Gyros the lowdown...

Oct 27, 2004, 6:07 AM ET10 posts by 7 posters
🧩 Trivia😂 Loved it

Fans discuss the correct Greek pronunciation of gyros (YEE-ro), referencing Kramer's mispronunciation in the show and sharing personal experiences with Greek food and culture.

10 posts
Chris

I was highly amused with this thread (I usually am!) and I think back to the lovable subway incident on Seinfeld. I watched 2/3 times before moving to Greece, but when I got to Greece, I met a Greek who had just (after me) moved back after 6 years state side...

She pronounced them as a westerner, GYRO (gyroscope), like Kramer does, it bit me to the bone, I said, call them yee-rows (or yee-ros (one?)) - she still called them gyro despite being a ntive greek!

Gyro - as you probbaly know, means circle in Greek, and it because of the circle (cylinder) of meat they cook up.

Myself, I order like this (phonetically for you folks, visit Greece sometime, 'tis great!)

Mia pita-biffteki-yemmisto, ap ola, horis cremithi, pola tomata.

One Pita bread with cheese filled burger [lit: pita-burger-stuffed], with everything, no onion, lots tomato. They sling mustard and ketchup on (if they ask you anything, just nod and say "ne" (written Nai))

Well her pronounciation anoyed me until I re-watched the tv guide ep and heard kramer say GYRO and well, it has grown on me since.

Pita bread is soft, not like a kebab bread which is toasted. Pita is grilled with a light brush of oil. I like onions - but if I eat to many gyros at work my girlfriend can tell if they have onion and calls me a fat bastard (must be that low fat yoghurt!)

Tomatos are the best thing for you because of the anti-oxidant LYCOPENE. Zinc is good too.

Hey is 95 KG too much for a 6' 3" guy? I think not!

Damn, I think I wrote 'alot' in my last post :-) - watched The Wink last night. is a good one!

Kramer: But then I want you to do one thing for me Boy: I know, get out of this bed and walk again! Kramer: Yeah that would be great, but no I want you to give me the card

Classic!

Double Dipper.

Dimitrios PaskoudniakisChris

Chris is right.

The correct pronunciation is YEE-ro. In Greek, a gamma (g) followed by a "hard" vowel (a, o, ou) takes on the hard g sound as in golf. However, when followed by a "soft" vowel (e, i, y) takes on a "y" sound (gyro is pronounced YEE-ro).

The word gyro means spin. The meat is pressed, processed, spiced lamb. It is pressed into a cylindrical mold, and is kept warm on a rotating (spinning) skewer, hence the term. In Italian, spin is giro, and Italy's great bicycle race is Giro-Italia. In physics, spinning bodies (ie planets, tops) possess gyroscopic properties due to their angular momentum.

Back to gyros. The yogurt-cucumber sauce is called tzadziki.

If I can tolerate Bush saying "nu-que-lar" instead of "nu-cle-ar", I can certain tolerate "JAI-ros" instead of "YEE-ros".

Opa!

FrayedDimitrios Paskoudniakis

"Dimitrios Paskoudniakis" wrote in message news:[email]...

Believe it or not, in California, it's pronounced YEEro...great, now I want one and it's not even 8 in the morning yet... Karen

ErFrayed

"Frayed" wrote in message news:BBOfd.10893$[email]...

a

when

want one

I'm going to California. You know, I got the bug.

Er

ArtadorerEr

But you can't act!

ErArtadorer

"Artadorer" wrote in message news:[email]...

Hey, I was in a Woody Allen movie once.

Er

Dimitrios PaskoudniakisEr

"Er" wrote in message news:clqmku$mvo$[email]...

"These pretzels are making me thirsty!?"

ArtadorerEr

Was Mia Farrow there?

Dave CuddyArtadorer

"Artadorer" wrote in message news:[email]...

i didn't see him.

Mark MellinFrayed

In article , "Frayed" wrote:

You're in luck. Gyro King, 25 Grove Street, opens at 7:30. You'll have to be quick, though, they're just up the west stairs of the Civic Center subway stop.

  • Mark
Mark Mellin San Mateo Village, CA 94403-2918 USA