Busha and JaJa

No one has solved this mystery so far. And I sincerely doubt if anyone ever does ... That JaJa is truly hilarious to the Polish eye.

Busha and JaJa ... Very funny!

Yes, when seeing Jaja, we read eggs or balls.
Busha when uttered reminds of busz - the bush or scrub.

My Babusia was first generation born in the USA. Her parents arrived in the US as young teenagers and were sponsored by their employers in Baltimore MD. They each held menial jobs, Joseph worked as a stevedore on the docks, Josepha worked for a doctor doing laundry. They married young, shared a home with other immigrant siblings, and had 13 children, only 7 survived to adulthood. Throughout the years, the Polish language was spoken less and less in their shared household. After their death, their adult children would often debate proper pronunciations of the few Polish words and expressions that they remembered. I was once schooled on the proper way to say Babucia because have the accent on the first syllable, changed the meaning from Grandmother to a scarf that was worn on a woman's head. Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren (including me) did not have a problem with taking liberties with these inherited words.... my grandmother used the Polish name of Babucia.... but we spelled it Babushia or Babusha,(with the accent on the second syllable) and I shortened to the breathy baby endearment, Busha. She did not have a problem with this, BECAUSE she only had a third grade education. This was not because she was stupid, it was because she needed to go to work when she was 9 years old!. This was not uncommon practice in the early 1900's. So her inability to properly write or read Polish, is perfectly understandable. It was largely a lost language to the first generation because education was not a priority... SURVIVAL was the only priority. She did not give me the Polish language, but she did give me the values of endurance, steadfast faith, and unconditional family love.

I believe that ANY Americanized version of the name Babcia of Babucia, should be respected because it reflects the adaptation that was required for the immigrant's survival in their new land. And for me, Busha embodies the best traditions and values that Poland had to offer our country. So let us embrace these Americanized Polish names because they represent our immigrant foundation of young survivors.

Probably from where the Yiddish "bubby" for "grandma" derives:-)

@cassandra
My dad lived with a couple for a while in Toledo that I grew up later in life calling them that!!

Late, er, very late to the party. But I was raised by my Polish grandmother in suburban Chicago from age 8 (1962) till I went out on my own at 21 (1975). I, and everyone in my family, including herself, called her Busha. Her husband died when I was 6, and was called JaJa until his death. Not sure what part of Poland they were from but they came to America sometime in the teens (1910 - 1919) as my mother was born in Decatur, IL in 1920. I'm not gonna argue with any know-it-alls as I and my family lived this.

No one denies that busha was/is used by American Polonia. They just point out it is all but non-existent in modern Poland...

Has anyone heard of it being used by Polonia in other parts of the world like Brazil? Australia? (or somewhere else)?

Not only modern. Also ancient. Busia must come from Babusia which in Poland is replaced with babcia.

Long ago, in 1970s, I read a kids` book about twin siblings and their family with the main protagonist of grandma who tries to adopt a small boy without telling others first. They called her Bunia, from babunia.

I'm reading a book with a lot of Jamaican patois in it - hard work as I'm on page 400 of 700. Just came accross 4 uses of Busha and it seems to mean " master" or "boss" but could be grandad. Not much help from google either

Yes, but it is basza - it meant a top official in old Turkish Empire.

Ah yes, like Pasha. That makes sense as there are Syrians and Lebanese Populations in Jamaica

Yes, pasha and basha are the same.

Hi, non-polish person looking for a common polish nickname that a grandparent would call their grandchild - for a creative writing assignment

You need to specify the gender.

My grandparents and great grandmother arrived in America from Poland in 1920. Moved to detriot, Michigan.
I called them Busia and jaja. I never knew anything but those terms for them. Polish was spoken in household.

My grandparents were immigrants from Poland and they had all the grandkids call them busha and jaja. I never knew any other terms. That's what they taught us. So anyone bashing it, tell that to my long passed grandparents. Being immigrants and 100% polish from Pomerania, I sure wouldn't tell them they were wrong to use those words. My grandkids all call me busha and I won't charge it as I'm honored to use my busha's term.

I don't think anyone is bashing anyone using the terms, they're well establish in the Polish-American community. They're just not used in modern Poland. I've never heard busia (though I think it might have some regional use in eastern Poland). I've heard dziadzia (jaja) a little but usually not of grandfathers more very old men in general...

My aunt, who was Polish, settled in Baltimore. Her husband was also Polish. His family always called his mother "busha".
As an endearment, We always called both our grandmothers "BAH-chee". Dziadzi was always dziadzi.

That has never ceased to fascinate me that one can call babcia busha. I sometimes wonder who is more flakey - me or Polish emigrants to the USA. :):):):)

I only ever knew babcia and dziadek.

There is a difference between Pole Ams and Anglo Poles.

The Yanks wanted to simplify or maybe Americanise things whilst the Brits held on to tradition more.