“Malakas” is one of the most famous Greek words among non-Greeks, along with “kalimera”, “yasou” and “mousakas”. (No sorry, “opa” doesn’t count as it is not exactly a word… It’s an exclamation).
However, “malakas” is a dirty word and we won’t get into more detail. If you are intrigued, start hanging out more with Greeks (or just google it…).
Apparently, though, Malakas is also the name of a tropical storm in progress right now in the eastern Philippines.
The tropical storm was named Malakas by the Japan Meteorological Agency, who used a Filipino word, which explains the…misunderstanding. In Filipino “malakas” means strong, dynamic. Quite the opposite than in Greek.
This is not the first time that the phenomenon with this name has appeared. To be precise, it “visits” the area every 6 years. The first time Malakas appeared was in 2004. Then in 2010 and in 2016.
So, as the year is 2022, it was time for Malakas to show up…
As the course of the phenomenon shows, the storm may affect Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
New satellite view of Tropical Storm #Malakas in the western Pacific. Expected to strengthen into a typhoon in a few days. #台風1号 pic.twitter.com/hoIm7F6uwX
— Zoom Earth (@zoom_earth) April 8, 2022