--Informant Info--
Nationality: Ukranian
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Kyiv, Ukraine
Date of Performance/Collection: 4/12/18
Primary Language: Russian
Other Language(s): Ukranian
Nationality: Ukranian
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Kyiv, Ukraine
Date of Performance/Collection: 4/12/18
Primary Language: Russian
Other Language(s): Ukranian
Main Piece:
Original:
Весит груша, нельзя скушать.
– Лампочка.
Phonetic:
Vesit grusha, nel’zya skushat’.
– Lampochka.
Translation:
A pear is hanging, but you cannot eat it.
– Light bulb.
Background Information:
- Why does informant know this piece?
This was told to him by his childhood friends
- Where did they learn this piece?
Ukraine
- What does it mean to them?
It’s an interesting riddle.
Context:
This is told by children to other children to play riddle games.
Personal Thoughts:
I have heard a different variant of this riddle, where the answer is “boxing punch bag” instead of a light bulb, since the word for “pear” and “punching bag” in Russian is the same (груша).