Expert: Sam - 12/28/2006

Question
I NEEDED A NAME FOR MY KITTEN, AND MY COUSIN SUGGESTED TO CALL HER MOYA WHICH SHE SAID IN SLOVAK IT MEANT "MINE". I DID BUT I CHANGED THE SPELLING TO "MOIYA". I HAD A MAJOR HOUSE FIRE AND LOST MY 2 YR OLD MOIYA TO SMOKE INHALATION. IN HONOR OF HER MEMORY, I WOULD LIKE TO USE "MOIYA" ON MY LICENSE PLATES, BUT NOT SURE IF THIS SPELLING "MOIYA" MEANS ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT OFFEND SOMEONE. CAN YOU TELL ME?

Answer
Hi Violet,

I am sorry for letting you wait so long. I have been travelling visiting family since Christmas and I haven't got to checking my email...

First of all, I am sorry to hear about the loss of Moiya. It's a wonderful idea to put her name on your license plates in her memory.

Moiya does not mean anything in Slovak (spelled that way). In Slovak it is spelled "moja," which yields the same pronunciation (in Slovak) as "moiya" or "moya" in English. And it does mean "mine," even "my dear" in certain context.

To sum it up, you don't have to worry about it. Do put it on your license plates, you will remember her well.

You might be interested that a very popular "reality show" in the neighbouring Czech Republic featured a baby gorilla called Moja. The reason I put "reality show" in quotation marks is that it was more of a documentary - it featured five gorillas in a zoo. They had a daily program and competitions just like they would in Big Brother or so, but they were gorillas :-) The family consisted of one male, three female and one baby gorilla - the spectators' favourite - Moja. Read more at http://www.rozhlas.cz/unmasking .

Well, I ended up writing more about the gorilla, but I hope I have answered your question well. In case you want more information, please feel free to ask.

Bye,
Sam