[XoioX2000]

You can guess what I'm gonna ask, can't you?

Why do we say Dwarf and Dwarves, and we don't say Smurf and Smurves?

Apologies if that's been asked before, but today I woke and felt like asking the question...

[Guest]

LOL ! you need some sleep !

GET BACK TO BED !

[Fram]

It's only Tolkien and his followers who say Dwarves, and what did he know about the English language (just kidding, I know his profession).

Apart from that: In Dutch, other words on "-rf" have a plural or verb that goes "-"rven (durf - durven, erf - erven, turf - turven), but Smurf has Smurfen (we also have "surfen" for surfing, but that's not an original Dutch word). I don't know why, but it just sounds better

[eggie smurf]

LOL the things dragons think of when they wake up! That is an interesting question...could it be because "smurf" is a made up word where dwarf/dwarves is not? Also there is "knife" and "knives", "wife" and "wives" but "strive" and "strives" does not follow....oooh ponder those

[Fram]

Life and Lifes... Is it barfs or barves? I have a feelings barves is wrong.

[Guest]

Is it barfs or barves?

No it is baffs where I come from, innit Ian?

[eggie smurf]

definitely barfs - no "ves" but it is "lives" I forgot that one!

[XoioX2000]

I never thought about "wives"... never had that many...

But aren't they all made up word anyway? I mean at some point, somebody made it up... Smurf is, let's say more "modern", maybe!

But who is to say it follows one rule or the other?

It wasn't Peyo.

[Syd Smurf]

While we are asking questions....it ocurred to me the other day that I did not know the origins of the word "Smurf". I also wanted to know why they are called different things in different countries when a lot of products are known only by the original name where they were produced....this might be a stupid question but it still interests me if anyone has any info on the names.

[Guest]

I know Puffi was changed because the literal translation sounds like poo.

[Yonna]

You guys are losing it!!

[Rachel]

While we are asking questions....it ocurred to me the other day that I did not know the origins of the word "Smurf". I also wanted to know why they are called different things in different countries when a lot of products are known only by the original name where they were produced....this might be a stupid question but it still interests me if anyone has any info on the names.

Off the top of my head I believe the word smurf originated because Peyo asked someone to pass him the salt at the dinner table and couldn't remember the name so he asked for the "watch-you-ma-call-it" which I think roughly translated at the time was schtroumpf (Fram you are going to have to correct me to the exact word if I am wrong). This then translated into other languages became the respective names. As to when all of these originated I am not too sure, for example I am pretty certain that the Welsh translation is a more modern one and would have been directly translated from Smurf rather than Schtroumpf hence we get Y Smyrffs. Please someone correct me if I am wrong as I haven't actually gone to check of this is correct.

[Fram]

Origin of Schtroumpf is indeed as Rachel tells it. Just an at the spot made up word by Peyo.

Origin of Smurf is Dutch, of course. It is reminiscent of Schtroumf, but sound more Dutch. It does not really resemble any other word. Sometimes something small is said to be 3 "turven" high, so that may be an influence. Dwarf (the English word) may have had some influence as well. In the end, it's down to the translator (although this may have been checked with Peyo as well, as it rather crucial). Perhaps "smal" (i.e. small) may have contributed to the initial "sm" somehow

[DrunkSmurf]

While we're on the subject:

What is the name (And correct color) for the aliens the smurfs become in the Astrosmurf story?

The American word is "Swoof", but I also see "Schlips", which I'm guessing is the Dutch(?). And why are they green in the comic and cartoon, but orange in the toy? Unlike "Angry Smurf" in the USA, we have no green-skinned ethnic groups...

[Bunno Smurf]

In my Astrosmurf comic they are orange not green, Drunksmurf.

[DrunkSmurf]

Oops, I must be thinking of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon. I think they were green in that.

[Syd Smurf]

I guess they didn't want to upset the orange minority groups in the US Tim

[Bunno Smurf]

Oops, I must be thinking of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon. I think they were green in that.

Yeah i think they are in the dvd volumes I have here...one of the dvds...forget which volume (I think vol 1)...weird thing is they are orange inside the cover of that too! The cover is the exact same pic as the comic from memory.

[Fram]

While we're on the subject:

What is the name (And correct color) for the aliens the smurfs become in the Astrosmurf story?

The American word is "Swoof", but I also see "Schlips", which I'm guessing is the Dutch(?). And why are they green in the comic and cartoon, but orange in the toy? Unlike "Angry Smurf" in the USA, we have no green-skinned ethnic groups...

"Schlips" is the German, I believe. The Dutch is "Gnoerf" (the Dutch "oe" is pronounced like the English "oo" like in "woof").

[XoioX2000]

I think they are "Schlips" in French too... (from memory)