Enzo laughed. “So Georgian is just ‘Mama mia’ with different spices?”
Enzo tried it: “Deda chemoo!” Tiko nodded. “Good. But here’s the twist.” mama mia qartulad
She led him to a bakery selling fresh lobiani (bean bread). An old man bit into a hot one, burned his tongue, and yelled: Enzo laughed
Enzo’s eyes lit up. “Really? What?” burned his tongue
It means ‘Light of my mother!’ — still a ‘Mama mia’ feeling, but warmer. And if someone jumps out and scares you? You shout:
Tiko held up one finger. “Let me tell you a helpful story.” “In Italy,” Tiko began, “ Mama mia means ‘My mother!’ — but you use it when you’re surprised, upset, or amazed. In Georgia, we also call on mothers… just differently.”