χαμένος
chaménos/xaˈme.nos/
The Greek word for loser is χαμένος (chaménos).
The term χαμένος refers to a person who fails to win. In a more colloquial setting, Greek speakers often use the borrowed English term Λούζερ to describe someone who consistently fails or lacks success.
Meaning: person who fails to win (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable: chaménos (IPA: /xaˈme.nos/).
Did you know?
- The word χαμένος is actually the perfect participle of a verb meaning 'to vanish' or 'to perish'.
- If you use the English loanword Λούζερ in Greece, it sounds much more biting and insulting than the Greek χαμένος, which can feel more descriptive or even pitying.
- If a Greek speaker says someone is χαμένος στο παιχνίδι, they might mean the person is hopelessly behind in a game or completely clueless about what is happening.
Examples in context
- Ο χαμένος δεν πήρε τίποτα.O chamenos den pire tipota.The loser got nothing.
Example conversation
Anastasia and Nikos are talking about a board game they just played.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΝίκη, έχασες πάλι το παιχνίδι!Níke, échases páli to paichnídi!Nikos, you lost the game again!
- Νίκος NikosΔεν είναι δίκαιο, είχα κακούς κύβους.Den eínai díkaio, eícha kakoús kývous.It's not fair, I had bad dice.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΜην το δικαιολογείς, είσαι απλά ένας χαμένος.Min to dikaiologéis, eísai aplá ένας chaménos.Don't justify it, you're just a loser.
- Νίκος NikosΘα σε κερδίσω την επόμενη φορά!Tha se kerdíso tin epómeni forá!I will beat you next time!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “loser” translations and entries χαμένος, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries χαμένος, CC BY-SA 4.0.
