θεά
Wordform Details
Translation: goddess
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
femininesingularnominativeIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: θεά
Translation: goddess; deity (female) (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek θεά (theá), the feminine form of θεός (theós, 'god'). This word shares the same Indo-European root (*dʰeh₁s-) as Latin 'fēriae' (holidays, festivals) and ultimately English words like 'feast' and 'fair'. The concept of female deities was central to ancient Greek religion, with major goddesses like Athena, Aphrodite, and Artemis playing crucial roles in mythology and worship.
Example Usage
Η Αφροδίτη ήταν η θεά της ομορφιάς.
Aphrodite was the goddess of beauty.
Η θεά Αθηνά προστάτευε την πόλη.
The goddess Athena protected the city.
Η Αθηνά ήταν η θεά της σοφίας.
Athena was the goddess of wisdom.
Είναι όμορφη σαν θεά.
She is beautiful like a goddess.
Η ηθοποιός έμοιαζε με θεά στην πρεμιέρα της ταινίας.
The actress looked like a goddess at the movie premiere.
Οι αρχαίοι Έλληνες λάτρευαν πολλές θεές.
The ancient Greeks worshipped many goddesses.
Η Άρτεμις ήταν η θεά του κυνηγιού.
Artemis was the goddess of hunting.
Λάτρευαν τη θεά της γονιμότητας.
They worshipped the goddess of fertility.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'theater' which comes from Greek and was associated with performances honoring the gods and goddesses
- The word sounds a bit like 'thea' in English, which can help remember its connection to divine feminine figures
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
While modern Greece is predominantly Orthodox Christian, references to ancient goddesses remain common in literature, art, and cultural expressions. The word is frequently encountered in discussions of ancient Greek mythology, archaeology, and historical contexts.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'θεά' means 'goddess', 'θέα' means 'view' or 'sight'. They differ only in accent placement.
Confused word:
Από το παράθυρο έχει ωραία θέα στη θάλασσα.
From the window there is a beautiful view of the sea.
Notes: The difference in meaning despite similar pronunciation reflects how important accent marks are in Greek.
Mnemonic: Remember: accent on the last syllable (θεΆ) for goddess, accent on the first syllable (ΘΈα) for view.
Explanation: While 'θεά' is specifically a female deity (goddess), 'θεός' is a male deity (god).
Confused word:
Ο Δίας ήταν ο θεός του ουρανού.
Zeus was the god of the sky.
Notes: These words demonstrate the grammatical gender distinction in Greek nouns.
Mnemonic: θεά ends with 'α' which is typically feminine, while θεός ends with 'ος' which is typically masculine.