Greek Word 14/2022

κάργα – adverb = completely or fully

I heard this on the radio when I was in Athens a few days ago.

With regard to liquids, it means ‘to the brim’ as in Τα ποτήρια ήταν κάργα κρασί = The wine glasses were filled to the brim. Synonyms are φίσκα and τίγκα.

By extension, it means very much, completely, fully as in

Είμαι κάργα = I’m stuffed (with food)

Είμαι κάργα ερωτευμένος = I’m totally in love.

My favourite site for Greek words www.slang.gr gives this example for chatting up foreign women:

Greek kid: – Αϊ λάβ γιού κάργα, ντού γιού λάβ μί καμπόσο;
Tourist: – Excuse me;
Greek kid: – Τι εξκιούζ και ξεσκιούζ μωρή χαμούρα.

Not very nice!

Κάργα came into Greek from the Venetian dialect: carga = a load, cargar = to load (cf the French charger). There is also a verb: καργάρω.