Greek · Joy & Kéfi
τέλειο
téleio
TEH-lee-oh · /ˈte.li.o/
Perfect / awesome / great — the clean, all-ages enthusiasm word.
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
Literally
"perfect"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Your Grandma-safe "awesome." "Τέλειο!" for a plan, a meal, a piece of news — genuinely warm, zero vulgarity, usable with anyone including your host's grandmother. "Τέλεια!" (adverbial) works the same. When γαμάτο is too coarse for the company, this is the word. Greeks say it with real feeling, not the flat English "great."
Heard in the wild
Βρήκες τραπέζι για απόψε; Τέλειο!
You got us a table for tonight? Perfect!
Where it lands
Greece & Cyprus (universal)
Quick answers
- What does "τέλειο" mean?
- In Greek, "τέλειο" means "Perfect / awesome / great — the clean, all-ages enthusiasm word.". Literally it's "perfect". Your Grandma-safe "awesome." "Τέλειο!" for a plan, a meal, a piece of news — genuinely warm, zero vulgarity, usable with anyone including your host's grandmother. "Τέλεια!" (adverbial) works the same. When γαμάτο is too coarse for the company, this is the word. Greeks say it with real feeling, not the flat English "great."
- Is "τέλειο" 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 "τέλειο"?
- Say it "TEH-lee-oh" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈte.li.o.
Related in Greek
ώπα ópa OH-pah Oops! / Hey, watch it! / Let's go! — NOT mainly the plate-smashing tourist cheer. γαμάτο gamáto ghah-MAH-toh Awesome / badass / fucking great. πάμε páme PAH-meh Let's go! / Come on! — the rallying cry. κέφι kéfi KEH-fee The good-time feeling — soul, joy, being in the mood to celebrate. να 'σαι καλά na 'sai kalá nah seh kah-LAH Bless you / thanks so much / take care — a warm blessing. γεια μας geiá mas YAH mahss Cheers! — the standard toast.
The same idea, elsewhere
Via concepts like "That's awesome".
- French Ça déchire ! That rocks! / That's awesome!
- German Geil! Awesome! / Sick! / Hell yes!
- Italian Figo! Cool! / Awesome! / Sick!
- Japanese やばい Insane / crazy / no way — good OR bad, from context
- Korean 존나 Fucking / hella — the vulgar intensifier that goes in front of everything.
- Polish zajebisty Fucking awesome / badass — the great slang-POSITIVE of the jebać family.
- Portuguese Do caralho Fucking awesome — OR, with 'casa do', the middle of nowhere
- Russian Класс! Awesome! / Great! / Cool!
Reviewed by native speakers. Rate it differently? Tell us what we got wrong.