Malakas is a commonly used profane Greekslang 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. Common alternative meanings include "asshole", "motherfucker" "jerk" or "idiot", and the contrasting "dude", or "mate", depending on the context. It has been described as "the most used Greek slang word".
Overview
Malakas derives from the Greek word malakos, which means "soft" or "spoilt, well-used to luxuries of life". It is one of the most frequent words picked up by tourists 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, but is a recent coinage and not as widely used, whereas malakismeni seems to be rather more vintage, but also more common, though its meaning is slightly different. 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.
Constructivist approach
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, highlight failures of social or intellectual finesse: 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.
''Malakia''
Malakia, literally meaning masturbation, is often also used in a similar sense as malakas to refer to nonsense, somethingworthless 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. The verb "malakizome" also exists, literally meaning "I masturbate", though it is not as commonly used.
