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Greek · Insults & Idiots

δειλός

deilós

thee-LOHSS · /ðiˈlos/

Coward.

2/5 Bar-safe

coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances

Literally

"cowardly"

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

How to use it

The straight word for a coward — someone gutless, who backs down or won't stand up. Bar-safe 2, more a serious character judgment than a vulgar insult. Coarser alternatives carry the same charge with more punch: "δεν έχει αρχίδια" (he's got no balls) or "κότα" (chicken). In a culture with a strong streak of φιλότιμο (honor/pride), calling a man δειλός questions his character, so it lands harder than the mild severity suggests.

Heard in the wild

Μη γίνεσαι δειλός, πες της την αλήθεια.

Don't be a coward, tell her the truth.

Where it lands

Greece & Cyprus (universal)

Quick answers

What does "δειλός" mean?
In Greek, "δειλός" means "Coward.". Literally it's "cowardly". The straight word for a coward — someone gutless, who backs down or won't stand up. Bar-safe 2, more a serious character judgment than a vulgar insult. Coarser alternatives carry the same charge with more punch: "δεν έχει αρχίδια" (he's got no balls) or "κότα" (chicken). In a culture with a strong streak of φιλότιμο (honor/pride), calling a man δειλός questions his character, so it lands harder than the mild severity suggests.
Is "δειλός" 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 "δειλός"?
Say it "thee-LOHSS" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ðiˈlos.

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.' αρχίδι archídi ar-KHEE-thee Asshole / jerk — a genuinely unpleasant person. 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.

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Coward".

how to say "Coward" →

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