Russian Expression

James   Fri Oct 07, 2005 4:36 am GMT
Hi, there is a Russian expression that sounds like "ohpah". Can someone explain this to me what it means?
Thanks
Frances   Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:01 am GMT
"ohpah" I just imagine is an exclamation. For example, you might pick up a toddler and say "ohpah!"

Commonly found in Balkan songs.
Tiffany   Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:08 am GMT
Wow - there seems that there must be a correlation to the Italian expression "Opla", which is also an exclamation. When a child is just learning to walk, it's common to hear "opla" when he or she makes it up the first step. Same for throwing kids in the air and like.
Drunkie   Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:14 am GMT
Yes, it is an exclamation, Frances is quite right.
It is normally written оп-па (op-pah). Op-lya (оп-ля) is also used in pretty much the same sense.
Easterner   Fri Oct 07, 2005 11:17 am GMT
We also have this in Hungarian, only it starts with a "h": "Hoppá!", or "Hopp".