άλμα
Wordform Details
Translation: jumpleapbound
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
neutersingularaccusativeIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: άλμα
Translation: jump; leap; bound; vault (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek ἅλμα (hálma), derived from the verb ἅλλομαι (hállomai, 'to leap, spring'). The root is related to Latin 'salire' (to jump), which gave English words like 'somersault' and 'salmon' (literally 'the leaping fish'). The Greek word preserves the Indo-European root *sel- meaning 'to jump'.
Example Usage
Έκανε ένα μεγάλο άλμα στην καριέρα του.
He made a big leap in his career.
Το άλμα του αθλητή ήταν εντυπωσιακό.
The athlete's jump was impressive.
Ο αθλητής έκανε ένα εντυπωσιακό άλμα.
The athlete made an impressive jump.
Η εταιρεία έκανε ένα τεχνολογικό άλμα με το νέο προϊόν.
The company made a technological leap with the new product.
Το άλμα εις μήκος είναι το αγαπημένο μου αγώνισμα.
The long jump is my favorite event.
Χρειάζεται ένα άλμα πίστης για να πετύχεις τους στόχους σου.
It takes a leap of faith to achieve your goals.
Mnemonics
- Think of an 'almond' jumping - the sound 'alm' in άλμα sounds like the beginning of 'almond'.
- Connect it to 'salmon' (the fish known for jumping upstream), which shares the same ancient root.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Greek sports terminology, 'άλμα' is commonly used in athletic contexts, particularly in track and field events. The word also appears metaphorically in everyday speech to describe significant progress or advancement in various fields.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'άλμα' means 'jump' or 'leap', 'αλάτι' means 'salt'. They look somewhat similar but have completely different meanings and etymologies.
Notes: The stress is also different: 'ΆΛμα' vs 'αλΆτι'.
Mnemonic: Remember: 'άλμα' has the 'μ' (m) in the middle like 'jump', while 'αλάτι' has a 'τ' (t) like 'salt'.
Explanation: 'Άλμα' means 'jump', while 'άρμα' means 'chariot' or 'tank'. They differ by just one letter (λ vs ρ).
Confused word:
Το άρμα μάχης κινήθηκε προς το πεδίο της μάχης.
The tank moved toward the battlefield.
Notes: Both words are stressed on the first syllable, making them sound quite similar.
Mnemonic: 'Άλμα' has 'λ' like 'leap', while 'άρμα' has 'ρ' like 'ride' (as in riding a chariot).