ärri-purri

English translation: peevish, grumpy

20:38 Sep 14, 2010
Finnish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Finnish term or phrase: ärri-purri
Describing a person. A "vähän ärri-purri jössikkä".
Owen Witesman
Local time: 09:03
English translation:peevish, grumpy
Explanation:
a somewhat peevish lout, a somewhat grumpy brute

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Note added at 1 hr (2010-09-14 21:58:28 GMT)
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ärri, may derive from äreä by association with ärtyisä
purri, could be from puraista, snap, bite, " he would bite your nose off"
Selected response from:

Desmond O'Rourke
United States
Local time: 11:03
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4peevish, grumpy
Desmond O'Rourke


  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
peevish, grumpy


Explanation:
a somewhat peevish lout, a somewhat grumpy brute

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2010-09-14 21:58:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

ärri, may derive from äreä by association with ärtyisä
purri, could be from puraista, snap, bite, " he would bite your nose off"

Desmond O'Rourke
United States
Local time: 11:03
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 23
Notes to answerer
Asker: Nice. Any thoughts on etymology?


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Susan Ruusunen: Def agreeing with grumpy
43 mins
  -> Yes, definitely a grumpy individual

agree  Tarja Karjalainen
1 hr
  -> Thank you

agree  Outi Pollari: I think the etymology is just onomatopoetic, combined with alliteration: äristä, äreä, ärtyisä > ärri > purri. In 1950s primer book there was a rhyme "Ärri-purri itkun alkaa, äksyilee ja polkee jalkaa" and a picture of a small, red-faced raging girl
9 hrs
  -> rhymes we recall from childhood stick with us longest

agree  Timo Lehtilä: Yes, 'purri' here apparently has nothing to do with 'purra' (to bite). It just rhymes with 'ärri'. 'Jössikkä' is not usually associated 'ärri-purri', but, on the contrary, with quietness, sluggishness. (But there may also be grumpy jössiköitä.)
11 hrs
  -> Thank you - it was just a guess on my part
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