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Greek · Reactions & Outbursts

τι λες ρε

ti les re

tee LESS reh · /ti ˈles re/

What are you talking about?! / No way! / You can't be serious.

2/5 Bar-safe

coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances

Literally

"what are you saying, man"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

Disbelief in three words. Flat: "what are you on about." Rising and wide-eyed: "no way, are you serious?!" Add "ρε μαλάκα" among friends for the full astonished "dude, WHAT." "Τι λες τώρα;" (what are you saying now?) is the slightly softer, more mainstream version you can use with anyone. Bar-safe 2 mostly because of the "ρε." One of those phrases that instantly reads as fluent.

Heard in the wild

Χώρισαν; Τι λες ρε, δεν το πιστεύω!

They broke up? No way, I don't believe it!

Where it lands

Greece & Cyprus (universal)

Quick answers

What does "τι λες ρε" mean?
In Greek, "τι λες ρε" means "What are you talking about?! / No way! / You can't be serious.". Literally it's "what are you saying, man". Disbelief in three words. Flat: "what are you on about." Rising and wide-eyed: "no way, are you serious?!" Add "ρε μαλάκα" among friends for the full astonished "dude, WHAT." "Τι λες τώρα;" (what are you saying now?) is the slightly softer, more mainstream version you can use with anyone. Bar-safe 2 mostly because of the "ρε." One of those phrases that instantly reads as fluent.
Is "τι λες ρε" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
How do you pronounce "τι λες ρε"?
Say it "tee LESS reh" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ti ˈles re.

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. απίστευτο apísteuto ah-PEE-stef-toh Unbelievable / incredible — in wonder or in outrage. τι στο διάολο ti sto diáolo tee stoh THYAH-oh-loh What the hell / what the devil.

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "No way".

how to say "No way" →how to say "Unbelievable" →

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