по кочану

Russian

Alternative forms

  • покачену́ (pokačenú), покачину́ (pokačinú) — pronunciation spelling

Etymology

Literally, “on a head (of a cabbage)”, meaning that the question почему́ is re-ananlyzed as по (po) + чему (čemu) ("on what?"). The answer may be understood as a jokeful threat to punch the questioner on the head.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [pə‿kət͡ɕɪˈnu]

Phrase

по кочану́ • (po kočanú)

  1. Used as a humorous and dismissive rhyming response to почему́ (počemú, “why”).
    Synonym: потому́ что (potomú što)
    — Почему́? — По кочану́.
    — Počemú? — Po kočanú.
    — Why? — Because.
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