шляк би трафив

Ukrainian

Etymology

Шляк from German Schlag, short form of Schlaganfall (“stroke”) + би (by) + трафити (trafyty) from German treffen (“to strike, to hit”). Literally, "if only a stroke struck one".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈʃlʲaɡ bɪ ˈtrafeu̯]
• IPA^(key): [ʃlʲak] (шляк when standalone)

Interjection

шляк би тра́фив • (šljak by tráfyv)

1. (with accusative, somewhat vulgar) Used as an expression of anger, annoyance, or contempt with a person or thing.
   • 1930, Dmytro Bedzyk, Студені води [Freezing-cold waters], volume 1, published 1959, page 21:

     Та я раз у рік чи скуштую того м'яса, а вони, шляк би їх трафив, щодня курятину їдять!

     Ta ja raz u rik čy skuštuju toho mʺjasa, a vony, šljak by jix trafyv, ščodnja kurjatynu jidjatʹ!

     I eat that meat once a year if at all, and they, may they be damned, eat chicken every day!

   • 2022, “Стефанія [Stefania]”, Oleh Psiuk, Ivan Klymenko (lyrics), Ihor Didenchuk, Tymofii Muzychuk, and Vitalii Duzhyk (music):

     Я не мала дитина, вона далі нерви тратить. "Я гуляв", "Шляк би тебе трафив!"

     Ja ne mala dytyna, vona dali nervy tratytʹ. "Ja huljav", "Šljak by tebe trafyv!"

     I'm not a little child anymore, she continues to waste her nerves on me. "I was out playing", "Goddamn you!"

Usage notes

Although the object may be put after either of the three words, placing it after би is preferred (see quotations above). The word шляк is not used outside this set phrase.

References

• Bilodid, I. K., editor (1970–1980), “шляк”, in Словник української мови: в 11 т. [Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language: in 11 vols] (in Ukrainian), Kyiv: Naukova Dumka