´óÏó´«Ã½

Saucepan head

In a lesson of Russian literature at a university in central Russia earlier this year, my teacher, who conducted her lessons in Russian, announced that she was sorry the lesson that day would be of a poor quality, because y menya golova kak kazan which means 'I have a head like a large saucepan', meaning, she explained, that she had a bad headache!

Sent by: Kathrin

Comments

Russia 2011-05-30

It is also possible to say "my head is like a watercan" - "(s pochmelya) Moya golova kak bidon, v kotorom varili chertyam samogon" (I have a hangover and my head feals like a can in which devil's home-brew was made).

Flag this comment

Victor, Russia 2010-01-04


Hmm... never heard "u menya golova kak kazan"... But from my mother I heard "u menya golova kak chugun" which means "my head is like cast iron". Though "chugun" may mean also "a cast-iron kettle", which is close to the initial variant. Though "kazan" should be translated rather as "cauldron, big kettle".

Flag this comment

Margarita, Saint- Petersburg 2009-09-03

Don't worry, in Russia it's normal to hear "y menya golova zvenit", my head is ringing.

Flag this comment

Share this page

Open/close

Related Links

On bbc.co.uk/languages

12-weeks email tips

Quick fix phrases 36 languages

Teachers and tutors

On bbc.co.uk

´óÏó´«Ã½ Schools

´óÏó´«Ã½ Learning

´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service Learning English

Elsewhere

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external sites

´óÏó´«Ã½ iD

´óÏó´«Ã½ navigation

´óÏó´«Ã½ © 2014 The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.