βλάκας
Greek
Alternative forms
- βλαξ m (vlax) (dated)
Etymology
Inherited from Ancient Greek βλάξ (bláx, “soft”) from the accusative singular τὸν (tòn) βλάκα (bláka), from Proto-Indo-European *mel- (“soft, weak, tender”) (through *μλάξ [mláx] > *μβλάξ [mbláx]). Cognates include Latin mollis (“soft, mild”), Sanskrit मृदु (mṛdú, “soft, mild, weak”) and English mild.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈvla.kas/
- Hyphenation: βλά‧κας
Noun
βλάκας • (vlákas) m (plural βλάκες)
- (psychiatry, dated) person with moderate learning difficulties
- idiot, moron, imbecile
Declension
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | βλάκας (vlákas) | βλάκες (vlákes) |
| genitive | βλάκα (vláka) | βλακών (vlakón) |
| accusative | βλάκα (vláka) | βλάκες (vlákes) |
| vocative | βλάκα (vláka) | βλάκες (vlákes) |
Synonyms
colloquial: bird names, denoting figuratively slow wit:
- κουτορνίθι n (koutorníthi)
- μπούφος m (boúfos)
Antonyms
- see: έξυπνος (éxypnos)
Derived terms
- αρχιβλάκας m (archivlákas, “born idiot”)
- βλακεία f (vlakeía, “nonsense, stupidity”)
Further reading
- βλάκας, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language