Wanted: Non- English CW terms

Hi everyone,

during my activations I like to say one or two friendly words to the person I’m having a QSO with, preferably in his or her own language.

Listening to the bands, you can frequently hear “dsw” or “ciao” as well as “hej” or “hei”. Some time ago I started collecting abbreviations in other languages. Phrases like the German “awdh” (auf wiederhoeren), the Czech “ahoj”, Hungarian “szia”, French “bjr” or “mci”, Spanish “grs” are already on my list.

Additional expressions, comments and hints are welcome.

Thanks and 73,
Roman - DL3TU

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Maybe these links can help a bit ?

http://cw.hfradio.org/cw_resources/abbreviations.html

I like to do the same!
Another source of insight (although no translations provided) is http://eucw.org/op.html
I think EUCW would be a grand place to host such a list so perhaps sharing it with one of the officers on the site could help getting it posted somewhere everyone can share.

Servus (Austrian) Michael (G0POT)

Hey it’s Anzac day today - so you should include some Australian greetings (of course these are not specifically CW, rather spoken - I suspect there aren’t CW abbreviations for these, but who knows?) -

See Ya! (Good Bye)
G’Day Mate (Hello)
WatchYa (Hello)
Ooo Roo or Hooo Roo (Good Bye)
OwyerDoing (how are you - is this UK or Aus?).

73 Ed DD5LP / AX2JI - if I were in Aus today.

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And for those of us in the USA the following are options;

  1. Have a nice day (and then send a smiley face)
  2. Howdy partner (but only for those in the western states)
    Or you could try a new word that has entered the local vernacular, “bigly”.
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Some Russian ones I use:

priwet = hello

moj drug = my friend

poka = so long, see you later

I have a text file of other phrases I can email you if interested

Tom NQ7R

Hi Tom,

yes, please send the file. I’m going to merge all inputs I get and share the result here or some other public place.

73, tnx, Roman - DL3TU

Hi Roman,
I don’t think we have/use many abbreviations in Spanish.
Here are some coming to my mind right now in addition to GRS = Gracias = Thanks, which you mentionned in your post:

BD = Buenos Días = Good morning
BT = Buenas Tardes = Good afternoon/evening (valid for both)
BN = Buenas Noches = Good night or Good evening (when in after sunset times, when it’s dark)
FTE ABZO = Fuerte Abrazo = Big Hug

73,

Guru

Hi Roman

In CT we don’t use many non standard (Eng/French) expressions.

Some of the ones that we use in Portuguese are:
BD - Bom dia = Good morning
BT - Boa Tarde = Good afternoon
BN - Good evening = Good night (From sunset to dawn)
AB - Abraço - Hug
Obrigado - OBG = Thank you

Most of the time we use plain Portuguese.

73 de Pedro, CT1DBS/CU3HF

Hi Ed,
slightly off topic (CW abbrevs), but:
I never say those phrases on the air, other than g’day. some I don’t recognise as Australian at all.
Watchya for hello? nah.
I think an Australian hearing those pronounced in a slightly unAustralian accent would burst out laughing…

Use at your own risk.

73 Andrew VK1DA/VK2UH

You could be right “Whatchya” could be from the UK. (Whats happening with you)

Hello everyone and thanks for the feedback!

Below you can find a compilation of the abbreviations I received so far. Some suggestions seem to be more useful in SSB. Hence I didn’t add them to the list (tnx anyway, DD5LP and W6PNG)
Please feel free to comment/ add/ correct phrases! I’ll post an updated version (probably an Excel- spreadsheet) later.
73, Roman

CT
BD - Bom dia = Good morning
BT - Boa tarde = Good afternoon
BN - Boa noite = Good evening/ Good night (From sunset to dawn)
AB - Abraço = Hug
OBG - Obrigado = Thank you

DL, HB9, HB0, OE
GM - Guten Morgen = Good morning
GT - Guten Tag = Good day
GA - Guten Abend = Good evening
GN - Gute Nacht = Good night
AWDH - Auf Wiederhoeren = Good bye
SERVUS = Good bye in OE?
VLN DK - Vielen Dank = Thanks a lot

EA
BD - Buenos Días = Good morning
BT - Buenas Tardes = Good afternoon/evening (valid for both)
BN - Buenas Noches = Good night or Good evening (when it’s dark)
FTE ABZO - Fuerte Abrazo = Big Hug
GRS - Gracias = Thank you

F
BJR - Bonjour = Good morning
BSR - Bonsoir = Good evening
BN - Bonne nuit = Good night
??? - À bientôt = Good bye
MCI - Merci = Thank you

HA
JR = Good morning
JN = Good day
JE = Good evening
JEE = Good night
SZIA = Good bye (also hello?)
KSM = Thank you

I
CIAO = Good bye

UA
DU = Good morning
DD = Good day
DW = Good evening
DN = Good night
ZDR = heard many times on air, meaning not sure, maybe “Hello”?
DSW = Good bye
POKA = So long
SPB = Thank you
Maybe someone can comment on what is being used in UR, UN,….

OK/OM
DJ = Good morning
DD = Good day
DV = Good evening
DN = Good night
NSL = Good bye (never heard)
AHOJ = So long
DP = Thank you

OH
HEI = Hello/ Good bye

S5, 9A (4O, E7, YU, Z3 ?)
ZZ = Good day

SM
GM = Good morning
GD = Good day
HEJ = Good bye

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I believe the Hungarian SZIA and the Italian CIAO are like a 73 = regards and can be used as a Hello in the beginning of the QSO as well as a Good bye at the end.
Exactly as you wrote for HEI in Finland (OH)
An Italian and an Hungarian will better speak about this but, as long as this doesn’t happen, I wanted to give you my contribution, since I’ve been in Italy and Hungary several times and I’ve heard people using those expressions as I mentionned.
73, CIAO, SZIA, :slight_smile:

Guru

Typically spelt “Wotcher” and typically associated with London, according to various online dictionaries. Definitely not Australian. Never heard it in 30 years in Australia, but then I do hang around with the cool kids…

This is very regional, and typically only used by South Australians. They also have a funny accent and a tendency to use the word “heaps” instead of “very”, which can be “heaps annoying” to any grammar nazis listening in.

What is this, the 1910s? :slight_smile:

Hi Andrew,
Roman is only looking for abbreviations used in CW (and their meanings) so most, if not all of my suggestions would be little used given the lower usage of CW in Australia - you’re right, you’re no longer in 1910s.

Ed.

Andrew, tell him he’s dreamng.

I think the idea of a list of common greetings in other languages is a fine idea.

When it comes to local idiom, then maybe leave that to the locals.

For example I use “hooroo” once or twice a week on air (SSB).

“G’day” I use in emails and conversation with familiars.

TU, TNX, GL GM, GA, GE, GN, HI, and others made up on the spot for CW.

73
Ron,
VK3AFW

Hi everyone,

thanks for the feedback I received during the last week.
All inputs are now available in the table below which is more handy than the long list shared before.

The Excel- Sheet is available on my Blog:

Please feel free to comment/ add/ correct phrases! I’ll continue collecting them and post an update from time to time.

73, Roman - DL3TU

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