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μάγκας. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
μάγκας, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
μάγκας in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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Greek
Etymology
From Ottoman Turkish مانقه (manka, manga, “squad”).
According to Nisanyan,[1] from Italian banco, originally a naval term used to refer to a bank or row of sailors, later becoming a group or assembly of sailors (often with the additional meaning of a mess or meal assembly), then, according to Nisanyan, a non-naval term by the 20th century used by the ground forces.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈma(ŋ)ɡas/
- Hyphenation: μά‧γκας
Noun
μάγκας • (mágkas) m (plural μάγκες, feminine μάγκισσα)
- (historical, obsolete) mangas (social group in the Belle Époque era's counterculture of Greece known for behaving in a particularly arrogant/presumptuous way, dressing in a distinctive style with a moustache and beads, having a particular limping walk and listening to rebetiko music; the closest English equivalent is spiv or wide boy)
- (colloquial, derogatory, by extension) tough guy, macho man (person who acts tough and talks in a particular heavy way, the implication usually being they are anything but)
Ήταν ένας τύπος μάγκας που μάλωνε με οποιονδήποτε τον κοιτούσε στραβά.- Ítan énas týpos mágkas pou málone me opoiondípote ton koitoúse stravá.
- There was a tough guy who was picking fights with anyone who looked at him wrong.
Μη μας το παίζεις μάγκας, όλοι ξέρουμε ότι είσαι χέστης!- Mi mas to paízeis mágkas, óloi xéroume óti eísai chéstis!
- Don't play the tough guy with us, we know you're a wuss!
- (colloquial, in positive contexts, sometimes sarcastic) tiger, daredevil, lionheart (smart or cunning person who is exceptionally able and resourceful)
Γιατί δεν περιμένεις στη σειρά; Πιστεύεις ότι είσαι πιο μάγκας από μας;- Giatí den periméneis sti seirá? Pistéveis óti eísai pio mágkas apó mas?
- Why won't you wait your turn in the queue? Do you think you're braver than us?
Ο Νίκος ήταν μάγκας και τα κατάφερε.- O Níkos ítan mágkas kai ta katáfere.
- Nick was a tiger and he managed it.
- (colloquial, informal) dude, man, bro, guy (term of address between friends)
Λοιπόν, μάγκες, είμαστε έτοιμοι;- Loipón, mágkes, eímaste étoimoi?
- Right, guys, are we ready?
Δεν πειράζει πόσο μυαλό έχεις, μάγκα μου, αλλά τα λεφτά που έχεις.- Den peirázei póso myaló écheis, mágka mou, allá ta leftá pou écheis.
- It doesn't matter how much brains you have, my man, but how much money you have.
Declension
Synonyms
Derived terms
- μαγκάκι n (magkáki) (diminutive)
- μαγκιά f (magkiá, “cunning, craftiness”)
- μάγκικος (mágkikos, “cunning, crafty, rakish”)
- μαγκεύω (magkévo, “to turn into a tough guy”)
Further reading
References