κόπο
Wordform Details
Translation: efforttroublelabortoil
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
masculinesingularaccusativeIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: κόπος
Translation: effort; trouble; labor; toil; fatigue; exertion (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek 'κόπος' (kopos), meaning 'striking, beating, toil, weariness'. The word is related to the verb 'κόπτω' (koptō) meaning 'to strike, to cut'. The concept evolved from the physical act of striking or beating to the resulting fatigue or exhaustion from such labor.
Example Usage
Χρειάζεται πολύ κόπο για να πετύχεις.
It takes a lot of effort to succeed.
Δεν αξίζει τον κόπο.
It's not worth the trouble.
Έκανα πολύ κόπο για να τελειώσω αυτή την εργασία.
I made a lot of effort to finish this assignment.
Δεν αξίζει τον κόπο να ασχοληθείς με αυτό.
It's not worth the trouble to deal with this.
Με πολύ κόπο και υπομονή κατάφερε να πετύχει τους στόχους του.
With much toil and patience, he managed to achieve his goals.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'cops' who exert effort in their work to maintain law and order.
- Associate with 'cope' in English - dealing with something difficult requires effort.
Synonyms
Cultural Context
The concept of 'κόπος' is deeply embedded in Greek culture, often associated with the value of hard work and perseverance. The phrase 'χωρίς κόπο' (without effort) is commonly used to express that nothing worthwhile comes without effort.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Κόπος' means effort or fatigue, while 'κόμπος' means knot or lump.
Confused word:
Έδεσε έναν κόμπο στο σχοινί.
He tied a knot in the rope.
Notes: The difference is just one letter (π vs μπ) but the meanings are completely different.
Mnemonic: 'Κόπος' has one syllable like 'toil', while 'κόμπος' has the 'μπ' sound like 'bump' (a lump).
Explanation: 'Κόπος' refers to effort or fatigue, while 'τόπος' means place or location.
Notes: Both are common words but with entirely different meanings and contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Τόπος' starts with 'τ' like 'territory' or 'terrain', referring to places.