This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Greek to English
  3. Slang

Μαλαχίας

English translation: Malachi

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Greek term or phrase:Μαλαχίας
English translation:Malachi
Entered by: José Malaquias

13:43 Mar 22, 2012
Greek to English translations [Non-PRO]
Slang
Greek term or phrase: Μαλαχίας
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?
José Malaquias
Portugal
Local time: 01:15
Malachy
Explanation:
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.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2012-03-22 13:57:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

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!

Selected response from:

Valentini Mellas
Greece
Local time: 03:15
Grading comment
Thank you so much for your help.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1Malachy
Valentini Mellas
5Wanker
transphy


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Malachy


Explanation:
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.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2012-03-22 13:57:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

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!




    https://www.google.com/search?q=malachy&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Valentini Mellas
Greece
Local time: 03:15
Native speaker of: Greek
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you so much for your help.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you very much for the explanation. Could you please give me the correct greek-alphabet spelling for Malakas?


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nick Lingris: I'd say that malakia (more appropriately, the genitive malakias) is what sounds much like the prophet. http://www.slang.gr/lemma/show/malakia_2907/
5 mins
agree  Philip Lees
12 mins
disagree  Nepheli: As it refers to the prophet the correct spelling would be Malachi
22 mins
agree  Assimina Vavoula
1 hr
disagree  transphy: lol !!!!!!
1 day 7 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Wanker


Explanation:
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.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2012-03-23 01:37:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

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.

transphy
Local time: 01:15
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GreekGreek
PRO pts in category: 2
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search