δικό
Wordform Details
Translation: ownpersonalbelonging to
Part of Speech: adjective
Inflection Type:
masculinesingularaccusativeIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: δικός
Translation: own; belonging to; of one's own; personal (adjective)
Etymology: Derived from Ancient Greek 'δικός' (dikos), which comes from the Indo-European root *deik- meaning 'to show, point out'. This root also gave us English words like 'indicate', 'dictate', and 'digit'. The semantic evolution went from 'pointing out' to 'designating as belonging to someone', finally settling on the meaning of 'one's own'.
Example Usage
Αυτό είναι το δικό μου βιβλίο.
This is my own book.
Ο δικός μου αδερφός είναι ψηλότερος από τον δικό σου.
My brother is taller than yours.
Οι δικοί μου θα έρθουν για επίσκεψη το Σαββατοκύριακο.
My family will come for a visit on the weekend.
Είναι δικός μας άνθρωπος.
He's one of our people/He's on our side.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'δικός' as 'DEE-kos' which sounds a bit like 'this is' - as in 'this is my own'.
- Associate with the English word 'dedicated' - something dedicated to you is your own.
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Greek culture, the concept of 'δικός' extends beyond mere possession to include a sense of belonging and connection. The phrase 'οι δικοί μου' (literally 'my own ones') is commonly used to refer to one's family or close circle, highlighting the importance of family bonds in Greek society.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'δικός' means 'own' or 'belonging to', 'δίκαιος' means 'fair' or 'just'. They look similar but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
Είναι ένας δίκαιος άνθρωπος.
He is a fair person.
Notes: The stress in 'δικός' is on the second syllable, while in 'δίκαιος' it's on the first syllable.
Mnemonic: 'δικός' has to do with ownership (one syllable, like 'own'), while 'δίκαιος' has to do with justice (longer word, like 'justice').
Explanation: 'δικός' is an adjective meaning 'own', while 'δίνω' is a verb meaning 'to give'. They may look somewhat similar to beginners but have different grammatical functions and meanings.
Confused word:
Δίνω το βιβλίο στον φίλο μου.
I give the book to my friend.
Notes: 'δικός' is always followed by a possessive pronoun (μου, σου, etc.) when used to indicate possession.
Mnemonic: Think of 'δίνω' as 'DEE-no' which sounds a bit like 'deal' - when you give something, you're making a deal.