شاكو ماكو

Iraqi Arabic

Iraqi Arabic phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

Alternative forms

• شكو ماكو (alternative spelling)
• شاكو شماكو (šaku šmāku), شكو شماكو

Etymology

From underlying شنو اكو، شنو ما اكو (šinu ʔaku, šinu ma ʔaku, literally “what is there, what is there not”). Compare the same in North Levantine Arabic شوفي مافي (šūfi māfi, “what's up?”) and Assyrian Neo-Aramaic ܡܘ ܐܝܬ ܡܘ ܠܝܬ (mō īt mō layt?).

Phrase

شاكو ماكو (šaku māku, šāku māku)

1. (informal) what's up?; what's going on?; how are you?