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Greek · Insults & Idiots

βλάκας

vlákas

VLAH-kahss · /ˈvla.kas/

Idiot / fool / dummy.

2/5 Bar-safe

coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances

Literally

"fool / dimwit"

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

How to use it

The polite-society idiot — what you call someone (or yourself) for a dumb move without dropping to the coarse register. "Έκανα τον βλάκα" = I played dumb / I made a fool of myself. Bar-safe and even usable in mixed company where malákas would raise eyebrows. Feminine βλάκας/βλαμμένη; the noun βλακεία means "stupidity / a stupid thing." Teachers say it to students; nobody starts a fight over it.

Heard in the wild

Μην είσαι βλάκας, φυσικά και θα σε βοηθήσω.

Don't be an idiot, of course I'll help you.

Where it lands

Greece & Cyprus (universal)

Quick answers

What does "βλάκας" mean?
In Greek, "βλάκας" means "Idiot / fool / dummy.". Literally it's "fool / dimwit". The polite-society idiot — what you call someone (or yourself) for a dumb move without dropping to the coarse register. "Έκανα τον βλάκα" = I played dumb / I made a fool of myself. Bar-safe and even usable in mixed company where malákas would raise eyebrows. Feminine βλάκας/βλαμμένη; the noun βλακεία means "stupidity / a stupid thing." Teachers say it to students; nobody starts a fight over it.
Is "βλάκας" 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 "βλάκας"?
Say it "VLAH-kahss" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈvla.kas.

Related in Greek

μαλάκας malákas mah-LAH-kahss Asshole / idiot — OR — dude / mate. The single most important word in Greek. 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. κερατάς keratás keh-rah-TAHSS Cuckold — a man whose partner cheats; also a general term of abuse.

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "You idiot".

how to say "You idiot" →

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