Greek · 19 phrases
Frustration & Fate
Traffic, bureaucracy, the bill, the strike — Greek has a rich vocabulary for things going wrong, anchored by the great national shrug, "τι να κάνουμε" (what can you do). From the comic self-directed γαμώ to the weary acceptance of fate, here's how Greeks vent.
μπάχαλο báchalo BAH-khah-loh A mess / chaos / complete shambles. κόλλησα στην κίνηση kóllisa stin kínisi KOH-lee-sah steen KEE-nee-see I'm stuck in traffic — the eternal Athens lament. σιγά sigá see-GHAH Big deal / whatever / calm down / as if — dismissive minimizing. τι να κάνουμε ti na kánoume tee nah KAH-noo-meh What can you do / that's life / oh well — weary Greek resignation. άντε ρε ánte re AHN-deh reh Get outta here / oh come on / give me a break — dismissive disbelief. ανάθεμα anáthema ah-NAH-theh-mah Damn / curse it — a formal-flavored malediction. ξεφτίλα xeftíla ksef-TEE-lah A total disgrace / an embarrassment / pathetic. μας πήρε τα σώβρακα mas píre ta sóvraka mahss PEE-reh tah SOH-vrah-kah It cost a fortune / it cleaned us out — outrageously expensive. στο διάολο sto diáolo stoh THYAH-oh-loh To hell (with it/you) / go to hell / get lost. τι στο διάολο ti sto diáolo tee stoh THYAH-oh-loh What the hell / what the devil. τρελάθηκες; treláthikes? treh-LAH-thee-kess Are you crazy?! / Have you lost your mind? ξενέρωσα xenérosa kseh-NEH-roh-sah I lost the mood / I'm let down / that killed my vibe. χέστηκα chéstika KHEHS-tee-kah I couldn't care less — OR — I got the fright of my life (context decides). δεν γαμιέται den gamiétai then gah-MYEH-teh Who gives a fuck / forget it / to hell with it — dismissive resignation. γαμώ την τρέλα μου gamó tin tréla mou ghah-MOH teen TREH-lah moo For fuck's sake / goddammit — self-directed exasperation. γαμώτο gamóto ghah-MOH-toh Damn it! / Dammit! μας χέσανε mas chésane mahss KHEH-sah-neh They let us down / screwed us over / treated us like dirt. μας γάμησε mas gámise mahss GHAH-mee-seh It screwed us / we're done for / that ruined everything. 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.