I have been studying Hungarian for a little over two years now and it's pretty difficult. But I've kept at it and now my confidence knows no bounds. I don't understand Hungarian any better - I just have a lot of balls in trying to speak it. I call it the SF Total Subversion Method. This is a learning technique where you try to bend a 3000-year old Uralic language to your whim by sheer force of will.The phrase that I intend to repurpose this week is "Csokolom" (chok-oh-lahm).
Csokolom means "I kiss you". It's not used as a declaration like announcing your intention to kiss someone; it's just a general expression of affectionate greeting. I first heard it in a movie that was subtitled. I liked it, so I wanted to start saying it. Immediately I ran into trouble with a native speaker.
S: Csokolom!
A: (pained expression) Thank you but we don't use that expression any more. It is old style.
S: But I just saw it in a new movie. This guy was on the phone to his mother and said 'csokolom'.
A: Yes maybe some very young person would say it to their mother but it is not used really.
S: But... but... I want to say it!
A: Why?
S: Because it sounds classy and old-world - and I ooze class.
A: (shaking head) If you say this everyone will think just that you are silly.
We were having this conversation on the M3 Metro. We happened to be sitting opposite a group of teenagers. One of them was a guy about 17, long bangs in his face, wearing stud belt, Chinese Converse knockoffs and a Dickies messenger bag. As we pulled into Lehel Tér station, he stood up, turned to his peeps, made the index-pinky "call me" hand sign and yelled: "Rendben... pusz pusz... CSOKOLOM!" before bolting for the escalators.
S: Hey! Did you see that?
A: What?
S: Don't kid me, you heard him. He said csokolom!
A: What are you talking about?
S: That guy who was sitting right there, looked like he was in Fall Out Boy or some shit, just said csokolom to those chicks sitting next to him. And when he did they lit up like slot machines!
A: Nem, I think you are hearing things.
S: Said csokolom - and "pusz pusz" too, fer crissakes!
A: I can't believe it.
S: You know what I think, I think that I'm getting bad information.
A: Why would I give you bad information?
S: Cause, um... like, I think saying csokolom gets you laid, or something. That's what I think.
A: Well you go up to some girl in Szimpla and say csokolom and see what happens. And I have a good time watching.
I'll research this further. Csokolom!
