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ArchivesCalling Resident Greek, Pavlos...
in reply to a message by Oscar
"Toula" is the nickname of Fotoula Portokalos, the protagonist of the brilliant movie: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".
I believe that somewhere in the movie there's a bit where Toula explains to either her boyfriend or his parents what the name "Fotoula" means, but I don't remember.
Pavlos...? Can you help out here? :)
(Heheh... Toula's brother reminds me a little bit of Pavlos. Especially in the scene where Toula's naive, English-speaking boyfriend asks Toula's brother how to say "thank you" in Greek so that he can impress his future Greek mother-in-law -- and Toula's eeeeevil brother gives the poor boyfriend a Greek phrase which actually means: "Hey, nice breasts!")
-- Nanaea
I believe that somewhere in the movie there's a bit where Toula explains to either her boyfriend or his parents what the name "Fotoula" means, but I don't remember.
Pavlos...? Can you help out here? :)
(Heheh... Toula's brother reminds me a little bit of Pavlos. Especially in the scene where Toula's naive, English-speaking boyfriend asks Toula's brother how to say "thank you" in Greek so that he can impress his future Greek mother-in-law -- and Toula's eeeeevil brother gives the poor boyfriend a Greek phrase which actually means: "Hey, nice breasts!")
-- Nanaea
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Replies
Toula...
Hey everybody!
As a fellow Greek (Greek American :) ) , I wanted to help with the whole Toula thing.
The simplest way to explain the origin of Toula or "Oula" is that you can tack it on to any Greek name to make it into a cute nickname.
For example, Panayiota (equated with Paula or Paulina or Pamela) becomes Panayiotoula.
In the movie, Fotoula can be used as a nickname for Fotini.
Fotini-Fotoula-Toula
I hope that helps!
K.
Hey everybody!
As a fellow Greek (Greek American :) ) , I wanted to help with the whole Toula thing.
The simplest way to explain the origin of Toula or "Oula" is that you can tack it on to any Greek name to make it into a cute nickname.
For example, Panayiota (equated with Paula or Paulina or Pamela) becomes Panayiotoula.
In the movie, Fotoula can be used as a nickname for Fotini.
Fotini-Fotoula-Toula
I hope that helps!
K.
1
Ha! I confess to having engaged is such antics on many many occasions :)
By the way, most Greeks in Greece were somewhat disturbed by the movie because of the "stereotypical" way Greek-Americans are portrayed. Thats BS, I enjoyed the movie thoroughly :)
Fotoula is a nickname of Photine ("bright light" -- as in Phoebe, Svetlana, Clare, etc) meaning "little Photine". Toula is a nickneme of the nickname Fotoula. It is therefore not a stand-alone name.
By the way, most Greeks in Greece were somewhat disturbed by the movie because of the "stereotypical" way Greek-Americans are portrayed. Thats BS, I enjoyed the movie thoroughly :)
Fotoula is a nickname of Photine ("bright light" -- as in Phoebe, Svetlana, Clare, etc) meaning "little Photine". Toula is a nickneme of the nickname Fotoula. It is therefore not a stand-alone name.
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My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Heheh, I just *knew* you'd be up to stuff like Toula's brother does, Pavlos. ;)
Yes, I guess the movie was kinda stereotypical. But reviewers over here noted that the Greek family could have been *any* ethnic family here in America -- Jewish, Italian, Chinese, whatever. And I agree with that. There were just so many hilarious family scenes in that movie that could have been easily interchangable with anyone's particular ethnic family. I mean, doesn't every ethnic family have a smartass (but basically cool) brother who gives the "outsider" a hard time? Doesn't every ethnic family have a proud patriarch like Toula's dad? And then there's the patriarch's patient wife who ultimately shows who's *really* in charge of things. I absolutely loved what Toula's mom said to Toula: "The man is the head. But the woman is the neck. And the neck can turn the head any way she wants to." lol.
Pavlos, sometimes Toula's name appears as "Phortoula" instead of "Photoula" in some movie reviews. Is this an error? Or is Phortoula an alternate spelling of Photoula?
-- Nanaea
Heheh, I just *knew* you'd be up to stuff like Toula's brother does, Pavlos. ;)
Yes, I guess the movie was kinda stereotypical. But reviewers over here noted that the Greek family could have been *any* ethnic family here in America -- Jewish, Italian, Chinese, whatever. And I agree with that. There were just so many hilarious family scenes in that movie that could have been easily interchangable with anyone's particular ethnic family. I mean, doesn't every ethnic family have a smartass (but basically cool) brother who gives the "outsider" a hard time? Doesn't every ethnic family have a proud patriarch like Toula's dad? And then there's the patriarch's patient wife who ultimately shows who's *really* in charge of things. I absolutely loved what Toula's mom said to Toula: "The man is the head. But the woman is the neck. And the neck can turn the head any way she wants to." lol.
Pavlos, sometimes Toula's name appears as "Phortoula" instead of "Photoula" in some movie reviews. Is this an error? Or is Phortoula an alternate spelling of Photoula?
-- Nanaea
1
My colleagues at work make wise cracks about me being like Toula's dad, because of all my crackpot Greek etymologies -- remember, I once even argued that "fudgepacker" is Greek for "bound by the will of the Gods" (http://www.behindthename.com/wwwboardarc/messages/5870.html)
I am quite intrigued that the movie had such a success in the States. Its probably because -- as you said -- it appealed to many an ethnic family :) In Greece it was actually a flop -- more people saw "Charlie's Angels".
To answer your question, Phortoula is not a bonafide name nor an alternative spelling of Photoula in mah neck of the woods -- probably one reviewer got it wrong and everyone else followed suit.
I am quite intrigued that the movie had such a success in the States. Its probably because -- as you said -- it appealed to many an ethnic family :) In Greece it was actually a flop -- more people saw "Charlie's Angels".
To answer your question, Phortoula is not a bonafide name nor an alternative spelling of Photoula in mah neck of the woods -- probably one reviewer got it wrong and everyone else followed suit.
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It must be a Greek thing!
Hahahahaha! "...as an exercise of complete uselessness, let me demonstrate that the expression "android fudgepackers on the planet Uranus" is linguisticallty of Greek origin."
Ow! I laughed so hard, I fell on my arse and hurt myself! Pavlos! Quick! Pass me your Windex! :)
-- Nanaea
Hahahahaha! "...as an exercise of complete uselessness, let me demonstrate that the expression "android fudgepackers on the planet Uranus" is linguisticallty of Greek origin."
Ow! I laughed so hard, I fell on my arse and hurt myself! Pavlos! Quick! Pass me your Windex! :)
-- Nanaea
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I once worked (1970's - 80's) for an old Greek realtor who acted exactly like Gus. He "proved" that Scots were Greeks descended from Macedonians who kept their heritage by adding "Mac" to names. Kimono would not have been a stretch for him.
1
Yes, I was wandering if the name could stand on it's own, if there is a name Toula, with a meaning, instead of just being short for Fortoula. I believe she said the name meant 'light of god' or something like that.
It was a great movie, and I have fallen in love with the name Toula.
It was a great movie, and I have fallen in love with the name Toula.
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Yeah, I just saw the movie on video this weekend, and I'm pretty sure she said "Phortoula" (with an "r") and that it meant "light of God". Not that I doubt Pavlos for a minute on either point; Hollywood has a way of transmogrifying, er, modifying screenplays to twist the truth a bit.
Incidentally, i also saw an episode of the sitcom "My Big Fat Greek Life" with pretty much all of the "Wedding" cast except John Corbett (shame, that). Somehow, it didn't work for me at all. Shows you sometimes need to leave well enough alone...
- da.
Incidentally, i also saw an episode of the sitcom "My Big Fat Greek Life" with pretty much all of the "Wedding" cast except John Corbett (shame, that). Somehow, it didn't work for me at all. Shows you sometimes need to leave well enough alone...
- da.
1
Leaving well enough alone...
Yep, John and I caught the first episode of the sitcom, too, and we also found it to be disappointing. The only somewhat funny bit was where the aunt exclaims upon meeting "Nia's" new husband in the airport: "You look different!" (Of all the original cast members from the movie, only the guy who played the fiance was changed.)
Sorry to break it to you, Oscar, but the teevee show also changed Toula's name to Nia -- which is the real life name of the author/actress. Seemed like a needless change, to me.
-- Nanaea
Yep, John and I caught the first episode of the sitcom, too, and we also found it to be disappointing. The only somewhat funny bit was where the aunt exclaims upon meeting "Nia's" new husband in the airport: "You look different!" (Of all the original cast members from the movie, only the guy who played the fiance was changed.)
Sorry to break it to you, Oscar, but the teevee show also changed Toula's name to Nia -- which is the real life name of the author/actress. Seemed like a needless change, to me.
-- Nanaea
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