village

Dictionary of Village Speech (1860s)

Appeals

• Father
• mother
• dad
• mom
• godfather
• godmother
• uncle
• aunt
• master
• hostess
• sir
• young lady
• girl
• guy
• boy
• girl
• young lady
• grandma
• grandfather
• headman

Greetings

• good day
• be healthy
• God help you
• God bless you
• with God
• Hello
• peace to your home
• Good afternoon
• Welcome

Frequently used words

• Avzhezh
• yeah
• ege
• that
• Well
• numo
• year
• ow
• Ouch
• eh
• what
• what?
• Yakos
• I bet
• maybe
• anu
• after all
• tea
• as if
• Ali
• if only
• ish

Blessings

• God willing
• God has mercy
• God willing
• Lord have mercy
• God bless
• God bless
• God forbid
• The Lord sees

Discontent

• Damn you
• oh you
• abyss
• damned
• scoundrel
• shameless
• scoundrel
• Herod
• fool
• blockhead

House

• hut
• bake
• bench
• box
• cradle
• towel
• mister
• bastard
• a call
• entryway
• Komora
• cellar
• eaves
• window
• doors

Yard

• well
• tin
• vegetable garden
• garden
• barn
• barn
• stodola
• barn
• threshing floor
• apiary

Nature

• field
• field
• rye
• wheat
• oats
• forest
• grove
• meadow
• river
• pond
• ravine
• weeds

Animals

• cow
• bull
• calf
• horse
• stallion
• mare
• pig
• piglet
• chicken
• rooster
• goose
• duck
• sheep
• goat
• dog
• cat

Job

• to plow
• mow
• to press
• thresh
• to sow
• to spin
• to weave
• chop
• carry water
• to heat the stove
• milk
• to graze
• to repair
• to tinker

Superstitions

• witch
• healer
• goblin
• brownie
• mermaid
• evil spirits
• evil eye
• damage
• amulet
• CONSPIRACY
• a sign
• Christmastide

Phrases

• Avzhezh.
• Та годі.
• What are you talking about?
• God be with you.
• God willing.
• Do not anger God.
• Lord have mercy.
• Oh, good people...
• Well, well...
• Maybe it will work out.
• Not a good sign.
• You never know.
• It would be a joy.
• As God wills.
• We live little by little.
• That's true.

Time: circa 1860.

Place: small Ukrainian village.

The village consists of whitewashed huts with thatched roofs, surrounded by gardens, fields, and forest. The roads are unpaved, and candles and torches serve as lanterns. In the center are a well, a church, and a small square where fairs are held and residents gather.

Most of the inhabitants are farmers. They grow wheat and rye and keep cows, horses, chickens, and pigs. The men work in the fields, cut down trees, and maintain the farm. The women spin, weave, cook, wash, and tend to the garden.

The clothing is simple: embroidered shirts, skirts, trousers, svitkas, scarves, boots, or bast shoes. On holidays, they wear their best clothes and jewelry.

People are religious, respect their elders, and observe traditions and superstitions. They believe in brownies, mermaids, witches, wood-goblins, the evil eye, and various omens. In the evenings, they gather, sing songs, tell stories, and gossip.

The locals speak in a simple manner, with Ukrainian words and a village accent. Commonly heard phrases include "avos'," "hey, kume," "dobriden'," "ta godi," "avzhezh," "dai Bozhe," "ne angeri Boga," "sho zh ty," "ta nu," and "hey, good people."

The village has no electricity, telephones, cars, or modern medicine. The main transportation is horses, carts, and foot.