Literal translation
that one there, it sticks/it intoxicates
Meaning
what a surprise!
Explanation
The verb empega means to stick, but also to intoxicate or make giddy, and by extension describes something that hits the mind hard, leaving a lasting impression, rather like a glue one cannot shake off or a drink whose effect catches one off guard. Aquelo empego, literally that one sticks or that one intoxicates, is exclaimed in the face of news, a story, or a situation so surprising that it immediately and lastingly marks the listener's mind. It can greet a particularly good joke, that one's a real gem, or react to a surprising announcement, pleasant or not. The register is familiar and spontaneous, proper to spoken exclamation, and the expression captures that immediate jolt of astonishment preceding any measured reflection on what has just been heard. It reflects Provençal's fondness for vivid interjections built on concrete, everyday verbs.