πανικός
Lemma: πανικός
Translation: panic; panic fear; pandemonium (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek 'Πανικός', meaning 'of Pan', referring to the Greek god Pan. Pan was known to cause sudden, unreasonable fear in travelers through woods and lonely places. When startled from his sleep, Pan would let out a terrifying shout that would cause flocks to stampede and armies to flee in terror. This is the origin of both Greek 'πανικός' and English 'panic'.
Mnemonics
- Think of the god Pan causing panic in the woods
- PANic comes from PAN - same in English and Greek
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
Widely used in modern Greek media and everyday speech. Often used in discussions about social phenomena, crowd behavior, or personal anxiety.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While πανικός is sudden and intense fear, φοβία is a persistent, irrational fear of something specific
Confused word:
Έχει φοβία με τα ύψη.
He has a fear of heights.
Notes: Πανικός is typically more temporary and situational, while φοβία is chronic
Mnemonic: Panic is sudden (like Pan's shout), phobia is lasting