ονομαστός
Lemma: ονομαστός
Translation: famous; renowned; celebrated; well-known; notable (adjective)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek ὀνομαστός (onomastos), derived from ὄνομα (onoma) meaning 'name' plus the suffix -τός indicating capability or result. The root connects to English 'name' through Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥. The concept is literally 'worthy of being named' or 'having a name that is spoken.' This etymology makes it cognate with Latin 'nominatus' and helps explain why fame is associated with 'making a name for oneself' in English.
Example Usage
Είναι ένας από τους πιο ονομαστούς σεφ στην Ελλάδα.
He is one of the most famous chefs in Greece.
Το εστιατόριό του έγινε ονομαστό για τα θαλασσινά του.
His restaurant became renowned for its seafood.
Είναι ονομαστός συγγραφέας.
He is a renowned writer.
Η ονομαστή ηθοποιός έφτασε στο φεστιβάλ.
The famous actress arrived at the festival.
Mnemonics
- Think 'on-name-famous' - someone whose name is 'on' everyone's lips
- Connect to 'onomastics' (study of names) - famous people have well-studied names
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Often used in formal contexts, literature, and media when describing celebrities, historical figures, or places of significance. More elevated in register than διάσημος.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: ονομαστικός refers to grammatical nominative case or nominal/face value, while ονομαστός means famous
Confused word:
Η ονομαστική αξία του χαρτονομίσματος είναι 50 ευρώ.
The nominal value of the banknote is 50 euros.
Notes: Both derive from όνομα (name) but serve completely different functions
Mnemonic: ονομαστός = famous (ends in -ός like many adjectives), ονομαστικός = grammatical term (ends in -ικός like technical terms)