For the initiated...
Amàn!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expresses mild anger
or surprise
Òpa! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Basically means ‘careful’
but can be used in a variety of circumstances. A cry of warning
when something is about to fall, or a cry of enthusiasm encouraging
a tipsy dancer to ‘give it all’
Rìchta!. . . . . . . . . . . . . Offers even stronger
encouragement, especially when someone is dancing on a table!
Pedhì mou!. . . . . . . . . Expresses admiration for
a person’s gifts (especially the physical ones...) and
openly suggests one’s amorous intentions.
Ti ghìnete?. . . . . . . . . . Conventional greeting,
almost a substitute for ‘how are you’. The standard
answer is ‘fine’ or ‘’feelin’
shitty’’ depending on the case.
Pos pài?. . . . . . . . . . . . As above.
Sòpa!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . You don’t say!
(Expresses admiration, perhaps mixed with a little distrust,
when our friend tells an incredible story).
Meghàle!. . . . . . . . . . . Boy! / You are somethin’!
(Expresses admiration, perhaps with a touch of irony, when the
story of our friend sounds probable).
Psònio!. . . . . . . . . . . . . Exclamation of utter
satisfaction!
Ghoustàro!. . . . . . . . . As above, only somewhat
milder.
Tòra màlista. . . . . . . . . Oh, great! (Expresses
disappointment when things don’t turn out exactly the
way weplanned them, for instance when a tyre goes flat).
Tin kàtsame ti vàrka . Expresses worry when things
are bad (for instance when we fall off the bike).
Klàfta Charàlabe. . . . . Expresses utter despair
when things are lousy (for instance when our bike is stolen...)
Malàka. . . . . . . . . . . . . Can be a swear word
or the equivalent of ‘hey, buddy’.
Re. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Like bread, it goes with
anything! When combined with the word ‘malàka’
it turns it into the worst swear word.
| Source of the
information on this page : “Unexplored Crete”,
Road Editions. For more guidebooks and maps of
Greece, click here.
|
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