Language
Greek swear words
A guide to swearing in Greek: 22 words and phrases from the Swear Atlas catalogue, organised from mild to strong and explained in plain English. Every entry links to its full page with meaning, pronunciation and a 1–5 Burn Rating.
Common Greek swear words
The recognisable everyday expressions, with what each one actually means.
- καβλαντίζω · kavlantízo This is a slang verb that refers to sexual teasing or flirting. It's not a direct insult but more about playful banter. 2/5 · Coarse
- κλάνω · kláno This is the Greek word for 'fart', referring to the act of passing gas. It's a straightforward bodily function term without any additional connotation. 2/5 · Coarse
- αρχίδια · archídia This is a vulgar exclamation used to express disbelief or contempt, similar to saying 'bollocks' in English. It literally translates to 'testicles.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- γαμάτο · gamáto This is a slang term meaning 'awesome' or 'great.' It has a sexual origin but is used positively. 3/5 · Vulgar
- κουράδα · kouráda This refers to a turd, used as a derogatory term for a person or situation. It conveys a strong negative sentiment. 3/5 · Vulgar
- μαλάκας · malákas It's an insult for a jerk or fool, but can also be a familiar term among friends. The literal translation is 'wanker.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- μαλακία · malakía It means bullshit, nonsense, or a foolish act. The literal translation is masturbation, which adds a layer of insult in certain contexts. 3/5 · Vulgar
- μαλακίζομαι · malakízomai It means to masturbate or to behave foolishly. The context usually determines whether it's taken literally or figuratively. 3/5 · Vulgar
Stronger stuff
The heavier end of the scale — handle with care.
- γαμημένος · gamiménos It means 'fucked' in a vulgar sense, often used as an insult or to express frustration. It can imply someone is damned or cursed in a situation. 4/5 · Strong
- γαμήσι · gamísi Literally “fucking”. It's a vulgar term for sexual intercourse. It’s not used in a clinical or neutral way. 4/5 · Strong
- γαμιέσαι · gamiésai It's a hostile expression similar to saying 'fuck you.' In some contexts, it can also be taken literally as 'you are fucked.' 4/5 · Strong
- γαμώ · gamó It means 'fuck' and is used as a vulgar sexual verb or as part of a curse. It can also be directed at objects in a curse. 4/5 · Strong
- μουνί · mouní Literally “cunt”. This is a very vulgar term for female genitalia. It's used to insult or demean someone, often in a highly offensive way. 4/5 · Strong
- μουνόπανο · mounópano It's a strong insult for someone you find contemptible, akin to calling someone a 'cunt' in English. The literal translation, 'cunt cloth,' is more about the shock value than any real meaning. 4/5 · Strong
- πούτσος · poútsos This is a vulgar term for 'dick' that’s often used in curses. It's a straightforward insult aimed at someone's manhood. 4/5 · Strong
Greek insults
Words aimed at a person rather than shouted at the world.
- γαμημένος · gamiménos It means 'fucked' in a vulgar sense, often used as an insult or to express frustration. It can imply someone is damned or cursed in a situation. 4/5 · Strong
- μουνόπανο · mounópano It's a strong insult for someone you find contemptible, akin to calling someone a 'cunt' in English. The literal translation, 'cunt cloth,' is more about the shock value than any real meaning. 4/5 · Strong
- μαλάκας · malákas It's an insult for a jerk or fool, but can also be a familiar term among friends. The literal translation is 'wanker.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- μαλακιστήρι · malakistíri It's an insult for someone annoying or foolish, typically aimed at younger people. It carries a sense of being a bothersome idiot. 3/5 · Vulgar
- παπάρας · papáras This is an insult aimed at someone perceived as a fool or an obnoxious person. It's often used to call someone an idiot or jerk. 3/5 · Vulgar
- χέστης · chéstis It's an insult for someone perceived as a coward, implying they’re afraid to take action. Literally, it translates to 'shitter.' 3/5 · Vulgar
How to pronounce them
An English-friendly “sounds like” cue for each.
- καβλαντίζω · kavlantízo Sounds like “kav-lan-TEE-zoh”. 2/5 · Coarse
- κλάνω · kláno Sounds like “KLAH-no”. 2/5 · Coarse
- αρχίδια · archídia Sounds like “ar-KEE-dyah”. 3/5 · Vulgar
- γαμάτο · gamáto Sounds like “gah-MAH-toh”. 3/5 · Vulgar
- κουράδα · kouráda Sounds like “koo-RAD-ah”. 3/5 · Vulgar
- μαλάκας · malákas Sounds like “mah-LAH-kas”. 3/5 · Vulgar
- μαλακία · malakía Sounds like “ma-lah-KEE-ah”. 3/5 · Vulgar
- μαλακίζομαι · malakízomai Sounds like “mah-lah-KEE-zoh-meh”. 3/5 · Vulgar
How strong is Greek swearing?
Burn Rating spread across all 22 Greek entries (1 = mild, 5 = extreme).
- 1 · Mild 0
- 2 · Coarse 2
- 3 · Vulgar 13
- 4 · Strong 7
- 5 · Extreme 0
All Greek words A–Z
Γ
- γαμάτο · gamáto This is a slang term meaning 'awesome' or 'great.' It has a sexual origin but is used positively. 3/5 · Vulgar
- γαμημένος · gamiménos It means 'fucked' in a vulgar sense, often used as an insult or to express frustration. It can imply someone is damned or cursed in a situation. 4/5 · Strong
- γαμήσι · gamísi It's a vulgar term for sexual intercourse. It’s not used in a clinical or neutral way. 4/5 · Strong
- γαμιέσαι · gamiésai It's a hostile expression similar to saying 'fuck you.' In some contexts, it can also be taken literally as 'you are fucked.' 4/5 · Strong
- γαμώ · gamó It means 'fuck' and is used as a vulgar sexual verb or as part of a curse. It can also be directed at objects in a curse. 4/5 · Strong
Κ
- καβλαντίζω · kavlantízo This is a slang verb that refers to sexual teasing or flirting. It's not a direct insult but more about playful banter. 2/5 · Coarse
- κλάνω · kláno This is the Greek word for 'fart', referring to the act of passing gas. It's a straightforward bodily function term without any additional connotation. 2/5 · Coarse
- κουράδα · kouráda This refers to a turd, used as a derogatory term for a person or situation. It conveys a strong negative sentiment. 3/5 · Vulgar
Μ
- μαλάκας · malákas It's an insult for a jerk or fool, but can also be a familiar term among friends. The literal translation is 'wanker.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- μαλακία · malakía It means bullshit, nonsense, or a foolish act. The literal translation is masturbation, which adds a layer of insult in certain contexts. 3/5 · Vulgar
- μαλακίζομαι · malakízomai It means to masturbate or to behave foolishly. The context usually determines whether it's taken literally or figuratively. 3/5 · Vulgar
- μαλακιστήρι · malakistíri It's an insult for someone annoying or foolish, typically aimed at younger people. It carries a sense of being a bothersome idiot. 3/5 · Vulgar
- μουνί · mouní This is a very vulgar term for female genitalia. It's used to insult or demean someone, often in a highly offensive way. 4/5 · Strong
- μουνόπανο · mounópano It's a strong insult for someone you find contemptible, akin to calling someone a 'cunt' in English. The literal translation, 'cunt cloth,' is more about the shock value than any real meaning. 4/5 · Strong
Π
- παπάρας · papáras This is an insult aimed at someone perceived as a fool or an obnoxious person. It's often used to call someone an idiot or jerk. 3/5 · Vulgar
- πούτσος · poútsos This is a vulgar term for 'dick' that’s often used in curses. It's a straightforward insult aimed at someone's manhood. 4/5 · Strong
Σ
- σκατά · skatá It means 'shit' and can be used to express frustration or disdain, similar to calling something rubbish. The singular form, σκατό, is also related but refers to 'a piece of shit.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- σκατένιος · skaténios This describes something as lousy or of poor quality. The literal translation is 'shitty.' 3/5 · Vulgar
Χ
- χέζω · chézo It means to shit, used as a coarse bodily verb. It can also have figurative uses in phrases. 3/5 · Vulgar
- χέστηκα · chéstika It means 'I shat myself' but is often used to express indifference, like saying 'I don't give a shit.' 3/5 · Vulgar
- χέστης · chéstis It's an insult for someone perceived as a coward, implying they’re afraid to take action. Literally, it translates to 'shitter.' 3/5 · Vulgar