Bedeutung
To become rude or talkative.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Respect for elders (Metsahargutyun) is a pillar of Armenian society. Using this idiom is a way of signaling that a fundamental social boundary has been crossed. In many neighboring cultures (Persian, Arabic), the 'long tongue' is a shared metaphor for the lack of 'Adab' (etiquette/manners). In the Armenian Diaspora (US, France), younger generations might use this phrase jokingly with each other, stripping away some of the traditional sting. During the Soviet period, 'having a long tongue' could be dangerous if it meant speaking against the state, adding a layer of 'caution' to the idiom.
Careful with Elders
Never use this with someone older than you unless you want to start a serious fight.
The 'Causative' Trick
If you want to tell someone to stop, use 'Մի՛ երկարացրու' (Don't lengthen) instead of 'երկարել'.
Bedeutung
To become rude or talkative.
Careful with Elders
Never use this with someone older than you unless you want to start a serious fight.
The 'Causative' Trick
If you want to tell someone to stop, use 'Մի՛ երկարացրու' (Don't lengthen) instead of 'երկարել'.
Irony
Among very close friends, this can be used ironically to mean 'Oh, you've become quite the talker!'
Teste dich selbst
Which sentence is the most appropriate use of the idiom?
A child is shouting at their grandfather. What does the mother say?
'Լեզուդ մի՛ երկարացրու' is the standard command to stop someone from being rude/talking back.
Fill in the correct possessive suffix and verb form.
Դու շատ կոպիտ ես խոսում: Լեզու___ արդեն ____ (Your tongue has already lengthened).
The suffix '-դ' corresponds to 'you' and the present perfect 'երկարել է' is used for a completed change in behavior.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: A quiet employee suddenly starts criticizing the CEO in the breakroom.
When a quiet person becomes unexpectedly bold/rude, their 'tongue has lengthened'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
3 AufgabenA child is shouting at their grandfather. What does the mother say?
'Լեզուդ մի՛ երկարացրու' is the standard command to stop someone from being rude/talking back.
Դու շատ կոպիտ ես խոսում: Լեզու___ արդեն ____ (Your tongue has already lengthened).
The suffix '-դ' corresponds to 'you' and the present perfect 'երկարել է' is used for a completed change in behavior.
Situation: A quiet employee suddenly starts criticizing the CEO in the breakroom.
When a quiet person becomes unexpectedly bold/rude, their 'tongue has lengthened'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
5 FragenIt is a strong rebuke. It's not a swear word, but it is definitely an insult to someone's manners.
Only jokingly, e.g., 'Լեզուս մի քիչ երկարել է, չէ՞' (My tongue has grown a bit long, hasn't it?)
A 'short tongue' (լեզուն կարճ) or being 'quiet' (լռակյաց).
No, it specifically refers to rudeness and talking back, not dishonesty.
Նրանց լեզուն երկարել է (Their tongue has lengthened). Note: 'tongue' stays singular.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Լեզվին տալ
similarTo talk nonsense or talk too much.
Լեզուն կապվել
contrastTo be tongue-tied.
Լեզու թափել
similarTo try to persuade someone with many words.
Լեզուն քաշել
builds onTo shut up / hold one's tongue.
