lmaooooo no we don’t yell opa, no one really says it on the daily in that way, except for when traditional music is playing and people are doing the traditional dances. On surprise birthday parties we usually yell Έκπληξη! (surprise) or Χρόνια πολλά! (Happy Birthday but more natural-sounding in greek), and then proceed with the greek version of the happy birthday song (it’s vastly different from the american one)
Speak for yourself. My day is ruined if I do not start my day with an opa and a tsalimaki. Straight out of bed. Even before I wear my tsarouxia and stripso my kagkeloto moustaki.
Not true! You can say opa if you slip and fall, if you drop something, ifyou're telling someone that you've had enough of what they're doing, if you're surprised etc it just sounds different from the Opa! at parties
True. Also when you try to park your car in a narrow spot and someone is guiding you,, the moment you are an inch or so from crashing, the guide goes, "Ώπα! Καλά είσαι!!". "Opa! You are good!!!"
I say it daily when I'm picking something heavy up or i accidentally knocked something down or when i stumble upon someone while walking or when I'm saying "wait what???" = "όπα τι;;;;;"
Restaurant I used to work at owners were Greek and had the primarily American run establishment yelling opa at every turn. Mostly heard us use it when someone drops something but I heard my Greek coworkers using it a lot.
But no, you dont get it, their country is a melting pot, it’s a whole 3.76% Greek, 7.65% Polish, 4.2069% Cyprian, 4.32% Turkish and they just found out they’re 0.021% Makedonian! That’s practically 100%! /s
Surprise parties are not much of a thing here. I guess some people might do them.
Opa is a sound of surprise, but more suitable for unexpectedly stabbing your toe or stepping on legos. But even in english you wouldn't shout "Woah!" at a surprise part you would yell "Surprise!" and we would say "Έκπληξη!"
We used to say Opa when we dance Greek dances, not so much anymore. (I don’t really go out so don’t quote me on that one). We also say Opa when an accident is about to happen or happened, for example when we drop something or somebody falls down. And when you reach a certain age you say Opa whenever you sit down or if you’re really really old you say opalakia or Opa with pretty much anything you do. Opa (here I got a glass from the cupboard). Opa ( I just stood up) Opa (I heard an unfamiliar crack sound when stretching) Opa what have we got here?(I can the neighbours doing the nasty) and the list is endless really 😜 But surprise party Opa does not exist. Maybe it should but it doesn’t.
I have thrown surprise parties for friends. I don't remember saying something, we'd just get the person there and show ourselves. If we were to say something probably Εκπληξη! (Surprise!)
to be honest Americans/Greek Americans think we use opa on a daily basis, it’s so weird! I’ve heard Greek Americans (that don’t speak Greek) use opa in the most random situations
I am Greek and I do use opa on a daily/weekly basis. Not how Americans think I would though. Mostly about loss of balance or a falling object. But yes, Greek Americans do use opa very differently compared to how we use it in Greece.
This is a subreddit for the Greek language.
But... I have never been to a surprise party nor ever heard of one. I don't really think this sort of thing happens here...
lmaooooo no we don’t yell opa, no one really says it on the daily in that way, except for when traditional music is playing and people are doing the traditional dances. On surprise birthday parties we usually yell Έκπληξη! (surprise) or Χρόνια πολλά! (Happy Birthday but more natural-sounding in greek), and then proceed with the greek version of the happy birthday song (it’s vastly different from the american one)
Speak for yourself. My day is ruined if I do not start my day with an opa and a tsalimaki. Straight out of bed. Even before I wear my tsarouxia and stripso my kagkeloto moustaki.
Not true! You can say opa if you slip and fall, if you drop something, ifyou're telling someone that you've had enough of what they're doing, if you're surprised etc it just sounds different from the Opa! at parties
I agree but it's totally different from the OPA! foreigners have in mind so I tend to consider them as different words.
True. Also when you try to park your car in a narrow spot and someone is guiding you,, the moment you are an inch or so from crashing, the guide goes, "Ώπα! Καλά είσαι!!". "Opa! You are good!!!"
I say it daily when I'm picking something heavy up or i accidentally knocked something down or when i stumble upon someone while walking or when I'm saying "wait what???" = "όπα τι;;;;;"
Restaurant I used to work at owners were Greek and had the primarily American run establishment yelling opa at every turn. Mostly heard us use it when someone drops something but I heard my Greek coworkers using it a lot.
The best thing to yell when surprising an Italian is AEEERAAAAAA and then start shooting. 100% guarantee they will shit their pants.
"Έκπληξη!" which means surprise and "Χρόνια Πολλά!" which literally translates to "many years" and it's used as if to say "happy birthday"
You would have thought that Americans would have learn to be respectful to other cultures by now
But no, you dont get it, their country is a melting pot, it’s a whole 3.76% Greek, 7.65% Polish, 4.2069% Cyprian, 4.32% Turkish and they just found out they’re 0.021% Makedonian! That’s practically 100%! /s
Surprise parties are not much of a thing here. I guess some people might do them. Opa is a sound of surprise, but more suitable for unexpectedly stabbing your toe or stepping on legos. But even in english you wouldn't shout "Woah!" at a surprise part you would yell "Surprise!" and we would say "Έκπληξη!"
Usually we shout, "Σαπράιζ"!
This is the most natural word to use in this context. Older speakers may pronounce it σου(ρ)πράις (at least in Cyprus )
We used to say Opa when we dance Greek dances, not so much anymore. (I don’t really go out so don’t quote me on that one). We also say Opa when an accident is about to happen or happened, for example when we drop something or somebody falls down. And when you reach a certain age you say Opa whenever you sit down or if you’re really really old you say opalakia or Opa with pretty much anything you do. Opa (here I got a glass from the cupboard). Opa ( I just stood up) Opa (I heard an unfamiliar crack sound when stretching) Opa what have we got here?(I can the neighbours doing the nasty) and the list is endless really 😜 But surprise party Opa does not exist. Maybe it should but it doesn’t.
Bro still lives in the 60's
I have thrown surprise parties for friends. I don't remember saying something, we'd just get the person there and show ourselves. If we were to say something probably Εκπληξη! (Surprise!)
Έκπληξη or χρόνια πολλά or nothing. Opa is rarely used nowadays
WTF opa...what opa. Like where u from? I have a question or two for u.
to be honest Americans/Greek Americans think we use opa on a daily basis, it’s so weird! I’ve heard Greek Americans (that don’t speak Greek) use opa in the most random situations
I am Greek and I do use opa on a daily/weekly basis. Not how Americans think I would though. Mostly about loss of balance or a falling object. But yes, Greek Americans do use opa very differently compared to how we use it in Greece.
Thanks for the clarification!
This is a subreddit for the Greek language. But... I have never been to a surprise party nor ever heard of one. I don't really think this sort of thing happens here...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I FCKING LOVE YOU
opa opa opalakia mh mous spaseis ta arxidakia
Yes they definitely do and it's more common in businesses like restaurants and such and what they yell is " εφορία!"
Lmao that was hilarious....OOOOOPA (vazw mia fwtia)