Mama Mia Qartulad Guide

They were standing near the clock tower of the Anchiskhati Basilica. Enzo had just dropped a whole bowl of churchkhela (Georgian candy) into a puddle. He threw his hands up and cried:

“You got it,” Tiko said. | Expression | Language | Literal meaning | When to use | |------------|----------|----------------|--------------| | Mama mia | Italian | My mother | Surprise, frustration, awe | | დედა ჩემო (Deda chemoo) | Georgian | My mother | Same as above — very common | | ვაი, დედა (Vai, deda) | Georgian | Oh, mother | Shock, pain | | მამა, მია (Mama, mia) | Georgian | Father, there it is | Sudden surprise (jokey, emphatic) | mama mia qartulad

— Deda chemoo!

Enzo burst out laughing. “So in Italian, Mama mia is ‘my mother.’ In Georgian, Mama mia is ‘father, there it is’ — but they both mean the same exclamation of surprise!” They were standing near the clock tower of

Enzo’s eyes lit up. “Really? What?” | Expression | Language | Literal meaning |

Tiko smiled. “You know,” she said, “in Georgian, we don’t say Mama mia . But we have something very similar.”