Malakas

Malakas (Greek: μαλάκας [maˈlakas]) is a commonly used profane Greek slang word, with a variety of different meanings, but literally meaning "man who masturbates". While it is typically used as an insult, with its literal equivalent in English being "wanker", the meaning varies depending on the tone and context used. It can be an exclamation of pleasure, an expression of dark horror, a cry of anger, a declaration of affection, and other different things.[1] Common alternative meanings include "asshole", "motherfucker" "jerk" or "idiot", and the contrasting "dude", or "mate", depending on the context.[2] It has been described as "the most used Greek slang word".[3]

For typhoons with this name, see Typhoon Malakas.
For similar terms, see Malaka and Malacca (disambiguation).

Overview

Malakas derives from the Greek word malakos (μαλακός), which means "soft" or "spoilt, well-used to luxuries of life".[4][5] It is one of the most frequent words picked up by tourists (often in its vocative case form, i.e. μαλάκα malaka [maˈlaka]) and travelers to Greece and is not unusual among the younger Greek diaspora, even when the level of Greek is low. While "malakas" is a strictly masculine noun, a female form of the word exists, malako (μαλάκω), but is a recent coinage and not as widely used, whereas malakismeni (μαλακισμένη) seems to be rather more vintage, but also more common, though this form is only used as a slur.[6] In everyday speech, the word malakas is often used as a synonym of idiot. While the term is inappropriate and is traditionally used as a slur, it is acceptable and very commonly used among close friends, especially males, where it takes on a meaning similar to "dude" or "mate". Malakas is very rarely used in its literal meaning (man who masturbates).

Constructivist approach

Faubion (1993) examines the usage of the word malakas in modern Greek through a constructivist and sociolinguistic lens, studying the effect of any and all aspects of society on the way language is used. He characterizes the term malakas as one of the most favorite, blithe and sexually malignant "curses" used among friends and asserts that malakas, just like other Greek epithets (e.g. keratas 'cuckold', poustis 'faggot'), highlight failures of social or intellectual finesse:

...the malakas is clumsy, gawkish, perhaps vaguely infantile. He is liable to utter malakies […] He is liable to be guillible. The malakismenos and the keratas are, if not immortal, still without existential fiber. They are without wit, and not uncommonly the dupes of others more witty or cunning.[7]

According to Faubion's sociolinguistic analysis, the malakas, the malakismenos, and the keratas are all figurative characters who carry the stigma of being unable to exercise sexual sovereignty or the sexual overpowering of another. However, the malakas is less pitiable compared to the feminized malakismenos.[8]

Malakia

Malakia, literally meaning masturbation, is often also used in a similar sense as malakas to refer to nonsense, something worthless or of poor quality, or a mistake. It can also be used literally. The use of malakia to mean "masturbation" traces back to medieval Greek. It is used in this sense in the Life of Saint Andrew the Fool and in the Life of Saint Niphon, both of which date to the tenth century.[9]

The verb "malakizome" (μαλακίζομαι) also exists. It literally means "I masturbate", but it is mostly used to define that someone is wasting his time in pointless things or fails to achieve something, though it is not as commonly used.

See also
  •  Languages portal
  •  Linguistics portal

Notes
  1. "MALAKAS.ORG - Where stupidity meets lack of common sense". The Malakas Times. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
  2. Tegopoulos (1997), p. 676.
  3. "Malakas: The Most Known Greek Slang Word - What it Means". atCorfu.com. 2019-01-27. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  4. Λεξικό τής Κοινής Νεοελληνικής, Ίδρυμα Μ. Τριανταφυλλίδη; G. Babiniotis, Λεξικό της Νεας Ελληνικής Γλώσσας.
  5. "The Malakas Times.org - Dare to be stupid". Humorous site. Retrieved 2006-11-30.
  6. Cf. the lemma "μαλάκω" and references for "μαλακισμένη" on slang.gr. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  7. Faubion (1993), p. 223.
  8. Malakismenos is a passive participle, ('someone jerked off'). One of the two feminine coinages makes use of the same participle Faubion (1993:223).
  9. Rydén (1995), p. 329.

References
  • Faubion, James D. (1993), Modern Greek Lessons: A Primer in Historical Constructivism, Princeton University Press, ISBN 0-691-00050-6
  • Rydén, L. (1995), The Life of St. Andrew the Fool, Uppsala
  • Tegopoulos, Fytrakis (1997), Μείζον Ελληνικό Λεξικό ("Mízon ellinikó lexikó"), Ekdoseis Armonia A.E., ISBN 960-7598-04-0
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