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Help[Facts] Re: Harry from Greek?
in reply to a message by Pavlos
I've known quite a few South African Greek Harrys, one of whom was Harry Haramboulos, I think. Complicated surname, anyway! I don't know if Harry was his actual, given name or a nickname based on the surname to make it easier for us non-Greeks.
In my experience, Greek speakers are very considerate that way, happily calling themselves Paul instead of Apostolos etc.
In my experience, Greek speakers are very considerate that way, happily calling themselves Paul instead of Apostolos etc.
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I bet you a souvlaki with all the trimmings that your friends name is Haralampos Haralambous and that he is a Greek Cypriot :)
Actually the names Petros (Peter) and Pavlos (Paul) share the same name day as Apostolos, being all JC's Apostles!
The funniest case of Greeks I know who have reluctantly adopted "user-friendly" names is a friend called Triantafyllos. He works at an international company in Athens, and allows foreign colleagues 'n' customers to call him Frank. We all make sure to incessantly pester him about that :)
Actually the names Petros (Peter) and Pavlos (Paul) share the same name day as Apostolos, being all JC's Apostles!
The funniest case of Greeks I know who have reluctantly adopted "user-friendly" names is a friend called Triantafyllos. He works at an international company in Athens, and allows foreign colleagues 'n' customers to call him Frank. We all make sure to incessantly pester him about that :)
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O_O Frank from Triantafyllos??
I have four relatives by that name, but their anglicised names actually make sense!
I have to tell my brother this... whose name, in fact, is Triantafyllos, but we all call him Trian :) (Can you imagine the horror of the clerk at the very Canadian airport when he and the others with this name checked in, one after the other, with the same first AND last name? :P)
I have four relatives by that name, but their anglicised names actually make sense!
I have to tell my brother this... whose name, in fact, is Triantafyllos, but we all call him Trian :) (Can you imagine the horror of the clerk at the very Canadian airport when he and the others with this name checked in, one after the other, with the same first AND last name? :P)
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Gosh - that is a stretch! Dino from Constantine and Jimmy from Dimitri (or something close) I'm used to, ando Stan from a name that started with Stam- and that I can't remember. Nice guy, though!
When I was growing up in Cape Town a group of Greek businessmen started a football club called, of course, Hellenic. At that time most of the players were of Greek origin, and the crowd used to be in stitches at the announcer's valiant efforts to say their names; it was really fun to watch and listen. Not that I knew better!
When I was growing up in Cape Town a group of Greek businessmen started a football club called, of course, Hellenic. At that time most of the players were of Greek origin, and the crowd used to be in stitches at the announcer's valiant efforts to say their names; it was really fun to watch and listen. Not that I knew better!
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