κουτσομπολιό
koutsompolió/kutsoboˈʎo/neuter
The English word gossip is translated into Greek as κουτσομπολιό (koutsompolió).
κουτσομπολιό is a neuter noun meaning idle talk. You can also use the related verb κουτσομπολεύω to express the act of talking about someone else's private or personal business.
Meaning: idle talk (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb κουτσομπολεύω is a first-conjugation verb, meaning it follows the standard patterns for Greek verbs ending in –ω.
How do you pronounce it?
koutsompolió
Did you know?
- The word κουτσομπολιό is often associated with the 'kafeneio' culture, where men traditionally gathered in coffee houses to exchange local news and rumors.
- The act of κουτσομπολεύω is sometimes viewed as a social lubricant in small villages, serving as a primary method of community policing and social bonding.
- While κουτσομπολιό is the standard term for idle talk, Greeks also use the word φλυπιά to describe a more constant, nervous or repetitive form of chattering.
Examples in context
- Το κουτσομπολιό είναι γι’ αυτούς που δεν έχουν άλλο να κάνουν.Gossip is for those who have nothing else to do.This sentence shows how κουτσομπολιό is used to describe a behavior for people with nothing better to do.
- Έχεις ακούσει κάποια φήμη για τον Μιχάλη;Have you heard any gossip about Michalis?
- Μην ασχολείσαι με κουτσομπολιά. Είναι ανώφελη και μπορεί να προκαλέσει προβλήματα.Don't engage in gossip. It is useless and can lead to problems.
- Μη ακούς το κουτσομπολιό της γειτονιάς.Mi akous to koutsobolió tis geitonias.Don't listen to the gossip of the neighborhood.
- Το κουτσομπολιό μπορεί να κάνει κακό.To koutsobolió borei na kanei kako.Gossip can do harm.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking at a cafe.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΈχεις ακούσει το τελευταίο κουτσομπολιό;Écheis akoúsei to teleftaío kutsompolió?Have you heard the latest gossip?
- Ελένη EleniΌχι, Γιώργο, τι έγινε πάλι;Óchi, Giórgo, ti égine páli?No, Giorgos, what happened again?
- Γιώργος GiorgosΗ γειτόνισσα είπε κάτι απίστευτο.I geitónissa eípe káti apístevto.The neighbor said something unbelievable.
- Ελένη EleniΜισώ το κουτσομπολιό, αλλά πες μου!Misó to kutsompolió, allá pes mou!I hate gossip, but tell me!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gossip” translations and entries κουτσομπολιό, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
