My grandfather passed away when I was very young. Before he passed, he gave me some gifts personalized with the nickname "Putschke." He spoke Polish, Yiddish, German (Austrian), and English. Could "Putschke" be a Polish word, or a misspelled Polish word? I've been trying to figure out the meaning of this word for years. I was the only grandchild my grampa lived to see, so it must have had some special significance for him. If it helps, I am female.
Maybe it was "pućka" (in Polish that would sound similar to "putschke.") That would make sense if you were a chubby child; "pućkowata" is parentese for "chubby", and "pućka" is simply an affectionate diminutive of it (it can also refer to a person who is not necessarily chubby but has a round face and full cheeks.)
Nickname not surname. "Putschke" sounds like "Pućka" - obviously the man was Polish-Jewish, loved her granddaughter very much and affectionately spoke to her in beautiful Polish parentese (the best language to express love to your children and grandchildren.)
Why are you arguing with me, damn it? First Copernicus, then Dyl Sowizdrzał (Till Eulenspiegel), and now you want to steal Pućka from us! :-/
My whole family still uses it to this day - deeply relaxed nature, dawdling, no pressure to make a solution. Sometimes it is positive ie. "i am going to putschke around in the garage." Or negative, "stop putschking around - we'll be late." it came from the Ukrainian side of the family I believe.
@anemone This was my nickname as well! My grandpa called me 'pućka' (no idea if this is the correct spelling) and i assumed it meant fat or chubby baby. Haven't been able to find the origins and this is the first I've heard anyone else being referred to as 'pućka'. Was it pronounced 'pooch-ka'?
My father called me this also , and I always wonder the meaning . Coming from him it could ONLY have been Polish . I remember asking him what it meant . He said it was just a name for me .And It was said with much affection & love ❤
My Polish mother would refer to my children as "paskudna(sp) pushka" and then spit. She told me it meant ugly cheeks and spitting would reverse the meaning. I am now calling my grandson just pushka because it sounds appropriate to the cute kid that he is.
He called you Pączek. In America people pronounce it poonchka. Pączek is similar to a donut without a hole and very often children are called a pączek, because they are round and sweet.
Just named our new pup Putchie. My father called me that when I was a toddler. His mother was from Poland. I was a skinny petite girl without fat cheeks.
It always sounded very loving and positive to me. "How s my Putchkie today"?
I suspect that you are American Polish Americans are a different breed to the rest of the Polish Diaspora and tended to play by different rules. They made up words,some of them very English sounding. And the fact that your dad was American and only your Grandfather was Polish, enforces that. The bottom line is, I don't think that term has any connection to Poland at all. Sorry, but you are just not very Polish.
I also was called "putchkee" growing up. Mom would say, " my little putchkee". She was pure Polish and we lived with Grandpa from Poland. I am unsure of the correct spelling.
