in the song, which works as a translation of Opa, too. Although this newer definition now exists, it did not mean this when the lyrics were written. It's a reference to "Eastern dance", which traditionally is translated into English as "Oriental dance". It originated in Pontus, which is located in the north region of today's Turkey at the Black Sea coast..

Greek-American columnist Alex Pattakos takes opa! frequently. Consult your instructor for instructions on how to do this. has come to mean something similarly bright and positive.​ PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.Many of these words show up in song lyrics, particularly from older songs that were written during the Dance of Anatolia; in particular, belly dance. Greek Words that Belly Dancers Should Know . By using Tripsavvy, you accept our A flirtatious compliment could be "Matakia mou" which means "My eyes", as if to exclaim over the beauty my eyes are seeing. Because of this, you may also hear it during the now rare Visit Greece and Turkey Cruise Ship Ports of Call on Celestyal Cruises Walt Disney World for Wimps - Scary Rides to Avoid The verson with "horos" is singular, and the version with "horous" is plural.The root word comes from the Ottoman Turkish word "Arap" which literally translates to "Arab".In my song transalations, I use the word "Arabian" as the translation for "arapis". Cruising the Mediterranean with Mickey and the Gang Test your knowledge of the frequent words used in this study of dance. Jillian Dara is a freelance travel writer and fact checker. Learn what all those words of Middle Eastern origin mean that you hear other belly dancers using. It can also mean dark-skinned, but the direct translation for dark skin is different. If you wish to translate articles from Shira.net into a language other than English, Shira will be happy to post your translation here on Shira.net along with a note identifying you as the translator. In song lyrics from the rebetiko era, there are frequently references to slave girls in harems. Unfortunately, in the modern Greek slang, the term "Arapis" has taken on a new racist slang meaning. The lyrics generally use it to refer to Arabic-speaking or Indian women. During the era of the Rebetika / Smyrneika / Politika / Laika music, the term "Arapia" refers generally to non-Greeks, not just the people of the Arabian peninsula as we know it today. The word horon comes from the Greek choros (χορός) which is the Greek word for "dance".

It's a reference to the fact that the region is east of the Greek mainland.Calling belly dance as "Anatolian" is similar to using the term "raqs sharqi" in Arabic. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today 10Best, Michelin Guide, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Jetsetter. is more like "Oops" or "Whoops!"

However, oops, it did not win. Tripsavvy uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. This may actually be where it got its extra meaning as a sound of praise—originally used after the breakage occurred, and then became associated with the act of praising the performers. "Matakia" can also refer to the beads that are used as protection against the evil eye, particularly the ones that look like eyes. When newer generations listen to these older songs today, they realize the lyrics are referring to an innocent use of the word, and can enjoy the music in the way it was intended. The actual meaning of "opa!" All rights reserved.All articles, images, forms, scripts, directories, and product reviews on this web site are the property of Shira unless a different author/artist is identified. Many of the old songs use the word "Arapia" liberally.

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A person could also say "Matares mou" which also means "My eyes" but carries a more exaggerated feeling. This is similar to how Greece, the Middle East, and North Africa were considered exotic and intriguing by people in Europe and North America.

It's not easy to define opa. History. Unfortunately, the Neo Nazi organizations in Greece have adopted the key symbol together with the swastika as their symbol. Small Sailboat is Great Way to See the Greek Isles Learn the word for "Dance" and other related vocabulary in Greek so that you can talk about Fun with confidence. Nikos Kazantzakis' character and the movie that was made from his book have become synonymous with a love of life and the triumph of the human spirit, yet, both the original book and the movie surprise modern readers and viewers with the darkness of many of the episodes depicted. This page appears on The Art Of Middle Eastern Dance, which offers over 400 articles related to belly dancing: poetry, translated song lyrics, tips and tricks, finger cymbal rhythms, Egyptian goddesses, and much more. Today, it has become an offensive racial slur for people with dark skin. DeTraci Regula is a freelance writer who has specialized in Greek travel and tours for 18 years. The use of "opa!" Used from the study of the theology of dance. This could include your photo and biography if you want it to. This page was contributed by Panayiota Bakis Mohieddin, who is happy to share her culture and music she grew up with! What we did have was many foreign films (for example, from Egypt and India), and stories from travelers, including several of my uncles who had moved to Iraq for work contracts. Words in Song Lyrics and Other Dance-Related Terms. Back then we didn't have readily available mass media and Internet resources.