μόλις
Wordform Details
Translation: as soon asjustbarely
Part of Speech: adverb
Inflection Type:
invariableIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: μόλις
Translation: hardly; barely; scarcely; just now; as soon as (adverb)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek μόλις (mólis), related to μόλος (mólos, 'toil, labor')
Mnemonics
- Think of 'molasses' - something that moves very slowly, barely moving
- Remember 'mole' - something that barely comes to the surface
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Frequently used in everyday speech, both for temporal ('just now') and quantitative ('barely') meanings
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While μόλις means 'barely/just now', μήπως is used to express possibility or concern ('perhaps/in case')
This word:
Μόλις έφαγα.
I just ate.
Confused word:
Μήπως θέλεις καφέ;
Perhaps you'd like some coffee?
Notes: μόλις is more definitive, while μήπως introduces uncertainty
Mnemonic: μόλις has to do with time and amount, μήπως has to do with possibility