δέκα
Wordform Details
Translation: ten
Part of Speech: numeral
Inflection Type:
invariableIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: δέκα
Translation: ten (numeral)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek δέκα (déka), from Proto-Indo-European *déḱm̥. This is cognate with English 'ten', Latin 'decem', Sanskrit 'daśa', and many other Indo-European languages. The root appears in English words like 'decade' (ten years), 'decimal' (based on ten), and 'decathlon' (athletic contest with ten events).
Mnemonics
- Think of 'decade' in English, which means a period of ten years.
- The Greek δέκα sounds similar to 'deca-' prefix in English words like decathlon (ten events).
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
As in many cultures, the number ten has significance in Greek culture. The ancient Greek numeral system used letters to represent numbers, with δέκα represented by the letter ι' (iota with a mark). In modern Greece, the number ten is used in the decimal system and appears in many common expressions.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'δέκα' is simply the number ten, 'δεκάς' refers to a group or set of ten items.
This word:
Χρειάζομαι δέκα μολύβια.
I need ten pencils.
Notes: The suffix '-άς' often indicates a collection or group in Greek.
Mnemonic: Think of 'δέκα' as the simple number, while 'δεκάς' refers to a collection or group of ten.