μήλα
Wordform Details
Translation: apple
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
neuterpluralaccusativeIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: μήλο
Translation: apple (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek μῆλον (mēlon, 'apple'). The Ancient Greek word is cognate with Latin mālum ('apple'), which gave rise to words for 'apple' in many Romance languages. The Greek word is also related to Armenian մալ (mal) and Albanian mollë ('apple'). Interestingly, in Ancient Greek, μῆλον could refer to any fleshy fruit with seeds, not just apples.
Mnemonics
- Think of the English word 'melon' which sounds similar to 'μήλο' (mílo) - both are fruits!
- The word 'μήλο' sounds a bit like 'mellow', and ripe apples have a mellow sweetness.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
Apples are common in Greek cuisine and culture. In Greek mythology, golden apples appear in several stories, including the myth of Atalanta and the Garden of the Hesperides. Offering apples as gifts is common in Greek culture, especially when visiting someone's home.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'μήλο' is the singular form meaning 'an apple', 'μήλα' is the plural form meaning 'apples'.
This word:
Έφαγα ένα μήλο.
I ate an apple.
Confused word:
Αγόρασα πέντε μήλα.
I bought five apples.
Notes: This is a regular neuter noun pattern in Greek where -ο in singular becomes -α in plural.
Mnemonic: Remember: μήλο (singular) ends with 'o', μήλα (plural) ends with 'a'.
Explanation: 'Μήλο' means 'apple' (the fruit), while 'μηλιά' means 'apple tree'.
Notes: The suffix -ιά is commonly used in Greek to form names of trees from their fruits.
Mnemonic: Think of 'μηλιά' as 'μήλο' plus 'ιά' which often indicates a plant or tree in Greek.