting, saluting – Laughing – Body movements – Sitting – Walking Non … This is because the gesture in Greece is known as Moutza. The gesture is known in Greek as "moutza". Meaning. Greek gestures / Body language ... Greeks gestures sometimes just have a slightly different meaning than here in the Netherlands. Omega is the 24th and final letter in the Greek alphabet. Raised Voices: Greek men may speak with impassioned, loud voices when talking to each other. Particle . Alternatively, a Greek becoming more nonverbal and reclusive would be a stronger indication that they are seriously upset. Propelled by both the Suez Crisis and increasing demand for oil, he and rival Aristotle Onassis became giants in global petroleum shipping. The book’s photography is by Daniel Castro, and published by Chronicle Books of San Francisco. This gesture has a meaning for the whole of the Mediterranean region, and it's not a nice one: it signals that the recipient's spouse is … And finally, if a Greek puts a full palm with five outstretched fingers toward the direction of your face, they are giving you the classic Greek moutza (μούτζα), AKA a big “fuck you.” A version of this article was previously published on March 5, 2018, and was updated on August 30, 2021, with more information. Here are the best months to visit the Greek islands. The moutza. Moutza hand gesture by the Greek people The Moutza hand gesture in Greece which they extend the five fingers in front of the person they want to insult. What does eyeball in hand mean? Easy. The greek possesive pronouns are the following: μου, σου, του, μας, σας, τους. Leventis (Λεβέντης) is a Greek word for describing a brave man, derived from the Greek name for the Levant. Talk:Mountza. Other islands get super busy at certain times of year, particularly in August. It consists of extending and spreading all fingers of the hand and showing the palm towards the face of the person to be insulted with a forward motion. The Greek insulting gesture of the moutza, involving the spread palm directed at the target (or at oneself, in a Greek equivalent of the facepalm), is traditionally derived as cognate to μουτζούρα “smudge”, and referring to pillorying criminals by smearing ash (or worse) on them. By pointing your index finger into the five fingers on your other hand, you … Z is for zany, the … M is for mystery, the part of you that cannot be explained. A double Moutza, with both hands splayed out, strengthens the gesture. My Hellenic soul is … In Greece, however, the gesture is known as a moutza, and is one of their most traditional manual insults. 8. M is for mystery, the part of you that cannot be explained. It was called “faskeloma”. Moutzos is the old Greek word for cinder and refers to the practice of spreading ash on a criminal … The moutza is a Greek hand curse -- the palm extended, fingers spread out, the hand thrusting forward, usually accompanied by the terrible sound of "Na!" … Moderate. But today is the day we award the Moutza of the Month for November, and there are so many worthies, I'm asking you to risk some toe frostbite for the cause. The hottest month in Greece were lucky, the Ancestor of Modern Greek is widely regarded as a curse Greeces... 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