αδέλφι
Lemma: αδέλφι
Translation: sibling; brother or sister (noun)
Etymology: From Medieval Greek ἀδέλφιον (adelphion), a diminutive of Ancient Greek ἀδελφός (adelphós). The root combines 'a-' (together) and 'delphys' (womb), literally meaning 'from the same womb.' This gives us English words like 'Philadelphia' (city of brotherly love) and 'adelphia' (brotherhood).
Mnemonics
- Think of 'Philadelphia' (city of brotherly love) to remember it's about siblings
- Remember 'dolphin' sounds similar - dolphins swim together like siblings stick together
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Greek culture, family relationships are particularly important, and siblings often maintain close relationships throughout life. The term is gender-neutral and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While αδέλφι means sibling, ξάδελφος means cousin
Confused word:
Ο ξάδελφός μου ζει στην Αθήνα.
My cousin lives in Athens.
Notes: Both terms are frequently used in family contexts but indicate different levels of relation
Mnemonic: The 'ξ' (ks) in ξάδελφος marks it as more distant relation