Discussion:
Gyros the lowdown...
(too old to reply)
Chris
2004-10-27 10:07:55 UTC
Permalink
I was highly amused with this thread (I usually am!) and I think back
to the lovable subway incident on Seinfeld. I watched 2/3 times before
moving to Greece, but when I got to Greece, I met a Greek who had just
(after me) moved back after 6 years state side...

She pronounced them as a westerner, GYRO (gyroscope), like Kramer
does, it bit me to the bone, I said, call them yee-rows (or yee-ros
(one?)) - she still called them gyro despite being a ntive greek!

Gyro - as you probbaly know, means circle in Greek, and it because of
the circle (cylinder) of meat they cook up.

Myself, I order like this (phonetically for you folks, visit Greece
sometime, 'tis great!)

Mia pita-biffteki-yemmisto, ap ola, horis cremithi, pola tomata.

One Pita bread with cheese filled burger [lit: pita-burger-stuffed],
with everything, no onion, lots tomato. They sling mustard and ketchup
on (if they ask you anything, just nod and say "ne" (written Nai))

Well her pronounciation anoyed me until I re-watched the tv guide ep
and heard kramer say GYRO and well, it has grown on me since.

Pita bread is soft, not like a kebab bread which is toasted. Pita is
grilled with a light brush of oil. I like onions - but if I eat to
many gyros at work my girlfriend can tell if they have onion and calls
me a fat bastard (must be that low fat yoghurt!)

Tomatos are the best thing for you because of the anti-oxidant
LYCOPENE. Zinc is good too.

Hey is 95 KG too much for a 6' 3" guy? I think not!

Damn, I think I wrote 'alot' in my last post :-) - watched The Wink
last night. is a good one!

Kramer: But then I want you to do one thing for me
Boy: I know, get out of this bed and walk again!
Kramer: Yeah that would be great, but no I want you to give me the
card

Classic!

Double Dipper.
Dimitrios Paskoudniakis
2004-10-27 12:52:43 UTC
Permalink
Chris is right.

The correct pronunciation is YEE-ro. In Greek, a gamma (g) followed by a
"hard" vowel (a, o, ou) takes on the hard g sound as in golf. However, when
followed by a "soft" vowel (e, i, y) takes on a "y" sound (gyro is
pronounced YEE-ro).

The word gyro means spin. The meat is pressed, processed, spiced lamb. It
is pressed into a cylindrical mold, and is kept warm on a rotating
(spinning) skewer, hence the term. In Italian, spin is giro, and Italy's
great bicycle race is Giro-Italia. In physics, spinning bodies (ie planets,
tops) possess gyroscopic properties due to their angular momentum.

Back to gyros. The yogurt-cucumber sauce is called tzadziki.

If I can tolerate Bush saying "nu-que-lar" instead of "nu-cle-ar", I can
certain tolerate "JAI-ros" instead of "YEE-ros".

Opa!
Frayed
2004-10-27 14:51:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dimitrios Paskoudniakis
Chris is right.
The correct pronunciation is YEE-ro. In Greek, a gamma (g) followed by a
"hard" vowel (a, o, ou) takes on the hard g sound as in golf. However, when
followed by a "soft" vowel (e, i, y) takes on a "y" sound (gyro is
pronounced YEE-ro).
Believe it or not, in California, it's pronounced YEEro...great, now I want one
and it's not even 8 in the morning yet...
Karen
Er
2004-10-27 16:04:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by Frayed
Post by Dimitrios Paskoudniakis
Chris is right.
The correct pronunciation is YEE-ro. In Greek, a gamma (g) followed by a
"hard" vowel (a, o, ou) takes on the hard g sound as in golf. However, when
followed by a "soft" vowel (e, i, y) takes on a "y" sound (gyro is
pronounced YEE-ro).
Believe it or not, in California, it's pronounced YEEro...great, now I want one
and it's not even 8 in the morning yet...
Karen
I'm going to California. You know, I got the bug.

Er
Artadorer
2004-10-28 11:38:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by Er
I'm going to California. You know, I got the bug.
Er
But you can't act!
Er
2004-10-28 12:54:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by Artadorer
Post by Er
I'm going to California. You know, I got the bug.
Er
But you can't act!
Hey, I was in a Woody Allen movie once.

Er
Dimitrios Paskoudniakis
2004-10-28 15:41:22 UTC
Permalink
Post by Er
Post by Artadorer
Post by Er
I'm going to California. You know, I got the bug.
Er
But you can't act!
Hey, I was in a Woody Allen movie once.
Er
"These pretzels are making me thirsty!?"
Artadorer
2004-10-29 08:29:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by Er
Hey, I was in a Woody Allen movie once.
Er
Was Mia Farrow there?
Dave
2004-10-29 12:00:32 UTC
Permalink
Post by Artadorer
Post by Er
Hey, I was in a Woody Allen movie once.
Er
Was Mia Farrow there?
i didn't see him.

Mark Mellin
2004-10-27 16:32:47 UTC
Permalink
"Dimitrios Paskoudniakis" wrote ...
Post by Dimitrios Paskoudniakis
Chris is right.
The correct pronunciation is YEE-ro. In Greek, a gamma (g) followed by a
"hard" vowel (a, o, ou) takes on the hard g sound as in golf. However, when
followed by a "soft" vowel (e, i, y) takes on a "y" sound (gyro is
pronounced YEE-ro).
Believe it or not, in California, it's pronounced YEEro...great, now I want
one and it's not even 8 in the morning yet...
You're in luck. Gyro King, 25 Grove Street, opens at 7:30. You'll
have to be quick, though, they're just up the west stairs of the Civic
Center subway stop.

- Mark
--
Mark Mellin San Mateo Village, CA 94403-2918 USA
Loading...