δούλοι
Wordform Details
Translation: slaveservant
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
masculinepluralnominativeIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: δούλος
Translation: slave; servant; bondman (noun)
Etymology: From Proto-Indo-European *deh₂- ('to bind'). The concept of binding or being bound to someone evolved into the meaning of servitude. This root also appears in words related to subduing and domestication across Indo-European languages. The semantic development from 'bound person' to 'slave' parallels similar patterns in other languages where concepts of bondage evolved into terms for servitude.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'doulos' as someone who 'does all' the work
- Remember the 'doul-' root sounds like 'dull' - the dull work that slaves had to do
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In ancient Greece, slavery was a fundamental institution of society. The word carries historical weight and appears frequently in classical texts. In modern Greek, while retaining its historical meaning, it's also sometimes used metaphorically to describe someone who is overly devoted to or controlled by something (e.g., 'slave to work').
Easily Confused With
Explanation: δούλος (slave) vs δόλος (deceit) - similar sound but very different meaning
Confused word:
Ενήργησε με δόλο.
He acted with deceit.
Notes: The stress is on the first syllable in both words, but the vowel sound differs
Mnemonic: δούλος has 'ου' (ou) like 'do' (work), while δόλος has 'ο' like 'oh no' (deceit)