αδερφός
Lemma: αδερφός
Translation: brother; sibling (male) (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek ἀδελφός (adelphós), from copulative ἀ- (a-) + δελφύς (delphús, 'womb'). Literally meaning 'from the same womb'
Mnemonics
- Think of 'Philadelphia' - the city of brotherly love, which contains the same root 'adelph-'
- Remember the 'delf' sound as in 'delve into family'
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Greek culture, family relationships are particularly important, and the term αδερφός often carries strong connotations of loyalty and close family bonds
Easily Confused With
Explanation: αδελφός is the more formal version of αδερφός, used in official contexts
Confused word:
Ο αδελφός Ιωάννης είναι μοναχός.
Brother John is a monk.
Notes: The 'ερ' vs 'ελ' spelling difference is common in Modern Greek variants
Mnemonic: αδερφός for everyday use, αδελφός for formal situations