αιώνας
Lemma: αιώνας
Translation: century; age; era; epoch (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek αἰών (aiōn) meaning 'lifetime, age, eternity'. This word is cognate with English 'eon' and 'aeon', both borrowed from the same Greek root. The concept originally referred to a vital force or lifetime, but evolved to mean extended periods of time. The suffix -ας indicates masculine gender in Modern Greek. The word shares its root with Latin 'aevum' (age), which gives us English words like 'medieval' (middle age) and 'primeval' (first age).
Mnemonics
- Think 'eon' - both words share the same ancient Greek root and refer to long time periods
- Remember 'AI-onas' - AI technology seems to advance ages in short time
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Frequently used in historical contexts, especially when discussing Greek history spanning millennia. Often appears in formal writing, news, and educational materials. Greeks commonly reference historical periods using this word when discussing their rich cultural heritage.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: χρόνος refers to time in general or a specific duration, while αιώνας specifically means a century or long historical period
Confused word:
Δεν έχω χρόνο τώρα.
I don't have time now.
Notes: χρόνος is more general and everyday, αιώνας is specifically for historical/long time periods
Mnemonic: αιώνας is always about long periods (centuries), χρόνος can be any amount of time