Greek · 18 phrases
Insults & Idiots
Greek insults lean heavily anatomical — the language has a remarkable number of ways to call you a testicle — and shade constantly into affection. The same word can wound a stranger and warm a friend, so tone does the heavy lifting. Here's the range, from the gentle "silly" to the genuinely nasty.
χαζός chazós khah-ZOHSS Silly / dumb / airhead — the gentlest 'you idiot.' δειλός deilós thee-LOHSS Coward. φιγουρατζής figouratzís fee-ghoo-rah-DZEESS Show-off / poser — someone all about appearances. γαϊδούρι gaïdoúri ghah-ee-THOO-ree A rude, boorish, ill-mannered person — a lout. καραγκιόζης karagkiózis kah-rah-GYOH-zeess A clown / buffoon / attention-seeking fool — someone who makes a spectacle of himself. ξεφτίλα xeftíla ksef-TEE-lah A total disgrace / an embarrassment / pathetic. σκάσε skáse SKAH-seh Shut up! / Zip it! βλάκας vlákas VLAH-kahss Idiot / fool / dummy. αρχίδι archídi ar-KHEE-thee Asshole / jerk — a genuinely unpleasant person. κερατάς keratás keh-rah-TAHSS Cuckold — a man whose partner cheats; also a general term of abuse. κωλόπαιδο kolópaido koh-LOH-peh-thoh Little bastard / brat / rascal. μαλάκας malákas mah-LAH-kahss Asshole / idiot — OR — dude / mate. The single most important word in Greek. παπάρι papári pah-PAH-ree Idiot / dickhead — and 'παπάριες' = nonsense / bullshit. σκατόψυχος skatópsychos skah-TOHP-see-khoss A mean, petty, spiteful person — bad to the core. άντε γαμήσου ánte gamísou AHN-deh gah-MEE-soo Go fuck yourself / get lost / piss off. γαμώ το Θεό σου gamó to Theó sou ghah-MOH toh theh-OH soo Goddammit / God damn you — heavy blasphemous cursing aimed at a person. μαλακισμένος malakisménos mah-lah-keez-MEH-noss Jerk-off / wanker — a nastier, no-affection escalation of malakas. πουτάνα poutána poo-TAH-nah Whore — a heavy gendered insult; also 'πουτάνας γιος,' son of a bitch.