If you’ve spent at least a short while in Brno, even if it was just a short visit, you couldn’t have missed the fact that apart from the standard Czech language we happen to use an awesome and sometimes undecipherable slang as well.
For instance I’m sure you haven’t heard a Brno-born utter the word “tramvaj” for a tram. A true Brno soul would always say “šalina“.
Although hantec was spoken mainly among the lower classes and criminals in the 19th and early 20th century, many words made it to the language spoken nowadays. I’m not going to bore you with many historical details, but many of these words are of German origin due to the fact that before WWII there was a strong Austrian community in Brno. Therefore, if you’re a German speaker, understanding hantec is going to be much easier for you. Don’t worry if you’re not, we’re going to help you. Other words were borrowed from Romany language and Yiddish.
So come with us and discover the true flavor of the Brno slang. Please bear in mind that following words are very informal, and therefore please don’t use them during a job interview. But they might come in handy in case you’d like to impress your new friends in Brno over a glass (=krygl) of beer or blend in with the locals and decipher their secret language.
| Hantec | Standard Czech | English |
| ánunk | tušení | idea |
| bauch | břicho | belly |
| betla | postel | bed |
| cimra | pokoj, místnost | room |
| eklovat se, eklhaft | ošklivit se, nechutný | disgust, disgusting |
| felit se | zmýlit se | make a mistake |
| fikslovat | podvádět | cheat (in a game) |
| flígr | límec | collar |
| fusakle, fusky | ponožky | socs |
| haus | dům | house |
| helfnout | pomoct | to help |
| hercna | srdce | heart |
| imrvére | neustále | constantly |
| kapric | naschvál | intention |
| krchov | hřbitov | cemetery |
| kastl, kastlík | skříňka, schránka | cupboard, box, mailbox |
| krygl | sklenice na pivo | beer glass |
| ksicht | obličej | face |
| kvelb | obchod | shop |
| kšír | nádobí | dishes |
| lifrovat | dodávat, vyhazovat | deliver, throuw out |
| luft | vzduch | air |
| mantl | kabát | coat |
| pakl | balíček | package |
| sicna | sedadlo | seat |
| šalina | tramvaj | tram |
| špígl | zrcadlo | mirror |
| štrozok | slamník | paillasse |
| švunk, švuňk | rozmach | upswing |
| tepich | koberec | carpet |
| zoncna | slunce | sun |
Were there some other words you’ve enountered and neither you or your dictionary had any “ánunk” what they meant? Let us know!
Picture: wikimedia.org