Etymology

From σφουγγίζω (sfoungízo, “to wipe, to sponge”) +‎ κώλος (kólos, “arse, ass”) +‎ -άριος (-ários)Category:Greek compound terms#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣCategory:Greek terms suffixed with -άριος#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sfuŋɡokoˈlaɾios/Category:Greek terms with IPA pronunciation#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣ
• Hyphenation: σφου‧γγο‧κω‧λά‧ρι‧ος

Noun

σφουγγοκωλάριος • (sfoungokolários) m (plural σφουγγοκωλάριοι)Category:Greek lemmas#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣCategory:Greek nouns#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣCategory:Greek entries with incorrect language header#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣCategory:Greek masculine nouns#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣCategory:Pages with entries#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣCategory:Pages with 1 entry#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣ

1. (obsoleteCategory:Greek terms with obsolete senses#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣ, literally) groom of the stool (Byzantine officer tasked with wiping the emperor's bottom)
2. (derogatoryCategory:Greek derogatory terms#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣ, figuratively) arse-kisser, ass-licker, brown-noser (someone who succumbs to authority, doing whatever authority figures ask and attempting to please them in every possible way)

   Φυσικά, έχει τους σφουγγοκωλάριούς του που ποτέ δεν του λένε όχι.

   Fysiká, échei tous sfoungokolárioús tou pou poté den tou léne óchi.

   Of course, he has his brown-nosers who never say no to him.

   Category:Greek terms with usage examples#ΣΦΟΥΓΓΟΚΩΛΑΡΙΟΣ