Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Mar 22, 2012 13:43
12 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Greek term
Portugal
Fast, affordable, quality translations
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: European/Portugal) 
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Portuguese to Italian, and 4 more.
Μαλαχίας
Non-PRO
May offend
Greek to English
Other
Slang
Hi,
This is supposed to be the last prophet of the Old Testament.
However, I hear from several Greek speakers that it is also an insulting expression in Greek.
Is this true? What does it mean? Or is it spelled differently?
If so, why would a prophet's name become an insult?
This is supposed to be the last prophet of the Old Testament.
However, I hear from several Greek speakers that it is also an insulting expression in Greek.
Is this true? What does it mean? Or is it spelled differently?
If so, why would a prophet's name become an insult?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +1 | Malachy |
Valentini Mellas
|
| 5 | Wanker |
transphy
|
Proposed translations
+1
3 mins
Valentini Mellas
Greece
Greece
Native in Greek
Greece
It's all Greek to me!
Native in: Greek
Works in: English to Greek, Greek to English, French to Greek, and 10 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
Malachy
Malachy is the name you are looking for. The other word is malakas (with the accent on the second a) and it has a variety of translations from bastard to son of a bitch. They thought it was the same probably because of the χ and κ being close phonetically.
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Note added at 13 mins (2012-03-22 13:57:12 GMT)
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Nick is absolutely right, José. In Greek these two words are as follows:
malakas -> μαλάκας
malakia -> μαλακία
malakia used literally would mean "to jerk off". More widely it is used to denote a very stupid act or to characterize something as utterly nonsensical, e.g. Λες μαλακίες -> (les malakies) You speak utter nonsense!
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Note added at 13 mins (2012-03-22 13:57:12 GMT)
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Nick is absolutely right, José. In Greek these two words are as follows:
malakas -> μαλάκας
malakia -> μαλακία
malakia used literally would mean "to jerk off". More widely it is used to denote a very stupid act or to characterize something as utterly nonsensical, e.g. Λες μαλακίες -> (les malakies) You speak utter nonsense!
Note from asker:
| Thank you very much for the explanation. Could you please give me the correct greek-alphabet spelling for Malakas? |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you so much for your help."
11 hrs
Wanker
Hello, Jose,
If you ignore the prophet Malachin and the inuendos around that,
the word 'Malakas or Malakias' is NOT originally Greek. It is Arabic. Pure and simple a "Malakas' is the one who 'Musturbates'. The Greeks seem to use it a lot in their conversation and, as a consequence the word has mutated its meaning, by frequent referal to it, to a much lighter meaning of what the others have suggested. It is unfortunate that your surname is what it is, which sounds like 'Malakias' , a derogatory word in Greek, but if you ask an Arab he/she will tell you what I said. I am Greek, too, and my first Greek name sounds as having a different (not so bad??!!) meaning in English!! You and I have to put up with that and ignore inuendos. A word or name in one language can have quite a different meaning phonetically in another lingo. lol.
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Note added at 11 hrs (2012-03-23 01:37:46 GMT)
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I take it you are from the Iberian peninsula!!!!!!
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Note added at 1 day7 hrs (2012-03-23 21:42:24 GMT) Post-grading
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Jose,
You have a beautiful surname and I have a beautiful first name, in our respective languages. You should not take any notice of derogatory meanings, coming via Greek or Arabic, as I, myself, do not take any notice of unfortunate phonetic similarities in English. I have learned to live with it.
If you ignore the prophet Malachin and the inuendos around that,
the word 'Malakas or Malakias' is NOT originally Greek. It is Arabic. Pure and simple a "Malakas' is the one who 'Musturbates'. The Greeks seem to use it a lot in their conversation and, as a consequence the word has mutated its meaning, by frequent referal to it, to a much lighter meaning of what the others have suggested. It is unfortunate that your surname is what it is, which sounds like 'Malakias' , a derogatory word in Greek, but if you ask an Arab he/she will tell you what I said. I am Greek, too, and my first Greek name sounds as having a different (not so bad??!!) meaning in English!! You and I have to put up with that and ignore inuendos. A word or name in one language can have quite a different meaning phonetically in another lingo. lol.
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Note added at 11 hrs (2012-03-23 01:37:46 GMT)
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I take it you are from the Iberian peninsula!!!!!!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day7 hrs (2012-03-23 21:42:24 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Jose,
You have a beautiful surname and I have a beautiful first name, in our respective languages. You should not take any notice of derogatory meanings, coming via Greek or Arabic, as I, myself, do not take any notice of unfortunate phonetic similarities in English. I have learned to live with it.
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