Greek · Reactions & Outbursts
απίστευτο
apísteuto
ah-PEE-stef-toh · /aˈpi.stef.to/
Unbelievable / incredible — in wonder or in outrage.
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
Literally
"unbelievable"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Clean, TV-safe astonishment: "απίστευτο!" for the amazing goal or the outrageous bill alike. Fully Grandma-safe, so it's your polite-company disbelief word when "τι λες ρε" is too familiar. "Ανήκουστο" (unheard-of) is a more indignant sibling. Stretch it — "απίίίστευτο" — to sell the shock.
Heard in the wild
Τρεις ώρες στην ουρά; Απίστευτο!
Three hours in line? Unbelievable!
Where it lands
Greece & Cyprus (universal)
Quick answers
- What does "απίστευτο" mean?
- In Greek, "απίστευτο" means "Unbelievable / incredible — in wonder or in outrage.". Literally it's "unbelievable". Clean, TV-safe astonishment: "απίστευτο!" for the amazing goal or the outrageous bill alike. Fully Grandma-safe, so it's your polite-company disbelief word when "τι λες ρε" is too familiar. "Ανήκουστο" (unheard-of) is a more indignant sibling. Stretch it — "απίίίστευτο" — to sell the shock.
- Is "απίστευτο" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
- How do you pronounce "απίστευτο"?
- Say it "ah-PEE-stef-toh" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: aˈpi.stef.to.
Related in Greek
έλα ρε éla re EH-lah reh Come on! / No way! / You're kidding — disbelief, protest, or delight depending on tone. τι φάση ti fási tee FAH-see What's going on? / What the hell? / What's the deal? πω πω po po poh POH Wow / oh my / good grief — astonishment, dismay, or admiration. ωχ och okh Uh-oh / oops / oh no. τι λες ρε ti les re tee LESS reh What are you talking about?! / No way! / You can't be serious. τι στο διάολο ti sto diáolo tee stoh THYAH-oh-loh What the hell / what the devil.
The same idea, elsewhere
Via concepts like "Unbelievable".
- French Oh la vache ! Holy cow! / Wow! / Whoa!
- German Verdammt nochmal! God damn it! / For crying out loud!
- Italian Minchia! Holy shit! / Wow! / Damn!
- Japanese やばい Insane / crazy / no way — good OR bad, from context
- Korean 헐 Whoa / no way / I can't even — the all-purpose stunned noise.
- Polish masakra A disaster / unbelievable / total carnage — the all-purpose 'this is insane.'
- Portuguese Caramba! Wow! / Geez! / Holy cow!
- Russian Офигеть! Wow! / Holy cow! / No way!
Reviewed by native speakers. Rate it differently? Tell us what we got wrong.