Nadsat

Nadsat is a constructed slang dialect of English with many Russian influences invented by the linguist, novelist, and composer Anthony Burgess. See Concordance: A Clockwork Orange for a full list, along with definitions. It is a transliteration of the Russian suffix for 'teen'.

Description

Nadsat is a mode of speech used by various teen subcultures in the novel A Clockwork Orange. The anti-hero and narrator of the book, Alex, uses it, in first-person style, to relate the story to the reader. He also uses it to communicate with other characters in the novel, such as his droogs, parents, victims, and any authority-figures he comes into contact with.

It is not a written language: the sense that we have of the novel is of a transcription of vernacular speech, rather than an implementation of a published, bona-fide dialect.

Nadsat is basically English, with some transliterated words from Russian. It also contains influences from Cockney rhyming slang and the King James Bible, some words of unclear origin, and some that Burgess invented. The word 'nadsat' itself is the suffix of Russian numerals from 11 to 19 (-надцать). The suffix slurs the Russian words for 'on ten' — i.e., 'one-on-ten,' 'two-on-ten,' and so on — and thus forms an almost exact linguistic parallel to the English '-teen.'

Nadsat is in fact not so much a language as a register or argot. The words are inflected after English patterns regardless from what language they may have originated. Alex is capable of speaking standard English when he wants to; Nadsat is really a lexicon of 'extra' words which Alex uses to describe the world as he sees and experiences it:

Word	Meaning	Origins
Appy polly loggy	Apology	schoolboy speak
Baboochka	Old woman	Russian: babooshka/grandmother
Baddiwad	Bad	schoolboy speak
Banda	Gang	Russian: banda/band, gang
Bezoomny	Mad	Russian: byezoomniyi/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, faeces
Cancer	Cigarette	Standard slang term: ie. cancer stick
Cantora	Office	Russian: kontora/office
Carman	Pocket	Russian: karman/pocket
Chai	Tea	Russian: chai/tea (c.f. English Slang: cha/tea)
Charlie	Chaplain/Priest	Rhyming slang: Charlie 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, man
Chepooka	Nonsense	Russian: chyepookha/nonsense
Choodessny	Wonderful	Russian: choodesniyi/miraculous
Chumble	Mumble	Invented slang: chatter + mumble (?)
Clop	Knock	German: klopfen/hit & Dutch/Malay: kloppen/to 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 & Russian: dukh: spirit/shost
Dorogoy	Valuable	Russian: dorogoi/expensive, dear
Drat	Fight	Russian: drat/to tear to pieces, to kill & drat'sya/to fight
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	schoolboy speak
Em	Mum	Invented slang: 'M' from "Mama"
Fagged	Tired	English slang: tired
Filly	Play	Possibly English: "filly" is a young female horse, and "to horse around" means to indulge in horseplay or frivolous activity, thanks to Daniel Delany!)
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: gryazniyi/dirty
Grazzy	Soiled	Russian: gryazniyi/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	schoolboy speak
Hen-korm	Chickenfeed	Invented slang: hen-corn & Possibly Russian: korm/animal feed
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	schoolboy speak
Jeezny	Life	Russian: zhizn/life
Kartoffel	Potatoes	Russian: kartofel/potatoes or German: kartoffel/potatoes
Keeshkas	Guts	Russian: kishka/intestines
Kleb	Bread	Russian: khleb/bread
Klootch	Key	Russian: klyuch/key
Knopka	Button	Russian: knopka/push-button
Kopat	To Dig (Eng. idiom)	Russian: kopat/to dig (a hole, ditch, etc)
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 human being
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 (adv.)
Neezhnies	Underpants	Russian: nizhniyi/lower (adj.)
Nochy	Night	Russian: noch/night
Noga	Foot	Russian: noga/foot
Nozh	Knife	Russian: nozh/knife
Nuking (scent)	Smelling (of perfume)	Russian: nyukhat/to smell, take a whiff
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: uzhasniyi/terrible
Oozy	Chain	Russian: uzy/bonds
Orange	Man	Malay: Orang/Man (c.f. the Orang Utan ape)
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: pischa/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 (biological characteristic)
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: Derived 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, common sense
Raz	Time	Russian: raz/occasion
Razdrez	Upset	Russian: razdrazhat/to irritate
Razrez	To Rip	Russian: razryvat/to rip; razrezat/to cut
Rooker	Hand	Russian: ruka/hand
Rot	Mouth	Russian: rot/mouth
Rozz	Policeman	Russian: rozha/ugly face or grimace (possibly also, English slang: Rozzer/policeman)
Sabog	Shoe	French: sabot/a type of shoe (?) & Possibly Russian: sapog/a tall shoe
Sakar	Sugar	Russian: sakhar/sugar
Sammy	Generous	Russian: samoye/ the most
Sarky	Sarcastic	English slang: shortening of 'sarcastic'
Scoteena	"Cow"	Russian: skotina/colloquial: brute or 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 (more exactly, something you use to hit with) & Possibly Dutch/Malay: slaag/hit
Shlapa	Hat	Russian: shlyapa/hat
Shlem	Helmet	Russian: shlem/helmet
Shoom	Noise	Russian: shum/noise
Shoot	Fool (v.)	Russian: shutit/to fool; shut/joker
Sinny	Movies, film	Invented slang: from cinema
Skazat	To say	Russian: skazat/to say
Skolliwoll	School	schoolboy 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) / watercloset
Veck	Guy	Russian: chelovyek/person, man
Vellocet	A particular drug	Invented slang: Amphetamine (Speed - from English 'velocity'?)/Cocaine?
Veshch	Thing	Russian: vesch/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	Semitic: jewish
Yahzick	Tongue	Russian: yazik/tongue
Yarbles	Balls, testicles	Russian: yabloki/apples (cf. marbles)
Yeckate	To Drive	Russian: yekhat/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

Nadsat words are all concrete or semi-abstract: to discuss philosophy Alex would probably have to shift into a more standardised form of English. The fact that a teen language has no abstract words is perhaps Burgess' reflection on the shallowness of the juvenile delinquent's thought processes.

At least one translation of Burgess' book into Russian solved the problem of how to illustrate the Nadsat words - by using transliterated, slang English words in places where Burgess used Russian ones. This solution was however imperfect, as it lacked the original abstractness. Borrowed English words with Russian inflection were widely used in Russian slang, especialy among Russian hippies. Another translation used original English spelling of Nadsat.

A comprehensive lexicon lists the terms used in the book with their origins.

Function of Nadsat

Burgess, a polyglot who loved language in all its forms, was aware that linguistic slang was of a constantly changing nature, and knew that if he used modes of speech that were contemporarily in use the novel would very quickly become "dated". His implementation of Nadsat was essentially pragmatic; he needed his narrator to have a unique voice that would remain ageless while reinforcing Alex's indifference to his society's norms and to suggest that youth subculture existed independently of the rest of society.

Burgess was aware of British youth culture in this era - the teddy boys, Mods, and Rockers. These subcultures were all influenced to some extent by American music, movies, language, and personalities. In the near-future world of "A Clockwork Orange" these influences are absent; instead, he seems to be suggesting that it is Russian culture that British youth is looking to for inspiration. This shows Burgess' views on the "vapidity" of youth culture, with Nadsat illustrating the lengths to which the people who use it are willing to go in identifying with whatever is "in" at any particular moment.^{[citation needed]}

External links

Description

Function of Nadsat

See also

External links