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jtarin
April 30th, 2012, 11:07 PM
I teach English as a second language in Russia. The topic has come up about the usage of the word "Babushka". Without giving anything away, I would like a first impression about "your" association with the word. I don't want you to do a dictionary look-up, but rather give me your first association that comes to mind. Thanks.

CharlesA
April 30th, 2012, 11:08 PM
I have no idea what it actually means, but I'll just say it's profanity.

synaptix
April 30th, 2012, 11:10 PM
I already know what a Babushka is, so.... xD

CharlesA
April 30th, 2012, 11:32 PM
I have no idea what it actually means, but I'll just say it's profanity.

Well I was way off on that one. I was thinking of "Bozhe moy" and that isn't even profanity!

x-shaney-x
April 30th, 2012, 11:40 PM
A Kate Bush song

westie457
April 30th, 2012, 11:41 PM
Two things.
One is factually correct, a song by Kate Bush a few years ago.

The other is probably correct. Those dolls that nest one inside the other.

drawkcab
April 30th, 2012, 11:44 PM
I always got the impression, maybe from bad 80s cold war movies, that a babushka is a baby?

lisati
April 30th, 2012, 11:47 PM
Without looking it up, I'm inclined to think "Grandmother".

@CharlesA: "Gosh" :D

oldfred
April 30th, 2012, 11:50 PM
Head scarf?

hakermania
April 30th, 2012, 11:50 PM
Aren't they the Russian dolls that the one goes inside the other?

lisati
April 30th, 2012, 11:52 PM
Head scarf?

I just looked it up on Wikipedia. :D

CharlesA
April 30th, 2012, 11:54 PM
@CharlesA: "Gosh" :D

Yesh sir!

jtarin
May 1st, 2012, 12:00 AM
I need first impressions, associations....not look-ups. Some of these are good. Keep them coming.

pissedoffdude
May 1st, 2012, 12:06 AM
It reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons with Shary Bobbins becuase Homer used the word

Irihapeti
May 1st, 2012, 12:39 AM
One of those grandmothers I'd be a bit scared of, because she's going to glare at me and tell me off!

Also, those nesting dolls.

Lucradia
May 1st, 2012, 01:37 AM
Seeing as I know no russian at all.

I'd have to say Baby.

jtarin
May 1st, 2012, 01:37 AM
GOOD! I need more if possible. Thanks guys.

azangru
May 1st, 2012, 01:39 AM
I teach English as a second language in Russia.

Teach English as a second language in Russia and use Ubuntu? That is so cool! :)


The topic has come up about the usage of the word "Babushka".

Yeah, I as a Russian-speaker was surprised at how this word completely changed its meaning when it got into the English language. But, judging by the replies of the forum members, it seems the word didn't really get into the English language after all :)

oldos2er
May 1st, 2012, 02:35 AM
An older woman wearing a scarf around her head.

Bandit
May 1st, 2012, 02:43 AM
I have no idea. I have heard the word before, but never paid any attention to its meaning.

Paqman
May 1st, 2012, 02:43 AM
Two things

A Kate Bush song
A solidly-built Russian granny in a headscarf

Toz
May 1st, 2012, 03:49 AM
Any grandmother can wear a babushka, but only a real matriarch can wear like its meant to be worn. And yes, I come from a long line of babushka-wearing families.

jtarin
May 1st, 2012, 04:04 AM
Yeah, I as a Russian-speaker was surprised at how this word completely changed its meaning when it got into the English language. But, judging by the replies of the forum members, it seems the word didn't really get into the English language after all :)As I am every day by words that have entered into the Russian language and have slightly different context.
While the word here is commonly known as Grandmother....outside Russia it has many contexts, but I find them all connected in some way with the original meaning.

layers
May 1st, 2012, 04:43 AM
I call my grandma "Babushka".

layers
May 1st, 2012, 04:47 AM
Any grandmother can wear a babushka, but only a real matriarch can wear like its meant to be worn. And yes, I come from a long line of babushka-wearing families.

Yeah, but they are a specie under the threat of extinction.

My brother went to school on Halloween with the cloth on his head and "shalvar". I declared him as smarter than me ever since.

mips
May 1st, 2012, 07:29 AM
A Kate Bush song

+1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babooshka_%28song%29

dpny
May 1st, 2012, 07:48 AM
IIRC, My Russian ex called her grandmother "Ba," short for babushka.

jtarin
May 1st, 2012, 09:47 AM
Follow this (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=11894080#post11894080)