Learn to Speak Greek Properly
So you’ve heard someone shout “Malaka!” across a Greek street, and now you’re curious.
Or maybe you’ve been to Corfu, Mykonos, or Athens and felt like the locals were speaking a dramatic blend of passion, sarcasm, and poetry — all at once. Welcome to the colorful world of modern Greek slang.
If you want to blend in, raise a smile, or at least avoid unintentional insults, this guide is for you.
From everyday expressions to more colorful phrases, here’s your crash course in sounding (almost) like a Greek.
“Malaka” — The Word You Already Know
You might’ve heard it in movies, Greek cafés, or from that loud group on the ferry. We’ve covered Malaka in full here, but in short:
- Literal meaning: Wanker (yep).
- Actual use: Everything from “buddy” to “idiot” — tone and context matter.
- Example:
– “Ela re malaka, pame gia kafe?”
– “Come on, man, let’s go for a coffee.”
Other Greek Words Locals Use Daily
1. Re (ρε)
- What it means: A filler like “hey,” “dude,” or “man.” Not polite when used with a boss or older person.
- How it’s used: In almost every sentence. Friendly or annoyed, it fits.
- Example:
– “Re file, ti kaneis?”
– “Hey man, how are you?”
2. Ela (έλα)
- Literal meaning: “Come.”
- But actually means: “Come on,” “no way,” “seriously?” or “okay.”
- Example:
– “Ela re!” (in disbelief)
– “Come on!” / “No way!”
3. Pame (πάμε)
- Meaning: “Let’s go.”
- Use: Common in groups — for leaving, partying, or just moving along.
- Example:
– “Pame gia ouzo!”
– “Let’s go for ouzo!”
4. Kouklos / Koukla (κούκλος / κούκλα)
- Meaning: “Doll” – used to compliment someone.
- Use: Flirtatious or kind — “handsome” or “beautiful.”
- Example:
– “Koukla mou, pos eisai?”
– “My beautiful girl, how are you?”
5. Gamoto (γαμώτο)
- Literal: A strong swear — softened in everyday use.
- Meaning: “Damn,” “shit,” or “ugh.”
- Use: Out of frustration or when something goes wrong.
- Example:
– “Gamoto, xechasa ta kleidia!”
– “Damn, I forgot the keys!”
6. Endaxi (εντάξει)
- Meaning: “Okay,” “alright,” “got it.”
- Use: Agreement, reassurance, or polite closure.
- Example:
– “Tha se paro avrio, endaxi?”
– “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
Let’s Get Rude: Greek Swear Words Locals Actually Use
- Malista re vlaka (μαλιστα ρε βλάκα) – “Sure, you idiot”
- Pousti (πούστη) – The homesexual, Very offensive, caution, but it is not used anymore from young people
- Kai gamo (και γαμώ) – Positive slang (“f***ing awesome!”)
- Xesou (χέσου) – “Sh*t yourself” – expression of contempt
- Trelos or Palavos , must be 50+ words to describe this (τρελός) – “Crazy” – used teasingly or insultingly
- Poutana (Πουτάνα) – Literally “whore,” used extremely insultingly. But in some contexts, “poutanaki” is been used for young girls behaving as “whores” in soul.
- Gamiese (Γαμιέσαι) – Means “you’re getting fucked.” One of the strongest vulgarities. Used in angry exchanges or fights.
- Gamiese patokorfa (Γαμιέσαι πατόκορφα) — You get f*cked from the top to you nails.
- Skase (Σκάσε) – “Shut up!” Rough and rude. Often heard in heated arguments.
- Kai gamisou (Και γαμήσου) – “Go f*ck yourself.” Pure insult.
- Koproskylo (Κοπρόσκυλο) – “Lazy dog,” or lazy bastard. Used for someone worthless or extremely lazy.
- Vlakas/Vlammenous (Βλάκας/Βλαμμένος) – “Idiot” or “retard.” Still commonly used between men in both light and heavy contexts.
- Ante re! (Άντε ρε!) – Literally “come on!” but tone matters. Can be dismissive, like “get lost.”
- Kopane (Κόπανε) – “Knucklehead” or “dumbass.” Mildly insulting, used humorously or seriously depending on context.
- Ksekoliasmeni (Ξεκολιασμένη) – Roughly, “the one who spreads her legs too easily.” Highly sexist and vulgar.
- Karagiozis (Καραγκιόζης) – Like calling someone a clown or ludicrous. Derived from the Theater of shadows leading character.
- Megalo palto (Μεγάλο παλτό) — He is a big coat, it’s said for a useless football player, especially if he costed a lot of money but offers nothing in the games.
- Skila (Σκύλα) — F*cking slag — Great insult, just like in English.
- Kargiola (female) — A dirty “whore”
- Lamogio (Λαμόγιο/Λαμόγια) — Mainly characterizes corrupted politicians, but also thiefs, deceivers, interlopers, traitors. Almost all politician’s qualities!
- Ái sto diáolo (Άει στο διάολο) – Go to hell, obvious.
- Hése mas (Χέσε μας) – Shit on us, say that to someone you don’t expect to make the job right, any jod or mission.
- Héstika (Χέστηκα) – I don’t give a shit, means I don’t care
- Ston poutso mas (Στον πούτσο μας) — To our penis, means again I don’t care!
- Sta archidia mas (Στα αρχίδι@ μας) —The same as above
- Sto mouni mas (Στο μ@υνί μας) — Women say this instead of the last two above.
- Burdélo (Μπουρδέλο) – Brothel, and because there are not so many now, or they work in a different way, we mean “the State”
- Vizitoudes (Βιζιτούδες) — Luxurious Whores, women of companion, or those they meet their clients in luxury hotels or in villas, from the Italian word “vizita” that means “visit”
- Vlákas (Βλάκας) – Stupid, well that’s common.
- Gamo to kerato mou (Gamo to kerato mou) — Fuck my horn, as you may know, in Greece we say that all deceived people have horns.
- He just told him some French (Του είπε κάτι Γαλλικά) — Between football players and referies, means that he cursed him as normal. Surely malakas word was used in conversation.
Let’s finish the endless list with two famous gestures
- The one that someone moves his hands towards his genitals, to another, (usually in Greek roads chaotic traffic), it means, I write in my bollocks what you think about my driving!
- And the “Moutza”, one hand’s five fingers opened targeting the face of the victim(from far distance), again between drivers! Means, get fucked, go to hell, drop dead, anything polite, you know…
Greek Swear Words & Slang Explained (Use at Your Own Risk!)
| Greek Word/Phrase | Literal Meaning | How It’s Used |
|---|---|---|
| Malakas | Wanker | The king of Greek slang. Used as an insult, a joke, or even among friends. It all depends on tone. |
| Gamóto! | “f*ck it!” | Like saying “damn it!” – frustration, annoyance. |
| Ánte gamísou | Go f*ck yourself | Very offensive, not for jokes. Street fight material. |
| Skatá | Shit | Just like in English. Can be funny or angry. |
| Poustis | Faggot / Sneaky guy | Historically offensive. Now sometimes used for a sneaky or shady person. Still sensitive. |
| Kargiólis | Bastard | It can be serious or just teasing between men friends. Tone is key, but it is not sexual. “Kargiola” is a similar word referring to women, “whores” |
| Zóon | Animal | Funny insult, like calling someone a brute, a pig, a donkey, a beast, or an idiot. |
| Vlíma | Dummy / Blockhead | Lighthearted, low-level insult–teasing. |
| Tsókaro | Slipper (literally) | Insult for a trashy, rude woman – similar to “bimbo.” |
| Maláko | Female version of Malakas | Sometimes playful, often offensive depending on context. |
| Tha se gamíso | I’ll f*ck you up | Very aggressive threat. Not to be said lightly. |
| Na psofíseis | May you drop dead | Very harsh. Pure hatred. Not common in public. |
| Na se patisi fortigo | To be hit by a truck | One of those creative, over-the-top angry wishes between car drivers. Still happens. |
| Stravos eisai re? | Are you blind?! | Common in traffic arguments. |
| Maláka mee to SUV! | You idiot with the SUV! | Yelled at rich, careless drivers – a common insult on Greek roads. Watch the pronunciation of “me”, it’s “meee” |
Greek Swearing Beyond Insults
Greeks don’t just swear to offend — it’s about expression, drama, and connection.
Even rude words are wrapped in tone and relationship: a “malaka” to a friend means love; to a stranger means trouble.
Language reflects passion. So when your Greek friend yells “Skase re!” — check their smile first.
📄 Download Greek Swear Words Infographic (PDF)
✅ Bonus: Greek Slang Survival PDF (Coming Soon)
We’ll be adding a downloadable cheat sheet with key phrases, how to pronounce them, and when not to use them.
Final Words (But Not Final Malakas)
There are thousands more words and expressions to learn for a complete Greek education, but you’ll learn them. If you want, in time.
Greek slang isn’t just language — it’s culture, humor, and soul. Learning just a few words can change how locals see you. So throw in a “re,” say “ela” with confidence, and just maybe — just maybe — you’ll sound like you belong.
Want to go deeper? Start with Malaka first, and don’t forget to check out our full Corfu culture and travel guides.
