Check out what the Indian Mommies are upto at indianmommies.blogspot.com

October 11, 2007

Did some one say nicknames?

I dont know if I was tagged or not. If I was, I dont know by whom. So sorry about that. But this nick name tag has so much potential that I had to take it. Thanks to those who started this and whoever tagged me or did nt.

Ashu was called Bujju when she was in my tummy. I think my mom started addressing my tummy by this name and Hd followed and soon I did too. So officially this is her first nick.

Hd calls her "Ashu" and thats why I kept the nick for her in this blog. But I never call her Ashu. Mostly I call her by her whole name but there are also many, many more names I use. Like Pattu, Pattaani, Kuttu, Kuttani, Kutti, Chellam, ... the usual.

Then there are some special and peculiar names too. Like

Pillathoor Chellathamma - My grandma mentioned this name to me last month when I was in India and it stuck. Usually when Ashu is throwing a tantrum I say, "you are behaving like Pillathoor Chellathamma" and call her that jokingly when she is being adamant. Apparently, there was this woman Chellathamma who lived in a village called Pillathoor aka Pilloor some 100 years ago and ruled the village with a tight fist and everyone feared her. My grandmas mother used to take her name when her children were being adamant. See how deep the source is? I intend to pass this name on to my grand kids as well!

Parattai engira Azhagu Sundaram - My sister calls Ashu this. Parattai means unruly hair. There was a recent movie with the title "Parattai engira azhagu sundaram" and so my sister started using this name for Ashu. See what I had to live with for 20 years?

Mr.Monk - Do I even have to explain? Ashu has several OCDs and some very similar to
Monk's. Hence the name. But I always use this name in an exasperated tone.

I also change her nick so as to rhyme. Like "Do you want Paal(milk), Pattoos?", Do you want Banana, Battoos?, Kulikiriyaa(bath?), Kuttoos, Juice venumaa, Jittoos? But only when Im alone with Ashu. For obvious reasons!

Another special name is Chinnaalu. There was this woman called Chinnaalu in my fathers village. She was almost my moms age. She was mentally unstable and lived with her parents. She was normal most of the time but went crazy sometimes and as kids we used to be terrified of her. Her parents used to lock her up in a room but she used to remove the ceiling bricks and escape and come to our house to chat with my mom and grandma. She is no more. I dont know how I started calling Ashu by this name but sometimes I do. My dad hates it when I call Ashu as Chinnaalu. All the more reason for me to do so!

I call her as Curly Shu after the movie Curly Sue and also as Noodles Thalayaa(Noodle head) like Koundamani calls Senthil!(Tamil Film Comedians.)

Some movie/TV influenced names include Nemo, Boo, Mowgli, Boots, Martha Monkey, Simba, Cinderalla, ...

Some sweet names like Laddoo, Rasogolla, Gulab Jamoon, Jaangiri, Rasamalai, Strawberry, ...

Some Tamil names like Pattu Kunjalam(silk hair ornament), Azhagu Sundari (beautiful girl), Thangame, Vairame, Patte, Maniye, Muthe, Maragadhame, ... (names of the precious gems), Kannamma,...

The most often used is Kuzhandhai (child), Kutti (small) and Samathu (Good).

My dad calls her Chinna Kutti. (small girl)

My mom calls her all sort of gibberish like puttaanu, gundaanu, pattaanu,...

My FIL calls her "Pichu" and my MIL calls her "Kannu".

There are also some temporary names which make rounds. Ashu calls Mickey Mouse as Picky Pous. So we call her Picky Pous. We also call her Kuvvi(Bird), Punky(Monkey),...

I call her as "OY" when shes showing attitude and Rowdy Raakkamma when shes being a brat.


I got to be honest and confess that theres one more name I use. "Kadankaari" - which means a female who is in debt. The meaning is silly of course but this is the name my mom used the most to scold my sis and I. And its the only thing I use to scold Ashu too. For now! Of course Kadankaari is followed by another word which I am trying hard not to use. And failing. Cant say it here. I dont know if any other Tamil uses it. I have nt heard anyone even mentioning it other than my mom from whom I got it of course! Mail me if you know. We can start a club or something! ;) Utbt and Yaada Yaada - Mind your own business!

I also call her "Amma Thaaye Mahalakshmi" when Im in the verge of blowing up. It means "My mother Goddess Mahalakshmi". But I actually mean "Enough of that. shut up and sit down". Of course Ashu does nt know that. Yet.

24 comments:

Tharini said...

Boo! Boo! Boo! It was me! me! me! That started this tag and tagged u in the first round. Dunno if you got tagged again for it, but this is just to set the record straight and take all my 'due' credit. :D
Okay...now that I got that out of my chest....pattoos, battoos, jittoos, kuttoos....LOL....we're in the same family on this. I totally dig the rhyming too. Was tickled to read about Amma Thaaye Mahalakshmi. You actually have the patience to say the whole thing when you are angry with her?/? I go all out at a loss for words and end up swallowing half of them, in the speed of the delivery! Thansk for doing the tag in true Boo fashion!

Anusha said...

LOL! Pillathoor Chellathamma, noodles thalaya are the best and
and looks like Rowdy Rangayya has met his equivalent in Rowdy Raakkamma! this tag rocks!!

Trishna said...

you are tagged Boo!
I will read this post and comment on it ! but for now.. you are tagged!

Anonymous said...

We are minding our business! You better watch your word missy! You better not use those words against my baby... ok...

Other moms, please don't encourage Ashu's mom.

See I am minding my own business!

Anitha(Nikki's mom) said...

LOL! Pillathoor Chellathamma is very unique. "Kadankaari" is how my mother scolds us too. Yet to use it on Nikki. He will be "Kadankaaran" :). She will call us "*** jenmam" too. I don't think I will use it on him ever.

mnamma said...

LOL on Pillathoor Chellathamma :) Picky Pous, Kuvvi also were very cute! And I call Madhu and Nandhu "Amma Thaaye Angaala Parameswari" when they are in tantrum mode :) Most of the time when they hear the tone and the "Angaala Parameswari" they stop! Like always, you delivered in the true Boo fashion :)

By Deepa and Supriya said...

what an exhaustive list boo....and to say the least.....i enjoyed it and am almost tempted to take it up..lets see

Timepass said...

Amma Thaaye Mahalakshmi...LOL
U have been awarded!! Do visit my blog to pick up the same.

Kowsalya Subramanian said...

Hey your grandma is from "Pilloor" My mom is born and brought up there, what is your grandma's name - I will find out whether my mom knows her.
I too remmeber that "Pilloor Chellathamma" was used by mom when we/I were very adamant but I never digged the history - I was thinking [naively] that she was indirectly scolding her atthai who had the same name ;)
and I use "Amma Thaaye Paradhevathe Lokamathaa" when Abirami is not listening. Oh I have that rhyming too and use that while bathing her to match all part of her body :)

Pretty Woman said...

Hearing, rather reading so much tamizh and references I am familiar with, makes me feel at home in your blog! :)

Anonymous said...

Awesome write up. romba romba cute.loved the names- rowdy rakkamma, all those jittoos, pattoos...and so on, and ya the thaaye mahalakshmi..was so nice reading it all. i appreciate ur patience to rite such an exhaustive list of nick names alone. and me and my mom and my sis , we all use almost all the nicks that u have menioned here to my niece. and since my sis dresses up my niece in such tiny dresses, i also call her bum rani. its such a nice blog u have got. romba azhaga casuala, joviala ella vishayangalyum neenga sollarel. i really like it.

B o o said...

Tharini - Sorry, sorry sorry! But you actually CAME UP with this tag? Wow! Such a neat idea! Hats off to you!

Kodis Mom - Hey, its hard to find the archives in your blog. Read your nick names post and it rocks. Loads of similarities.

Trishna - The more tags the less I have to worry about topics to write. :) so thanks!

Yaada - Go away before I start using your nicknames! ;)

Anitha - You have loads of time, dont worry! ;)

Mnamma - LOL at Angaala Parameswari. Ashu also stops when I say Mahalakshmi. But of course I am screaming the word out, so she will pretty much stop at whatever Im saying!

B o o said...

Orchid - Oh yeah, I totally forgot about tagging in my hurry to post. Do take up the tag.

Timepass - Thank you, thank you! Its raining tags and awards everywhere. And Im not complaining! :)

Kowsalya - My Grandma is from Kachikattu, I think it sould be the same jillaa! Will mail ya! And you take the award for the best "Amma Thaaye"! What say Mnamma? ;)

Pretty Woman - even I was surprised that this became such a long post. But the first 2 years they are such angels and cant complain whatever you call them so we are pretty much free to call them whatever we want! :)

Shubha - How did I leave "Buttu kuttu" when Ashu is running around naked. Oh yeah, because Hd asked me to as hes the one who calls her that! ;)

Artnavy said...

kadankaari- my mom used it on me a lot:-))

Unknown said...

we call the litte one

Peter Peelaambaal

ore englishla alakkara!

:)

mnamma said...

Sure Boo! Kowsalya's Para Devathey was the best :)

Tharini said...

Yes yes. I CAME UP with it. Here's the proof.
http://winkiesways.blogspot.com/2007/09/7-months-tag-quirks-update.html
All my modesty has simply flown out the window. Note the desperation to milk all credit possible.

Sahithi's Mom... said...

Still laughing at all the names and you have another tag to do...

Sunita Venkatachalam said...

LOL LOL LOL.. Thank god you did this tag, you've done complete justice to it. You may now get the award for the best tag ever :)

Went crazy over the Juice venumaa, Jittoos? series.

I forgot this when I did this tag, but I call her Rowdy Rangamma too, and Vaayadi Vengayam.

noon said...

Loved all the tamil names! We use a lot of those too...
randomly.
BTW - tagged you!

Anonymous said...

Pattoos, Battoos, Kuttoos, Jittoos - too good! cute Vs LOL!

utbtkids said...

Hey, 'THIS' is my business :( And I take my business seriously to drop my assignment that is due in exactly 5 hours(Got to get the children ready and attend my morning class and finish a the paper, all within five hours booohooo) and comment.

Anyhooo, Pilathoor Chellamma is pretty unique, never heard that one. Last week, I fell down at Mieja's feet sobbing 'Amma thaye paradhevathai, angalaparameshwari, yendi yennai vadthaikire?'

Just Like That said...

Lol Lol Lol Don't think anybody ahs had as much fun as you in doing this tag.
ROFL at Amma Thaye Mahalakshmi. My hubby's grandmom used to say that all her kids were named after deities so that she could gain salvation from the no of times she called them. Amma thaye seems to go right up that street!
LOL at the Pillathoor Chellathamma too. You sure take your time calling the Rowdy Rakkamma names. :-D

Anonymous said...

Hello Everybody!

i've been trying to figure out a place to start with the acai berry free trial & was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on whether or not it works for weight loss? So far here is the 1 [url=http://acaiberries.blinkweb.com/new-blog.html]article[/url] I have been able to read online that seemed real for the goals I have. Thoughts?

baby growth

babies