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cursing.in curse like a local

Greek · Frustration & Fate

κόλλησα στην κίνηση

kóllisa stin kínisi

KOH-lee-sah steen KEE-nee-see · /ˈko.li.sa stin ˈci.ni.si/

I'm stuck in traffic — the eternal Athens lament.

1/5 Grandma-safe

mild, playful; fine on daytime TV

Literally

"I got stuck in the traffic"

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

How to use it

Athens runs on traffic complaints, and this is the standard one. "Κίνηση" is traffic; "μποτιλιάρισμα" is a full jam (from "bottle"); "κόλλησα" (I got stuck/glued) is what you text when you're late. Expect it paired with cursing at "ο δακτύλιος" (the city-center driving ring) and Kifisias Avenue. Grandma-safe on its own. The upgrade when you're truly furious: "γαμώ το μποτιλιάρισμα." A cornerstone of daily urban frustration.

Heard in the wild

Θα αργήσω, κόλλησα στην κίνηση στην Κηφισίας.

I'll be late, I'm stuck in traffic on Kifisias.

Where it lands

Greece (Athens especially); universal

Quick answers

What does "κόλλησα στην κίνηση" mean?
In Greek, "κόλλησα στην κίνηση" means "I'm stuck in traffic — the eternal Athens lament.". Literally it's "I got stuck in the traffic". Athens runs on traffic complaints, and this is the standard one. "Κίνηση" is traffic; "μποτιλιάρισμα" is a full jam (from "bottle"); "κόλλησα" (I got stuck/glued) is what you text when you're late. Expect it paired with cursing at "ο δακτύλιος" (the city-center driving ring) and Kifisias Avenue. Grandma-safe on its own. The upgrade when you're truly furious: "γαμώ το μποτιλιάρισμα." A cornerstone of daily urban frustration.
Is "κόλλησα στην κίνηση" 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 "κόλλησα στην κίνηση"?
Say it "KOH-lee-sah steen KEE-nee-see" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈko.li.sa stin ˈci.ni.si.

Related in Greek

γαμώτο gamóto ghah-MOH-toh Damn it! / Dammit! 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. σιγά sigá see-GHAH Big deal / whatever / calm down / as if — dismissive minimizing. τι στο διάολο ti sto diáolo tee stoh THYAH-oh-loh What the hell / what the devil. γαμώ την τρέλα μου gamó tin tréla mou ghah-MOH teen TREH-lah moo For fuck's sake / goddammit — self-directed exasperation. μας γάμησε mas gámise mahss GHAH-mee-seh It screwed us / we're done for / that ruined everything.

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Road rage".

how to say "Road rage" →

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