LESSON NOTES

Must-Know Greek Slang Words &

Phrases S1 #5
Expressions Related to
Embarrassing Moments

CONTENTS
2 Vocabulary
2 Sample Sentences
2 Vocabulary Phrase Usage

# 5
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VOCABULARY

Gr e e k R omanization English C lass

to embarrass or
γίνομαι ρόμπα yínome róba make a fool of phrase
oneself

to blow one's cover,

καρφώνομαι karfónome to give oneself away verb

χάνω την μπάλα háno tin bála to be confused phrase

to be booed,
τρώω κράξιμο tróo kráximo deprecated, hooted phrase

SAMPLE SENTENCES

Δε ν θ έ λω να γί νω ρό μ π α, ο π ό τ ε Καρφ ώ θ η κα, γι ατ ί ε ί π α κάτ ι π ο υ

καλύ τ ε ρα ας μ η ν τ ραγο υ δ ή σ ω . δ ε ν έ π ρε π ε να μ άθ ε ι ε κε ί νο ς .
Den thélo na yíno róba, opóte kalítera as min Karfóthika, yatí ípa káti pu den éprepe na máthi
tragudíso. ekínos.

"I don't want to make a fool of myself so I "I gave myself away because I said
better not sing." something that he shouldn't have known
about."

Ότ αν άρχι σ ε να μ ι λάε ι γι α τ η θ ε ω ρί α Αν βγε ι ς έ ξ ω ντ υ μ έ νη έ τ σ ι , θ α φ ας

τ ω ν χο ρδ ώ ν, ε κε ί έ χασ α τ η ν μ π άλα!
Ótan árhise na milái ya ti theoría ton hordón, ekí
éhasa tin bála!
"When he started talking about the string
theory, that's when I got lost."
κράξ ι μ ο .
An vyis éxo diméni étsi, tha fas kráximo.
"If you go out dressed like that, you will get
hooted at."

VOCABULARY PHRASE USAGE

1. γίνομαι ρόμπ α (yínome róba)

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Literal translation: "to become robe"

English meaning: "to embarrass or make a fool of oneself"

Use this slang expression when you do something very embarrassing or when someone else
embarrasses you, usually to get back at you.

Sa m pl e Se n te n ce s:

Η π ρώην του τον έκανε ρόμπ α μπ ροστά σε όλους.

I próin tu ton ékane róba brostá se ólus.
"His ex embarrassed him in front of everyone."

Δεν θέλω να γίνω ρόμπ α, οπ ότε καλύτερα ας μην τραγουδήσω.

Den thélo na yíno róba, opóte kalítera as min tragudíso.
"I don't want to make a fool of myself so I better not sing."

2. καρφώνομαι (karfónome)

Literal translation: "to nail oneself"

English meaning: "to blow one's cover, to give oneself away"

Use this slang expression when you get exposed or noticed by accident—a look, an action or
by something you said, resulting in everyone finding out about something you didn't want
them to find out in the first place.

Sa m pl e Se n te n ce s:

Γύρνα με τρόπ ο και κοίταξέ τον χ ωρίς να καρφώνεσαι.

Yírna me trópo ke kítaxé ton horís na karfónese.
"Turn around discretely and look at him without getting noticed."

Καρφώθηκα, γιατί είπ α κάτι π ου δεν έπ ρεπ ε να μάθει εκείνος.

Karfóthika, yatí ípa káti pu den éprepe na máthi ekínos.
"I gave myself away because I said something that he shouldn't have known about."

3. χάνω την μπ άλα (háno tin bála)

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Literal translation: "to lose the ball"

English meaning: "to be confused"

Use this slang expression when • you feel confused • you don't know what's going • you lose
count • you can't follow a person (ex. when talking) • you get too much information you
cannot process or remember

Sa m pl e Se n te n ce s:

Κι άλλο ρολόι; Πόσα έχ εις; Έχ ω χ άσει την μπ άλα!

Ki álo rolói? Pósa éhis? Ého hási tin bála!
"Another watch? How many do you have? I've lost count!"

Όταν άρχ ισε να μιλάει για τη θεωρία των χ ορδών, εκεί έχ ασα την μπ άλα!
Ótan árhise na milái ya ti theoría ton hordón, ekí éhasa tin bála!
"When he started talking about the string theory, that's when I got lost."

4. τρώω κράξιμο (tróo kráximo)

Literal translation: "to eat caw"

English meaning: "to be booed, deprecated, hooted"

Use this slang expression when you want to express that you or someone else gets severely
criticised or even booed.

Sa m pl e Se n te n ce s:

Με το π ου άρχ ισε να τραγουδά έφαγε κράξιμο.

Me to pu árhise na tragudá éfaye kráximo.
"As soon as he started singing, he got booed."

Αν βγεις έξω ντυμένη έτσι, θα φας κράξιμο.

An vyis éxo diméni étsi, tha fas kráximo.
"If you go out dressed like that, you will get hooted."

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