We were talking about the Hungarian translations of the astrological signs in class yesterday, and then continued the conversation during the going away party cook-out on Amy's porch. At that point, one of my classmates asked how to say, "What's your sign, baby?" Crucial information, of course. (This came right after Matyi introduced me to the word "csajozni" - literally translated as, "to go chick-ing.")
I volunteered the only word I knew for "sign/symbol" - "jel." As in "Mi a jeled." And reduced both my Hungarian teacher and his friend to absolute hysterics. I mean, they could not speak for, like, 5 minutes. He was holding his throat because it hurt too much from laughing. We all kind of sat around for a few moments, waiting for their laughter to subside.
Finally, he explained the, in kindergarten, when little kids aren't old enough to write their names, they are given a "jel." And so to ask, what is your "jel," is basically to ask this question of a woman at a club: "What was your sign in kindergarten?" The juxtaposition was apparently beyond hilarious.
Chalk another one down to amusing cultural/linguistic mistakes.
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