Work in progress! Native speakers are still checking every phrase. Spot something off? Tell us.
cursing.in curse like a local

Greek · Reactions & Outbursts

τι στο διάολο

ti sto diáolo

tee stoh THYAH-oh-loh · /ti sto ˈðja.o.lo/

What the hell / what the devil.

2/5 Bar-safe

coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances

Literally

"what in the devil"

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

How to use it

The Greek "what the hell," and the mildest use of the devil, who is everywhere in Greek cursing. Also "πού στο διάολο" (where the hell), "γιατί στο διάολο" (why the hell). Bar-safe 2 — the devil is far softer than the saints; invoking Satan barely registers next to invoking the Virgin. "Διάολε!" alone is "damn it!" Very useful, very common, won't get you in real trouble.

Heard in the wild

Τι στο διάολο συμβαίνει εδώ πέρα;

What the hell is going on here?

Where it lands

Greece & Cyprus (universal)

Quick answers

What does "τι στο διάολο" mean?
In Greek, "τι στο διάολο" means "What the hell / what the devil.". Literally it's "what in the devil". The Greek "what the hell," and the mildest use of the devil, who is everywhere in Greek cursing. Also "πού στο διάολο" (where the hell), "γιατί στο διάολο" (why the hell). Bar-safe 2 — the devil is far softer than the saints; invoking Satan barely registers next to invoking the Virgin. "Διάολε!" alone is "damn it!" Very useful, very common, won't get you in real trouble.
Is "τι στο διάολο" 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 στο διάολο"?
Say it "tee stoh THYAH-oh-loh" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ti sto ˈðja.o.lo.

Related in Greek

γαμώτο gamóto ghah-MOH-toh Damn it! / Dammit! σκατά skatá skah-TAH Shit! / Crap! — and 'garbage / terrible' for anything low quality. γαμώ το / τη / τον… gamó to / ti / ton… ghah-MOH toh The productive Greek curse engine — 'fuck the [anything]' — how most heavy curses are built. 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.

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Damn".

how to say "Damn" →how to say "Unbelievable" →

Reviewed by native speakers. Rate it differently? Tell us what we got wrong.