Anyone use "SERWUS"?

Servus (Czech: Servus, Hungarian: Szervusz, Polish: Serwus, German: Servus, Romanian: Servus, Ukrainian: Сервус) is a salutation used in many parts of Central and Eastern Europe.

These words originates from the Latin word for servant or slave, servus. The phrase is an ellipsis of a Latin expression meaning, "I am your servant" or "at your service".

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08	Nov 30, 08, 04:33 / #
Is there anyone on the Forum who uses the greeting "serwus" or knows somebody who does? Cześć is by far the most widespread form, but among the older generation "serwus" can still be heard. Anyone know when it went out of use? Is it still used in the German-speaking countries?

cjjcThreads: 37 Posts: 463 Joined: Jul 26, 08	Nov 30, 08, 04:38 / #
Polonius3: "serwus" Never heard of it. :P

malenaThreads: 1 Posts: 16 Joined: Nov 14, 08	Nov 30, 08, 04:47 / #
Polonius3: "serwus It is not commonly used now. It was popular in the 70s due to a radio programme Serwus, jestem nerwus

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,387 Joined: May 30, 08	Nov 30, 08, 06:01 / #
I know it but never use. Sounds a bit old fashioned.

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Nov 30, 08, 06:10 / #
it was never all that popular anyway. here and there i still hear it but it's not an everyday kind of thing.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Nov 30, 08, 06:37 / #
I've only ever heard of Servus as a greeting in Austria - never in Germany.

malenaThreads: 1 Posts: 16 Joined: Nov 14, 08	Nov 30, 08, 06:37 / #
if is is really used then with a jocular intention

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Nov 30, 08, 06:39 / #
Serwus was used by a Polish guy here who worked in Austria for a while. He used it to greet his follow Poles.

tomekThreads: 1 Posts: 147 Joined: Jun 12, 08	Nov 30, 08, 06:41 / #
It's popular in Bavaria as well, though the Bavarians dislike the Austrians and vice versa.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Nov 30, 08, 06:44 / #
tomek: It's popular in Bavaria as well, Ah right... that would make sense. I've only ever spent time in Northern Germany.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Nov 30, 08, 06:57 / #
Hummel Hummel, they promote brand names on the streets? How much were they paid for that? ;) Moin Moin sounds like some French wine imported in Germany.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Edited by: LondonChick Nov 30, 08, 07:43 / #
Seanus: Hummel Hummel, they promote brand names on the streets? How much were they paid for that? ;) You have no idea how much Germans get paid by Tag Heuer to go around saying how great their products are.... Guten Tag!! :D (sorry... that's a bit lame, isn't it?)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Nov 30, 08, 07:45 / #
And Tag Heuer are Swiss, lol Good joke, not lame.

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Nov 30, 08, 14:02 / #
The 'Ur-Hamburger' always respond the same way: "Hummel, Hummel" - "Moos, Moos" As far as 'Serwus!', of course I've heard it, much as in Austria and Hungary (Szervus). 'Pa!' or 'Cześć!' though, are far more common. In Bavaria, I usually recall 'Pfueti!' (lit. 'Behuet dich Gott!') as the leave-taking equivalent to 'Gruess Gott!'. Occasionally, 'Mach's gut!' is also heard.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Nov 30, 08, 06:50 / #
Yeah, it's very much a southern thing. Hamburgers wouldn't use it.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Nov 30, 08, 06:55 / #
Seanus: Hamburgers wouldn't use it. Not when they've got "Moin Moin" and "Hummel Hummel" instead :)

mafketisThreads: 17 Posts: 1,880 Joined: Mar 31, 08	Nov 30, 08, 14:31 / #
I've seen serwus in Polish textbooks for foreign learners printed in the 60's and 70's but I've never ever heard it in real life. I think I have heard it a few times in old movies but I wouldn't swear to that. In Hungarian it's abbreviated to szia and used (especially) as an informal farewell that sounds remarkably like the American 'see ya'. (Hungarian sz = s)

SwiteziankaThreads: - Posts: 525 Joined: Jun 17, 08	Nov 30, 08, 17:00 / #
I've never heard it used in real life.

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Edited by: Marek Dec 1, 08, 08:40 / #
Granted, I've never actually heard anyone younger than around sixty say 'Serwus!', either in Poland or in Polish communities here in the New York area-:) By the by, the proper response to 'Hummel, Hummel'! is 'Mors, Mors'!, and not 'Moos, Moos'!

McCoyThreads: 46 Posts: 1,756 Joined: Jul 3, 08	Dec 1, 08, 08:48 / #
i use 'serwus' very often.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Oct 2, 09, 21:37 / #
The guy who repairs my bike always says serwus. It does have a Germanic feeling to it so I shouldn't be surprised that a Silesian comes out with it.

MareGaeaThreads: 45 Posts: 5,527 Joined: Feb 6, 08	Edited by: MareGaea Oct 2, 09, 21:39 / #
Polonius3 It's actually "SerVus" and Hungarians use it. I've heard my Hungarian friends use it. Marek: younger than around sixty My friend is 32. Seanus Austrians use it a lot. M-G (nah)

KsysiaThreads: 39 Posts: 545 Joined: May 6, 09	Edited by: Ksysia Oct 2, 09, 21:45 / #
Seanus: does have a Germanic It's Latin. Servus is 'slave'. It has originaly meant 'at your service'. The same kind of greeting as in 'czołem' - 'bowing with the forehead', or 'służba!' - 'servitude' 'service'. Greetings older than that are: 'pomagaj Bóg' - may God aid you 'daj ci Bóg dzień dobry' - may God give a good day Farewells were: 'z Bogiem' - 'with God' 'do następnego' - 'till then' 'na razie' - 'for now' 'żegnajcie' - 'farewell' 'bywajcie' - 'farewell'

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Oct 2, 09, 21:50 / #
I heard it a fair bit in Austria right enough. There are many other ways, siema being another popular one.

KsysiaThreads: 39 Posts: 545 Joined: May 6, 09	Oct 2, 09, 21:56 / #
Seanus: I heard it a fair bit in Austria right enough Sure, Germans and Austrians are into the high culture a lot, they had strong religious life as well - as Teutonic Knights for example. Why would they not know Latin?

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Oct 2, 09, 22:02 / #
I'm sure they did :)

LeopejoThreads: 6 Posts: 154 Joined: Sep 16, 09	Edited by: Leopejo Oct 2, 09, 22:53 / #
Slightly OT: Ksysia: It's Latin. Servus is 'slave'. It has originaly meant 'at your service'. The meaning of the word 'servus' was taken in medieval times by the word "sclavus" (from Slavus, Slav), which in today's Italian is "schiavo" (skiawo). From the Venetian version of the same word comes Italian "ciao" (czao = cześć).

TorqThreads: 65 Posts: 4,024 Joined: Apr 10, 09 MEMBER	Oct 3, 09, 06:08 / #
Servus (Czech: Servus, Hungarian: Szervusz, Polish: Serwus, German: Servus, Romanian: Servus, Ukrainian: Сервус) is a salutation used in many parts of Central and Eastern Europe. These words originates from the Latin word for servant or slave, servus. The phrase is an ellipsis of a Latin expression meaning, "I am your servant" or "at your service". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servus

MareGaeaThreads: 45 Posts: 5,527 Joined: Feb 6, 08	Oct 3, 09, 14:23 / #
Torq Well, that is kinda funny. If it means "at your service" (I wouldn't want to go with the "I am your slave" meaning as I think it's not really relevant today:) ), it's a bit odd as the only times I hear ppl using it, it's when they leave you. It's used as a "goodbye" as far as I know. M-G (weathergirl at RTE is mmmm:) )

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Oct 3, 09, 14:25 / #
In other countries yes, M-G. However, Torq is right. The bike repair guy clearly uses it as 'don't mention it, I'm at your service'. I can hear it in his tone.