καριέρα
Lemma: καριέρα
Translation: career; profession; professional life; vocation (noun)
Etymology: Borrowed from French 'carrière' meaning 'career' or 'quarry', which itself comes from Latin 'carrus' (cart, wagon). The metaphorical sense of a 'career path' developed from the idea of a road or track that vehicles travel on. This is a direct cognate with English 'career', making it highly recognizable to English speakers. The word entered Greek during the modern period as professional concepts became more formalized.
Mnemonics
- Sounds exactly like English 'career' - one of the easiest Greek words for English speakers to remember
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Used in modern Greek professional contexts, often in discussions about work-life balance, professional development, and career planning. Common in business settings and career counseling.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: Both start with 'καρ-' but καρέκλα means 'chair' while καριέρα means 'career'
Confused word:
Η καρέκλα είναι άνετη.
The chair is comfortable.
Notes: The stress pattern is different: καριέρα (stress on 3rd syllable) vs καρέκλα (stress on 2nd syllable)
Mnemonic: Career has more syllables like ca-ri-E-ra, chair is shorter like ka-RE-kla