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A
A Banaya mu. Oh my Holy Virgin.
Ade bale. Come on, again. (Here we go again.)
Ade, eftisa. There, I’ve spat. (Come back soon, ie before it dries.)
Ade na delionnumen. Come on, let’s finish. (Let’s be done with it.)
Ade na dhumen. Come on, let’s see. (Get on with it.)
Agu na dhis. Listen to see. (Let me tell you.)
Agu na su bo. Listen so I can tell you. (Let me tell you.)
Ame mavroirefke. Go and look for things black. (Go to hell.)
Ame mavroshhilloirefke. Go and scavenge like a dog for things black. (Go to hell.)
Ame shhilloirefke. Go and scavenge like a dog. (Go to hell.)
Ame st’ anathheman. Go to the curse. (Go to hell.)
An do ’vris. See if you find it. (See if you can guess.)
An theli o Theos. If God wishes. (God willing.)
Anathheman bu na se bari. May the curse take you. (Go to hell.)
Apse-svise. On-off. (Immediately.)
As fakas ospu na fkalis. Hit until you get something out. (You can shout and scream but you won’t get your way.)
Asprises da mallia mu. You’ve turned my hair white.
Ayos o Theos. God is holy.
B
Bae me don nun su. Go with your brain. (Go but be sensible.)
Bale do idhion fkiolin. The same fiddle again. (The same old story.)
Banda na ’se gala. Always be well.
Be j’ esu. You say too. (What say you?)
Bellaran bo ’gama. Stupid thing that I’ve done. (What a stupid thing I’ve done.)
Bellos bo ’n su bistefki. (Only) a fool wouldn’t believe you.
Berastiga. May it pass. (Get well.)
Bezi da ola me ola. He bets all against all. (He takes big risks.)
Bezi me da nevra mu. He’s playing with my nerves.
Bezi me da sherka du. He’s playing with his hands. (He’s being idle.)
Bezi me da shili du. He’s playing with his lips. (He’s being idle.)
Bge enan hapin j’ enna su berasi. Take a pill and it’ll pass.
Bgiae don enan, faka don allon. Grab one and hit the other. (One is no better than the other.)
Bgios enna bgerosi din bitan? Who will pay for the pie? (Who will pay?)
Bollin mamman, bollin gaka. Eat lots, shit lots.
Brosehe do san d’ ammathkia su. Take care of it as you would your own eyes.
Bu da nisha mu os din gurian. From my nails to my crown. (From top to toe.)
Bu din yin os don uranon. From earth to heaven.
Bu idan o nus su? Where was your brain? (What on earth were you thinking?)
Bu isun? Bubode. Where were you? Nowhere. (You haven’t got anywhere.)
Bu na bais is d’ anathheman. May you go to the curse. (Go to hell.)
Bu na don dho grusmenon. May I see him burnt.
Bu na fkalis jerrada. May you grow horns. (To hell with you.)
Bu na fkun d’ ammathkia su. May your eyes be removed.
Bu na gorajisi o golos su. May your arse get tangled. (May you get your comeuppance.)
Bu na laonnese. May you have a fit.
Bu na men su bo. Let me not have to tell you. (Spare me having to curse you.)
Bu na men su golliso. Let me not have to give it to you. (Spare me having to curse you.)
Bu na opsese. May you roast.
Bu na sabisi o golos su. May your arse rot.
Bu na se dho bellon. May I see you go mad.
Bu na se fasin i adi. May the eagles eat you. (Said in response to yadi (why) asked too often.)
Bu na stuposi o golos su. May your arse get blocked up.
Bu ’nna bais? Where will you go? (Just you wait.)
D
Da hronia jilun. The years roll on.
Deliose, bu m’ edelioses. Finish, now you’ve finished me (by exhausting my patience).
Delos bandon. At the end of it all. (Anyway.)
Dhaka din ghlossan su. Bite your tongue.
Dhoxasi o Theos. Glory to God.
Dhoxazo se, Thee mu. I praise you, my God.
Do gado-gado dis ghrafis. The very bottom of the writing. (When all is said and done.)
Droi don o golos du. His arse is itchy. (He’s restless.)
Dudon mas elipsen. This is what we were missing. (That’s all we need.)
E
Ebathamen din. We’ve had it. (Misfortune has befallen us.)
Ebathamen din Hiodiga. We’ve had it Chios style. (What a disaster we’ve had.)
Ebellanen o gosmos. The world’s gone mad.
Ebgiaan me da nevra. My nerves took hold of me. (I lost my temper.)
Ebgiaen se o gailes? Have you been seized by anxiety? (Why do you care?)
Ebgiastiga bu don bonon. I’ve been seized by pain.
Ebgiastigamen mes’ sta becha mas. We’re paralysed in our skins. (We’re frozen.)
Ebiren bano du. He’s received it on himself. (His head has grown.)
Ebiren o nus du aeran. His brain has taken wind. (He’s become too big for his boots.)
Edhogen efta gundrumbelles. He did seven cartwheels. (He was over the moon.)
Edrexan da salia mu. My saliva ran. (I was drooling.)
Efaa da baspalla mu. I’ve used up my flour. (I’ve exhausted everything I had.)
Efaa da mudra mu. I’ve scraped my face. (I’ve fallen flat on my face.)
Efaa din zoin mu. I’ve used up my life. (It’s been an ordeal.)
Efaamen des. We’ve eaten them. (We’ve lost.)
Efaamen je simmera. We’ve eaten again today.
Efaen j’ egalogartisen. He’s eaten and become merry.
Efaes j’ exigokalises me. You’ve eaten me down to the bone. (You’ve worn me out.)
Efirtiga bu da yelia. I fainted with laughter.
Efirtiga bu din binan. I fainted with hunger.
Efkalen i ghlossa mu mallia. My tongue has grown hair (from repeating itself).
Efkalen mu din bistin mu. He extracted my faith. (He put me through hell.)
Efkalen mu don lellefan mu. He extracted my tongue and larynx. (He put me through hell.)
Efkin du hairku. He’s come out respectable.
Egamen da san don golon du. He’s made it like his arse. (He’s made a mess of it.)
Egamen da thalassan. He’s made it a sea. (He’s messed it up.)
Egamamen din ambelin. We made it a vineyard. (We had a feast.)
Egamamen din pirillin. We made it a marble. (We had a feast.)
Egamamen din yaoman. We made it highly sought after. (We had a feast.)
Egamen din zoin mu bodhiladon. He’s made my life a bicycle. (He’s made my life hell.)
Egamen din zoin mu martirion. He’s made my life a martyrdom. (He’s made my life hell.)
Egamen don finijan. He made him into a palm tree. (He made him feel untouchable.)
Egamen du san du shhillu. He treated him like a dog.
Egames din murin du greas. You’ve made meat of his face. (You’ve made mincemeat of him.)
Egolojasen me. He’s made me into a marrow. (He’s given me a headache.)
Egrusen i garkia mu. My heart is burnt. (My heart aches.)
Egruses me giriolehtiga. You’ve burned me literally. (You’ve put me through hell.)
Ehasamen do horafin. We’ve lost the field. (All is lost.)
Elishhasen bu din binan. He’s gone mad with hunger.
Emina bu xilu gremmamenos. I’ve been left to hang from wood. (I have nothing left.)
Eminamen is da elei du Theu. We’re left at the mercy of God.
Emis gala din ehumen. We have it well. (We’re more fortunate than some.)
En andrebese da mudra su? Aren’t you ashamed to show your face?
En bellos os don nuron. He’s mad down to his tail.
En bollin do halin du. His plight is great. (He’s in a terrible mess.)
En bu don jeron du Guchuk Mehmedi. It’s from the time of Kuchuk Mehmed (Ottoman governor of Cyprus who in 1821 executed hundreds of Christians accused of supporting the Greek War of Liberation). (It’s from way back.)
En bullin j’ ebedasen. It’s a bird that’s flown. (The chance has gone.)
En delia du skodomu. He’s fit only for slaughter. (He’s totally useless.)
En do hori o nus du. It doesn’t fit in his brain. (He doesn’t get it.)
En du ’finni ghlimman. He leaves him no distinguishing mark. (He’s the spitting image of him.)
En du geyede garfin. Even a nail won’t hurt him. (He is thick skinned.)
En ebixen agoma o nus du. His brain hasn’t set yet. (His thinking is still immature.)
En eshi bu don ilion miran. He has no inheritance even from the sun. (He’s dirt poor.)
En gofki o nus su? Does your brain not cut? (Have you no sense?)
En golos je vrajin. They’re arse and underpants. (They’re stuck like glue.)
En harizi gastanon. He doesn’t give away a chestnut. (He doesn’t give an inch.)
En ifkennumen bu mesa. We can't find a way out (of this mess).
En me gofti dessera je bakiran en dhio. I don’t care four quarters and I don’t give a piastre. (I couldn’t care less.)
En llion braman? Is it a little thing? (It’s no small thing.)
En nus dudos? Is this sense?
En o haros mu. It’s my death. (It’s my worst nightmare.)
En o loos bu lali. It’s the word that says. (As the saying goes.)
En o nus su j’ exigollisen. Your brain has come unstuck. (Don’t be stupid.)
En ora su. It’s your time. (Your time has come.)
En orea spithkiasimi gobella bu galin igoyenian. She’s a nice homely girl from a good family.
En su iba mian foran en mavra d’ ammathkia su. I’ve never once told you you had brown eyes. (I’ve never been dishonest with you.)
En ya glamada. It’s for weeping. (It’s pitiful.)
Enas Theos ixeri. One God knows. (Only God knows.)
Enj’ ehalasen o gosmos. The world hasn’t collapsed. (It’s not the end of the world.)
Enj’ ime dhegaohto hronon. I’m not eighteen. (I’m not young any more.)
Enj’ ime dorasinos. I’m not of the present. (I’m not young any more.)
Enje sigonno vartagosta. I won’t tolerate resistance.
Enna don fai lahana. He’ll eat him like vegetables. (He’ll have him for breakfast.)
Enna fai don gosmon. He’s going to eat the world. (He’s unstoppable.)
Enna fai dus dobus. He’s going to eat the surroundings. (He’s unstoppable.)
Enna fais xilon du allu gosmu. You’re going to get a beating from another world.
Enna gatso na skaso? Am I going to sit and burst? (I’m not going to worry about it.)
Enna hriastun thei je dhemones. It will take gods and demons. (It will be extremely difficult.)
Enna mallonno me don bellon? Am I going to argue with a fool?
Enna mas shesi je bu bano. He’s going to shit on us on top. (He’s taking the piss.)
Enna se bgiao bu da fkia. I’m going to grab you by the ears.
Enna se bgiao bu don lemon. I’m going to grab you by the throat.
Enna se fachiso hame san d’ ohtaboin. I’m going to hit you on the ground like an octopus.
Enna se gamo mavron. I’m going to make you black. (I’m going to beat you black and blue.)
Enna se gamo na fkali azines o golos su. I’m going to make your arse give off sparks. (I’m going to give you a severe beating.)
Enna se gamo na me thoris je na gaduras bano su. I’m going to make you look at me (in future) and piss yourself.
Enna se gamo na men ixeris bu ’nna bais. I’m going to make you not know where you’re going.
Enna se gamo sabunin. I’m going to make you into soap.
Enna se valo du vuru. I’m going to put you to the chase.
Enna su da luso. I’m going to pour it over you.
Enna su dhogo mian bu na men ixeris bothhen su ’rten. I’m going to hit you like you won’t know where it came from.
Enna su yelaso. I’ll mislead you. (I’ve no idea.)
Enna yinumen bu thkio horka. It’ll be as if we’re from two villages. (We’ll fall out.)
Epesen d’ arfalin mu bu din binan. My navel has fallen off with hunger.
Eshe din efchin mu. Have my blessing.
Eshede du bulliu ghalan. You have bird’s milk. (There’s nothing you don’t have.)
Eshi din muyan. He has a fly. (He’s sulking.)
Eshi j’ avrion imeran. There’s a day tomorrow too. (It can wait till tomorrow.)
Esigostin i driha mu. My hairs stood on end.
Espasen da nevra mu. He’s broken my nerves.
Estranjisen i garkia mu. My heart has been drained. (My heart aches.)
Etsi en i zoi. That’s life.
Etsi gamnusin sto horkon su? Is that what they do in your village? (Said of strange or rude behaviour.)
Eyinigamen mallia guvarin. We’ve become a knot of hair. (We’ve got into a state of confusion.)
Eyinigamen oros je thkio vuna. We’ve become a mountain and two hills. (We are totally at odds.)
Eyinigan da nevra mu neron. My nerves have turned to water. (My nerves are shattered.)
Eyiniges goskoja mu levendis. You’ve become such a tall handsome man.
Eyinin i kelle mu gazanin. My head’s become a cauldron. (My head’s spinning.)
Eyinin shhilla. She turned into a (wild) bitch. (She went mad with rage.)
Eyo gala din eho. I have it well. (I’m all right Jack.)
F
Fae psumin na bgiai i garkia su. Eat bread to sustain your heart. (Eat some bread or you won’t fill up.)
Fkale fausan. May you get gangrene. (Shut up.)
Fkale psofon je gortajin. Die and become a corpse.
Fkale ziligurtin. May you grow a carbuncle. (Shut up.)
Fkalli d’ ahin du bano mu. He takes out his anguish on me.
Foos je dromos. Fear and dread.
Ftoman leshin. Dirty filth.
Fuade din noshhan du. He’s scared of his own shadow.
G
Gadishi su. Your bad fortune. (Heaven help you.)
Gala, lalumen. Well, we say. (Stoic response to enquiry about wellbeing.)
Gala na bathis. It befalls you well. (It serves you right.)
Gala na su gami. He did you well. (He gave you the comeuppance you deserved.)
Game enan eleos. Do something merciful. (Do something.)
Gatse bano. Sit on it.
Gatse berimene. Sit and wait. (You’ll be lucky.)
Gatse nebamenos. Sit and be quiet.
Gatse sta vrasta su. Sit on your warm bits. (Don’t do anything.)
Ghamo din bistin su. I fuck your faith.
Ghamo din ginonian su. I fuck your community.
Ghamo din ratsan su. I fuck your kind.
Ghamo do soin su. I fuck your kind.
Ghamo don gabilen su. I fuck your kind.
Ghamo don golon su. I fuck your arse.
Ghamo don thkiaolon su. I fuck your devil.
Gidaxe na dhis. Look to see. (Let me tell you.)
Giri’ eleison. Lord, have mercy.
Glesin din miran dus. They’re bemoaning their fate.
H
Halia mavra. Black (desperate) plight.
Harine mu do moron. Grace this child for me. (What a sweet child.)
Hara sto braman. Joy to the thing. (What an extraordinary thing.)
Hrise mu. My golden one. (My precious.)
Hristos je Banaya. Christ and Holy Virgin.
Hronia bolla. Many years. (Happy New Year, happy birthday etc.)
Htiba xilon. Knock on wood. (Touch wood.)
I
I dhulia su indambo ’ne? What’s your job? (What’s stopping you getting on with it?)
I faka en ba’ stin Aishen. The blow falls on Aishe. (As ever, it’s down to me to do it.)
Idan jeros j’ eberasen. It was a time that passed. (Times have changed.)
Ide thelis, ide oi. Whether you like it or not.
Idha j’ ebatha. I saw and suffered. (I’ve had a terrible time.)
Imarton, Girie. Lord, I’ve sinned.
Inda gabnon fumari? What tobacco is he smoking? (Where’s he coming from?)
Inda habarka? What news? (How are you?)
Inda thelo din zoin? What do I want life for? (Why should I go on living?)
Indambu me thoris? What are you looking at me for?
Irtan ulla axinostrafa. Everything’s come out the wrong way. (It’s all gone wrong.)
Irtes bo ’sso su. You’ve come home. (You’ve finally understood.)
Is do jerradon su laoxion. Oil and vinegar on your horn. (To hell with you.)
Ise delia Garagiozis. You’re a complete shadow puppet. (You’re a total clown.)
Ise delia gharos. You’re a complete donkey. (You’re a complete idiot.)
Ise me da gala su? Are you with your faculties? (Are you being serious?)
Ise me don vasilean brod’ anipsha. You are the king’s first cousin. (You have all you need.)
Ise me don vasilean yenean. You are related to the king. (You have all you need.)
J
Je jini blasmada du Theu ine. They’re creations of God too. (They’re people too.)
Jeron n’ agusumen din lalian su. Long time since we’ve heard your voice. (Long time, no hear.)
Jin’ din oran etsi mu ’rten. That’s what came to me (ie into my head) at the time.
Jinos eni j’ allos oi. He’s it and no one else. (He cares only for himself.)
Jithhe meru. Over there. (On to the next one.)
L
Lambron na se gapsi. May fire burn you.
Lambron na se gukurosi. May fire burn you.
Lamne bu dhame. Be gone from here.
Lionni don i milla mu. My fat melts him. (I feel so sorry for him.)
M
Magari na idan ulla etsi. If only they were all like this.
Mana mu je haro se. My dear, how you please me. (How sweet you are.)
Mavron je gamenon na se dho. May I see you black and burnt.
Me des ’yes. With health. (Bless you.)
Me din eyan. With health.
Me do sis ge me do sas. With the plural (ie formal) form of you. (With excessive formality.)
Me shilia dranda vasana. With a thousand and thirty troubles. (With great difficulty.)
Melin je ghalan. Honey and milk. (Very pleasant.)
Men fuase. Fear not. (Don’t doubt it.)
Men mu bis. Don’t tell me. (I can’t believe it.)
Men mu yelas bugado-bugado. Don’t laugh at me under your breath.
Men vallis don nun su me don bellon. Don’t pit your wits with a fool.
Men vallis ftin. Don’t take it in the ear. (Don’t listen.)
Mi gagon. (May there be) no harm.
Mia hara. A joy. (Fine.)
Mian volan (foran) j’ enan jeron. Once upon a time.
N
Na bais is do galon. Go to the good. (Farewell.)
Na bais na gopsis don lemon su. Go and cut your throat. (Go and jump in the lake.)
Na haris d’ ammathkia su. May you enjoy (ie not lose) your eyes.
Na haris da niada su. May you enjoy (ie not waste) your youth.
Na haris do fos su. May you enjoy (ie not lose) your sight.
Na haris odi aghabas. May you enjoy (ie not jeopardise) all you love.
Na minun mavra bu din kellen su. May black be upon your head. (Damn you.)
Na ’n harramin su i gobi mu. You don’t deserve my efforts.
Na su glasun i gati. May the cats fart on you.
Na su sheso (gharon). I shit (a donkey) on you.
Na su zisi do moron su. May your child live for you.
Na zisis. May you live.
Naninda na su bo. Whatever I tell you. (Anyway.)
Nna, mes’ sta mudra. Here, in your face.
O
O nus su en ba’ ston golon su. Your brain is on your arse.
O Theos en meghalos. God is great.
O Theos en voithos. God is a helper.
O Theos j’ i psishi du (xerun). God and his soul know. (No one else knows what he did.)
O Theos na don magarisi. May God bless him. (May God rest his soul.)
O Theos na su dhia hronia. May God grant you years.
Obos je na ’ne. However it is. (In any event.)
Obos je na ’shi. However it is. (In any event.)
Obu je na ’se. Wherever you are. (Any minute now.)
Oi, file mu, etsi oreon braman en exanaiamen. No, my friend, we’ve never seen such a fine thing before.
Onoman je braman. Name and thing. (It’s a thing worthy of its name.)
Os jame bai o nus du. That’s as far as his brain goes. (That’s the limit of his intellect.)
Ospu drois thelis. The more you eat, the more you want.
Ospo ’n d’ ammathkia mu annihta. As long as my eyes are open. (As long as I live.)
P
Pese bu jin’ do blevron. Fall on that side. (Just dare to take that stance.)
Ptu, na men se bgiai d’ ammadin. I spit on you so the evil eye won’t get you.
S
S’ iyian. To health. (Cheers.)
Shiru shirotera. Worse than a pig. (Even worse.)
Skada je biskada. Shit and double-shit.
Skada je gotsirus. Shit and turds.
Skulujasmenon na se dho. May I see you consumed by worms.
Stravara mu. My mistake.
T
Thee mu, voitha du gosmu ullu j’ istera emas. My God, help the whole world and then us.
Thkiaole mavre. Black devil.
Thorumen je gamnumen. We’ll see and do. (Let’s see how we go.)
U
Ulla da gaga j’ o ligos. All that is bad plus the wolf. (As if we didn’t have enough troubles already.)
V
Vale da dhinada su. Apply your strong ones. (Apply your strongest effort.)
Vale nun. Get some sense. (Start being sensible.)
Vallo su efches bu da igosi mu nisha. I give you blessings from my twenty nails.
Vromismenon leshin. Stinking filth.
Vura na ’vris. Run to find. (You’ll search in vain.)
Vuro j’ en siftanno. I run but I can’t catch up. (I can’t cope.)
X
Xeri da bo ’xo j’ anagadoda. He knows it outside and mixed up. (He knows it inside out/off by heart.)
Xeris, bu na xeranis. You know (you did wrong), may you wither.
Ximarismenon leshin. Dirty filth.
Y
Y’ onoman du Theu. In the name of God.
Yirefkun do me do jerin. They seek it with a candle. (It’s hard to find.)
Z
Zhi je vasilefki. He lives and reigns. (He’s still very much alive and well.)
Proverbs
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