πιστός
Lemma: πιστός
Translation: faithful; loyal; devoted; true; trustworthy; reliable; believing (adjective)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek πιστός (pistós), derived from the verb πείθω (peíthō) meaning 'to persuade, convince'. The root is related to Latin 'fidēs' (faith, trust), which gives us English words like 'fidelity' and 'confidence'. The concept of being persuaded evolved into the notion of trust and faithfulness. The Greek word πίστις (pístis) meaning 'faith' comes from the same root.
Example Usage
Είναι πιστός φίλος και πάντα με βοηθάει.
He is a loyal friend and always helps me.
Ο σκύλος είναι πιστός στον ιδιοκτήτη του.
The dog is faithful to its owner.
Είναι πιστός Χριστιανός και πηγαίνει στην εκκλησία κάθε Κυριακή.
He is a devout Christian and goes to church every Sunday.
Έμεινε πιστή στις αρχές της παρά τις δυσκολίες.
She remained true to her principles despite the difficulties.
Είναι πιστός φίλος.
He is a loyal friend.
Έμεινε πιστός στις αρχές του.
He remained faithful to his principles.
Οι πιστοί πηγαίνουν στην εκκλησία κάθε Κυριακή.
The faithful go to church every Sunday.
Είναι πιστός σύζυγος.
He is a faithful husband.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'pistol' - a weapon you can trust to fire when you pull the trigger (reliable).
- Connect it to 'pistis' (faith) - a πιστός person is full of faith and loyalty.
- Remember the English word 'epistemology' (theory of knowledge) which contains 'pist' - knowledge requires trust in information.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Greek culture, the concept of πιστός is highly valued in relationships, both personal and professional. In religious contexts, it refers to believers or the faithful. The Orthodox Church often refers to its members as 'οι πιστοί' (the faithful).
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While πιστός is an adjective meaning 'faithful/loyal', πίστη is a noun meaning 'faith/belief'.
Confused word:
Έχει μεγάλη πίστη στο Θεό.
He has great faith in God.
Notes: These words share the same root and are conceptually related - πιστός describes someone who has πίστη.
Mnemonic: πιστός ends in -ός (typical adjective ending) while πίστη ends in -η (typical feminine noun ending).
Explanation: πιστός is an adjective meaning 'faithful', while πιστεύω is a verb meaning 'to believe'.
Confused word:
Πιστεύω στις ικανότητές σου.
I believe in your abilities.
Notes: Both words are related to the concept of faith and trust.
Mnemonic: πιστεύω ends in -εύω (verb ending) while πιστός ends in -ός (adjective ending).