κόκκος
Wordform Details
Translation: grainseedkernel
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
masculinesingularnominativeIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: κόκκος
Translation: grain; seed; kernel; berry; pellet; granule (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek κόκκος (kokkos) meaning 'grain, seed, berry'. This word is the source of several English scientific terms including 'coccus' (spherical bacterium), 'cochineal' (red dye from insects), and appears in 'coccyx' (tailbone, named for its resemblance to a cuckoo's beak). The word has maintained its core meaning of small, round objects throughout its history, making it a stable vocabulary item across millennia.
Mnemonics
- Think 'cocoa' - both start with 'coc' and refer to small round things (cocoa beans, grains)
- Remember 'coccus' bacteria - small round organisms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Commonly used in cooking contexts (rice grains, peppercorns), agriculture (seeds), and medicine (pills, granules). Often appears in traditional Greek recipes and agricultural discussions.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: κόκκος refers to small grains/seeds while κόκκαλο means bone - completely different meanings despite similar spelling
Notes: The double κ appears in both but the endings are completely different (-ος vs -αλο)
Mnemonic: κόκκος = small and round like a 'kernel', κόκκαλο = hard like a bone