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Greek · Insults & Idiots

αρχίδι

archídi

ar-KHEE-thee · /arˈçi.ði/

Asshole / jerk — a genuinely unpleasant person.

3/5 Watch your audience

genuinely rude; friends only, never at work

Literally

"testicle"

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

How to use it

One of Greek's many anatomical insults. Calling a man an αρχίδι means he's an asshole — not just foolish (that's malákas) but actively nasty or arrogant. "Αρχίδια!" (balls!) as an exclamation means "bullshit / nonsense," and the wonderful "γράφω στα αρχίδια μου" (I write it on my balls) means "I couldn't care less." Watch-your-audience 3: friends only. The plural αρχίδια also just means the anatomy, so context does a lot of work here.

Heard in the wild

Μη δίνεις σημασία, αρχίδι είναι.

Don't pay him any attention, he's an asshole.

Where it lands

Greece & Cyprus (universal)

Quick answers

What does "αρχίδι" mean?
In Greek, "αρχίδι" means "Asshole / jerk — a genuinely unpleasant person.". Literally it's "testicle". One of Greek's many anatomical insults. Calling a man an αρχίδι means he's an asshole — not just foolish (that's malákas) but actively nasty or arrogant. "Αρχίδια!" (balls!) as an exclamation means "bullshit / nonsense," and the wonderful "γράφω στα αρχίδια μου" (I write it on my balls) means "I couldn't care less." Watch-your-audience 3: friends only. The plural αρχίδια also just means the anatomy, so context does a lot of work here.
Is "αρχίδι" offensive?
It's genuinely rude — a 3/5 (Watch your audience) on the Punch-o-Meter. Fine among friends, never at work or with people you've just met.
How do you pronounce "αρχίδι"?
Say it "ar-KHEE-thee" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: arˈçi.ði.

Related in Greek

μαλάκας malákas mah-LAH-kahss Asshole / idiot — OR — dude / mate. The single most important word in Greek. βλάκας vlákas VLAH-kahss Idiot / fool / dummy. χαζός chazós khah-ZOHSS Silly / dumb / airhead — the gentlest 'you idiot.' μαλακισμένος malakisménos mah-lah-keez-MEH-noss Jerk-off / wanker — a nastier, no-affection escalation of malakas. παπάρι papári pah-PAH-ree Idiot / dickhead — and 'παπάριες' = nonsense / bullshit. κερατάς keratás keh-rah-TAHSS Cuckold — a man whose partner cheats; also a general term of abuse.

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