άντρας
Lemma: άντρας
Translation: man; husband; male (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek ἀνήρ (anēr), genitive ἀνδρός (andrós), meaning 'man, male human being'. This root appears in English words like 'android' (man-like robot), 'androgynous' (having both male and female characteristics), and 'polyandry' (marriage system where a woman has multiple husbands). The modern Greek form άντρας evolved through regular phonetic changes, with the ancient genitive stem ἀνδρ- becoming the base for the nominative form.
Mnemonics
- Think 'android' - both come from the same Greek root meaning 'man'
- Remember 'Andrew' - a name meaning 'manly' from the same root
Cultural Context
In Greek culture, άντρας traditionally carries connotations of masculinity and responsibility. When referring to 'husband', it emphasizes the male role in marriage. The word is used in both formal and informal contexts without stigma.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: άντρας is the noun 'man/husband' while αντρικός is the adjective 'masculine/manly'
This word:
Ο άντρας είναι ψηλός.
The man is tall.
Confused word:
Φοράει αντρικά ρούχα.
She wears men's clothes.
Notes: Both derive from the same root but serve different grammatical functions
Mnemonic: άντρας ends in -ας like other masculine nouns (άνθρωπος), while αντρικός ends in -ός like adjectives