μάγκας

Greek

Etymology

From Ottoman Turkish مانقه (manka, manga, “squad”).

According to Nisanyan, 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)

1. (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)
2. (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!

3. (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.

4. (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

declension of μάγκας

case     \     number	singular	plural
nominative	μάγκας •	μάγκες •
genitive	μάγκα •	—
accusative	μάγκα •	μάγκες •
vocative	μάγκα •	μάγκες •

Synonyms

• (mangas): κουτσαβάκης m (koutsavákis)
• (tough guy, macho man): παλληκαράς m (pallikarás), νταής m (ntaḯs), τσαμπουκάς m (tsampoukás)
• (tiger, daredevil): ικανός m (ikanós), καπάτσος m (kapátsos), καταφερτζής m (katafertzís)
• (dude, guy): φίλε m (fíle), παλικάρι m (palikári), μεγάλε m (megále)

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

• Μάγκας (χαρακτήρας) on the Greek Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^el