Yo so un buen zarzavachí mijor de las boticas, el da 'ntero me se va hablando con mocicas. La merenjena la tengo buena y la patata y la cebolla, al echar a la olla yo ya las se vencer. Dame una oka de aquí para composto quero que para fruta non topí, sólo de tí prefero.
I am a good green grocer better that the other stores I pass the whole day talking to girls The eggplant I have a good one I have an onion and potato when I throw them in the pot I know how to master them Bring here an oka (Tur. weight, about 1.2 kg.) for the fruit compote I love though I have not found any fruit that I prefer more than you
From Arboleras vol. 3, Sephardic songs from the 20th century, 2000
Another song referring to the Sephardic trades in the Jewish quarters of Salonika, in this case, the vegetable seller.
In it, terms like karavozchi (in Turkish, vegetable seller) and densiador (in Ladino, vegetable carrier) are mentioned.
The prices given are in Turkish money: the okka (equivalent to 1.3 kg) and the medina (a small coin).
(1 okka = 1.3 kg; 1 okka = 1.282 kg.)
The version was learned from Esterka Sadiéira-Moestra.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025