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Nadsat
This nOde last updated January 6th, 2002 and is permanently morphing...
(6 Et'znab (Knife) - 16 (K'ank'in) - 58/260 - 12.19.8.15.18)

• language used in the film _A Clockwork Orange_ (vhs/ntsc) (1971) directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the novel by Anthony Burgess
• garage metal track _Nadsat Comes Easy_ MP3 by Turbonegro off of _Hot Cars & Spent Contraceptives_ on Bitzcore (1992)

Word	Meaning	Origins
Appypolly loggy	Apology	School boy speak
Baboochka	Old woman	Russian: babooshka/grandmother
Baddiwad	Bad	School boy speak
Banda	Band	Russian: banda/band, gang
Bezoomy	Mad	Russian: byezoomiyi/mad, insane
Biblio	Library	Russian: biblioteka/library
Bitva	Battle	Russian: bitva/battle
Bog	God	Russian: Bog/God
Bolnoy	Sick	Russian: bolnoy/sick
Bolshy	Big	Russian: bolshoy/big
Bratchny	Bastard	Russian: vnyebrachnyi/illegitimate
Bratty	Brother	Russian: brat/brother
Britva	Razor	Russian: britva/razor
Brooko	Belly	Russian: bryukho/abdomen
Brosay	Throw	Russian: brosat/to throw
Bugatty	Rich	Russian: bogaty/wealthy
Cal	Shit	Russian: kal/excrement, feces
Cancer	Cigarette	Standard slang term: ie. cancer stick
Cantora	Office	Russian: kontora/office
Carman	Pocket	Russian: karman/pocket
Chai	Tea	Russian: chai/tea
Charlie	Chaplain/Priest	Rhyming sl.: C. Chaplin -> Chaplain
Chasha	Cup	Russian: chashka/cup
Chasso	Guard	Russian: chasovoy/sentry
Cheena	Woman	Russian: zhenshcheena/woman
Cheest	Wash	Russian: cheestit/to clean
Chelloveck	Fellow	Russian: chelovyek/person, ma
Chepooka	Nonsense	Russian: chyepookha/nonsense
Choodessny	Wonderful	Russian: choodesniyi/miraculous
Chumble	Mumble	Invented slang: chatter + mumble (?)
Clop	Knock	German: klop/hit
Cluve	Beak	Russian: klyuv/beak
Collocol	Bell	Russian: kolokol/bell
Crark	Yowl	Unknown
Crast	Steal	Russian: krast/steal
Creech	Scream	Russian: kreechat/scream
Cutter	Money	Unknown
Dama	Lady	Russian: dama/lady
Ded	Old Man	Russian: ded/grandfather
Deng	Money	Russian: dengi/money
Devotchka	Girl	Russian: devochka/girl
Dobby	Good	Russian: dobro/good
Domy	House	Russian: dom/house
Dook	Ghost	Gypsy: dook/magic
Dorogoy	Valuable	Russian: dorogoi/expensive, dear
Drat	Fight	Russian: drat/to tear to pieces, to kill
Drencrom	A drug	Invented slang: adrenochrome?
Droog	Friend	Russian: droog/friend
Dva	Two	Russian: dva/two
Eegra	Game	Russian: igra/game
Eemya	Name	Russian: imya/name
Eggiweg	Egg	School boy speak
Em	Mum	Invented slang: 'M' from "Mama"
Fagged	Tired	English slang: tired
Filly	Play	Unknown
Firegold	A particular drink	Invented slang: Unknown
Forella	Trout	Russian: forel/trout
Gazetta	Newspaper	Russian: gazeta/newspaper
Glazz	Eye	Russian: glaz/eye
Gloopy	Stupid	Russian: glupiyi/foolish, stupid
Godman	Priest	Invented slang: 'man of God'
Golly	Unit of Money	Invented slang: related to 'lolly' (money)
Goloss	Voice	Russian: golos/voice
Goober	Lip	Russian: guba/lip
Gooly	To Walk	Russian: gulyat/to walk, stroll
Gorlo	Throat	Russian: gorlo/throat
Govoreet	To speak or talk	Russian: govorit/to speak, talk
Grazhny	Dirty	Russian: gryuzniyi/dirty
Grazzy	Soiled	Russian: gryuzniyi/dirty
Gromky	Loud	Russian: gromkii/loud
Groody	Breast	Russian: grud/breast
Gruppa	Group	Russian: gruppa/group
Guff	Laugh	Invented slang: short "guffaw"
Gulliver	Head	Russian: golova/head
Guttiwuts	Guts	School boy speak
Hen-korm	Chickenfeed	Invented slang: hen-corn
Horn	To Cry Out	Invented slang: sound a horn
Horrorshow	Good, well	Russian: khorosho/good
Hound-and-Horny	Corny	Rhyming Slang: corny
In-out-in-out	Sex	Invented slang: obvious
Interessovat	To interest	Russian: interesovat/ to interest
Itty	To go	Russian: idti/to go
Jammiwam	Jam	School boy speak
Jeezny	Life	Russian: zhizn/life
Kartoffel	Potatoes	Russian: kartofel/potatoes
Keeshkas	Guts	Russian: kishka/intestines
Kleb	Bread	Russian: kleb/bread
Klootch	Key	Russian: klyuch/key
Knopka	Button	Russian: knopka/push-button
Kopat	To Dig (Eng. idiom)	Russian: kopat/to dig (a hole, ditch)
Koshka	Cat	Russian: koshka/cat
Kot	Tomcat	Russian: kot/cat
Krovvy	Blood	Russian: krov/blood
Kupet	To Buy	Russian: kupit/to buy
Lapa	Paw	Russian: lapa/paw
Lewdies	People	Russian: lyudi/people
Lighter	Crone (?)	Invented slang: related to"blighter"?
Litso	Face	Russian: litso/face
Lomtick	Slice	Russian: lomtik/slice (of bread)
Loveted	Caught	Russian: lovit/to catch
Lubbilubbing	Making love	Russian: lyublyu/love
Luscious Glory	Hair	Rhyming Slang: upper story/hair
Malchick	Boy	Russian: malchik/boy
Malenky	Little	Russian: malyenkiyi/small
Maslo	Butter	Russian: maslo/butter
Merzky	Filthy	Russian: merzkiyi/loathsome, vile
Messel	Thought	Russian: misl/thought
Mesto	Place	Russian: mesto/place
Millicent	Policeman	Russian: militsiya/policeman
Minoota	Minute	Russian: minuta/minute
Molodoy	Young	Russian: molodoy/young
Moloko	Milk	Russian: moloko/milk
Moodge	Man	Russian: muzhchina/male person
Morder	Snout	Russian: morda/snout
Mounch	Snack	Invented slang: munch?
Mozg	Brain	Russian: mozg/brain
Nachinat	To Begin	Russian: nachinat/to begin
Nadmenny	Arrogant	Russian: nadmenniyi/arrogant
Nadsat	Teenage	Russian: ending for numbers 11-19
Nagoy	Naked	Russian: nagoi/naked
Nazz	Fool	Russian: nazad/literally backwards
Neezhnies	Underpants	Russian: nizhniyi/lower (adj.)
Nochy	Night	Russian: noch/night
Noga	Foot	Russian: noga/foot
Nozh	Knife	Russian: nozh/knife
Nuking	Smelling (of perfume)	Russian: nyukhat/to smell
Oddy-knocky	Lonesome	Russian: odinok/lonesome
Odin	One	Russian: odin/one
Okno	Window	Russian: okno/window
Oobivat	To Kill	Russian: ubivat/to kill
Ookadeet	To leave	Russian: ukhodit/to leave
Ooko	Ear	Russian: ukho/ear
Oomny	Clever	Russian: umniyi/clever
Oozhassny	Terrible	Russian: ukhasniyi/terrible
Oozy	Chain	Russian: uzh/snake (?)
Orange	Man	Malay: Orang/Man (c.f. the Orangtan)
Osoosh	To Dry	Russian: osushat/to dry
Otchkies	Eyeglasses	Russian: otchki/glasses
Pan-handle	Erection	Invented slang:
Pee	Father	Invented slang: 'P' from "Papa"
Peet	To Drink	Russian: pit/to drink
Pishcha	Food	Russian: pisha/food
Platch	To Cry	Russian: plakat/to cry
Platties	Clothes	Russian: platye/clothes
Plenny	Prisoner	Russian: plenniyi/prisoner
Plesk	Splash	Russian: pleskat/to splash
Pletcho	Shoulder	Russian: plecho/shoulder
Plott	Flesh	Russian: plot/flesh
Podooshka	Pillow	Russian: podushka/pillow
Pol	Sex	Russian: pol/sex (gender)
Polezny	Useful	Russian: polezniyi/useful
Polyclef	Skeleton key	English: poly/many + clef/key
Pony	To understand	Russian: ponimat/to understand
Poogly	Scared	Russian: pugat/ to frighten
Pooshka	Gun	Russian: pushka/cannon
Pop-disk	Pop-music disc	Invented slang
Prestoopnik	Criminal	Russian: prestupnik/criminal
Pretty Polly	Money	Rhyming slang: From 'lolly' (money)
Privodeet	To lead somewhere	Russian: privodit/to lead (somewhere)
Prod	To produce	English slang: shortening of 'produce'
Ptitsa	Girl	Russian: ptitsa/bird
Pyahnitsa	Drunk	Russian: pyanitsa/a drunkard
Rabbit	Work	Russian: rabota/work
Radosty	Joy	Russian: radost/joy
Raskazz	Story	Russian: rasskaz/story
Rasoodock	Mind	Russian: rassudok/sanity, sense
Raz	Time	Russian: raz/occasion
Razdrez	Upset	Russian: razdrazhat/to irritate
Razrez	To Rip	Russian: razrvat/to rip
Rooker	Hand	Russian: ruka/hand
Rot	Mouth	Russian: rot/mouth
Rozz	Policeman	Russian: rozha/ugly face or grimace
Sabog	Shoe	French: sabot/a type of shoe (?)
Sakar	Sugar	Russian: sakhar/sugar
Sammy	Generous	Russian: samoye/ the most
Sarky	Sarcastic	English slang: short 'sarcastic'
Scoteena	Cow	Russian: skotina/colloquial: beast
Shaika	Gang	Russian: shaika/band (as of thieves)
Sharp	Female	Invented slang: Unknown
Sharries	Balls	Russian: shariki/marbles
Shest	Pole	Russian: pole
Shilarny	Concern	Unknown
Shive	Slice, cut	English slang: shiv-a knife
Shiyah	Neck	Russian: shyeya/neck
Shlaga	Club	German: Schlager/club or bat
Shlapa	Hat	Russian: shlyupa/hat
Shlem	Helmet	Russian: shlem/helmet
Shoom	Noise	Russian: shum/noise
Shoot	Fool (v.)	Russian: shutit/to fool
Sinny	Movies, film	Invented slang: from cinema
Skazat	To say	Russian: skazat/to say
Skolliwoll	School	School boy speak
Skorry	Quick, quickly	Russian: skori/quick
Skriking	Scratching	Invented slang: strike + scratch
Skvat	To Grab	Russian: khvatat/to grab, snatch
Sladky	Sweet	Russian: sladkiyi/sweet
Sloochat	To happen	Russian: sluchatsya/to happen
Slooshy	To listen, hear	Russian: slushat/to hear
Slovo	Word	Russian: slovo/word
Smeck	Laugh (n.)	Russian: smekh/a laugh
Smot	To look	Russian: smotret/to look
Sneety	Dream	Russian: snitsya/to dream
Snoutie	Tobacco, snuff	Invented slang: related to snout?
Snuff It	To Die	English slang: to snuff is to kill
Sobirat	To Pick Up	Russian: sobirat/to gather (people)
Sod	Bastard (idiom)	English slang: from sodomite
Sodding	Fucking (idiom)	English slang: from sodomy
Soomka	Woman	Russian: sumka/bag
Soviet	Advice, order	Russian: sovyet/advice, council
Spat, spatchka	Sleep	Russian: spat/to sleep
Spoogy	Terrified	Russian: spugivat/to frighten
Staja	State Jail	Invented Slang: State + Jail
Starry	Old, ancient	Russian: stariyi/old
Strack	Horror	Russian: strakh/fear
Synthmesc	A particular drug	Invented slang: synthetic mescaline
Tally	Waist	Russian: taliya/waist
Tashtook	Handkerchief	German: Taschentuch/Hankerchief
Tass	Cup	French: tasse/cup
Tolchock	To hit	Russian: tolchok/a push, shove
Toofles	Slippers	Russian: tuflya/slipper
Tree	Three	Russian: tri/three
Vareet	To "cook up"	Russian: varit/to cook up
Vaysay	Washroom, toilet	French: W.C. (pron. vey-sey
Veck	Guy	Russian: chelovyek/person, man
Vellocet	A particular drug	Invented slang: Amphetamine?
Veshch	Thing	Russian: vesh/thing
Viddy	To see	Russian: vidyet/to see
Voloss	Hair	Russian: volos/hair
Von	Smell (n.)	Russian: von/stench
Vred	To Harm	Russian: vred/to harm
Warble	Song	English: sing, a bird's song
Yahma	Hole	Russian: yama/hole, pit
Yahoody	Jew	Arabic
Yahzick	Tongue	Russian: yazik/tongue
Yarbles	Balls, testicles	Russian: yarblicka/apples
Yeckate	To Drive	Russian: echatz/to go
Zammechat	Remarkable	Russian: zamechatelniyi/remarkable
Zasnoot	To Sleep	Russian: zasnut/to fall asleep
Zheena	Wife	Russian: zhena/wife
Zoobies	Teeth	Russian: zubi/teeth
Zvonock	Doorbell/Bellpull	Russian: zvonok/doorbell
Zvook	Sound	Russian: zvuk/sound

first mention of Nadsat in Usenet:

From: Pure Evil (evil@blake.acs.washington.edu)
Subject: Re: Clockwork Orange glossary
Newsgroups: rec.arts.books
Date: 1989-06-18 16:53:17 PST

Vicki Powers (vicki@mathcs.emory.edu) writes:

> Rod Williams (rjw@PacBell.COM) writes:
>>   I read 'A Clockwork Orange' some years ago and
>> enjoyed it immensely - *then* discovered a glossary for the slang
>> in the back of the book, and had to go back and re-read it to see
>> if I'd got anything wrong (:-)).
>>
>I think this has been discussed before, but ...   the glossary was
>NOT written by Burgess and is only in some (paperback?) editions.  If
>you look carefully you'll notice that the glossary is part of a critique
>of the book (I can't remember who wrote it).  When I read the book, I did
>not use the glossary.  The first few pages were difficult, but you soon get
>the hang of it and it reads like a normal book.

As Vicki says, you quickly get the sense of Nadsat (the vocabulary used by Alex and his droogs) without a reference guide.  Like Rod, I only found the glossary after I had already finished the novel.

Exactly why a reader can decipher what are essentially nonsense words (at least, to those unlearned of us who do not speak Russian) is a product of Burgess' talent and the reader's innate talent of abstraction.  The precise meaning of the words may not be known, but the way they are used leaves their general meaning clear.  From context, the connotative meaning is easy to guess.

Lewis Carroll's (Charles Dodgson) poetry in _Jabberwocky_ comes to mind as a similar instance of nonsense conveying meaning.

*  Scott Holter                           evil@blake.acs.washington.edu  *
*               "What's it going to be then, eh?"  -- Alex               *

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