Turkish · Insults
Dangalak
dahn-gah-LAHK · /daŋɡaˈɫak/
Blockhead / bonehead
3/5 Watch your audience
genuinely rude; friends only, never at work
Literally
"Blockhead / oaf"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
A rounder, more contemptuous "idiot" with a comic thud to it — it sounds like the insult it is. Aimed at clumsy stupidity or willful thick-headedness. Friends only; sharper than salak, more colorful than aptal. "Dingil" and "andaval" live in the same neighborhood.
Heard in the wild
Dangalak, o düğmeye basma dedim sana!
You blockhead, I told you not to press that button!
Where it lands
Turkey-wide; informal
Quick answers
- What does "Dangalak" mean?
- In Turkish, "Dangalak" means "Blockhead / bonehead". Literally it's "Blockhead / oaf". A rounder, more contemptuous "idiot" with a comic thud to it — it sounds like the insult it is. Aimed at clumsy stupidity or willful thick-headedness. Friends only; sharper than salak, more colorful than aptal. "Dingil" and "andaval" live in the same neighborhood.
- Is "Dangalak" 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 "Dangalak"?
- Say it "dahn-gah-LAHK" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: daŋɡaˈɫak.
Related in Turkish
The same idea, elsewhere
Via concepts like "You idiot".
- French Con Idiot / dumbass — the single most useful insult in French
- German Arsch Arse / ass — and the second great compound-engine of German
- Greek μαλάκας Asshole / idiot — OR — dude / mate. The single most important word in Greek.
- Italian Stronzo! Asshole! / Bastard!
- Japanese ばか Idiot / dummy / stupid
- Korean 바보 Dummy / silly — the soft, safe, often affectionate 'idiot.'
- Polish debil Moron / idiot — the standard hard 'you idiot.'
- Portuguese Otário Sucker / gullible fool / mug
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