23/003 Greek Word

I’m more interested in the suffix than the word itself.

ψαρίλα = the unpleasant smell of fish. Not a compliment. Babiniotis states: η δυνατή και απωθητική μυρωδιά του ψαριού

Often preceded by μυρίζει or βρωμάει, it is a complaint. I suppose βρωμάει gives it added force.
Μυρίζει ψαρίλα = It stinks of fish

Βρωμάει ψαρίλα = it fucking stinks of fish

As kids, whenever we complained about a smell, my Glaswegian mother used to say, “Your nose is too near your arse.” My wife has an over-developed sense of smell, but I’m not allowed to repeat my mother’s dismissive retort. Circumlocution is required eg “Maybe your nasal orifices require relocation”, but I have to tread carefully.

In our household -ιλα is used mainly in relation to cooking so, as well as Βρωμάει ψαρίλα I have to put up with

Βρωμάει σκορδίλα = it stinks of garlic

Βρωμάει φαγητίλα = it stinks of cooking

It looks as if you can add -ιλα to anything where the sense of smell is involved. Here are some more examples.

Κλανιά (fart) κλανίλα – www.slang.gr offers “Η βρώμα από την (συνήθως αθόρυβη) κλανιά κάποιου”=  “The stink from someone’s (usually silent) fart”, so I suppose it corresponds to the British SBD (Silent But Deadly) rather than LAP (Loud And Proud). Nobody complains about their own farts, and the Greeks have a wonderful expression: Ο καθένας την πορδή του μοσχολίβανο την έχει = Everyone thinks their farts smell of incense.

Κώλος (arse) κωλίλα

Ιδρώτας (sweat) ιδρωτίλα

Στόμα (mouth) στοματίλα

And there are a couple that I am deliberately omitting!