πελάγου
Wordform Details
Translation: seaoceanopen sea
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
neutersingulargenitiveIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: πέλαγος
Translation: sea; ocean; open sea; high seas; deep waters (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek πέλαγος (pelagos) meaning 'sea, open sea'. This word is the source of English 'pelagic' (relating to the open ocean) and appears in scientific terms like 'archipelago' (originally meaning 'chief sea'). The root is related to the Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- meaning 'flat, broad', connecting it to the concept of vast, flat expanses of water. Unlike θάλασσα which can refer to any sea or coastal waters, πέλαγος specifically evokes the deep, open ocean far from shore.
Example Usage
Το Αιγαίο Πέλαγος είναι γεμάτο νησιά.
The Aegean Sea is full of islands.
Το πλοίο ταξιδεύει στο ανοιχτό πέλαγος.
The ship is traveling in the open sea.
Βρίσκομαι σε ένα πέλαγος αμφιβολιών.
I am in a sea of doubts.
Το Αιγαίο Πέλαγος βρίσκεται ανάμεσα στην Ελλάδα και την Τουρκία.
The Aegean Sea is located between Greece and Turkey.
Χάθηκε στα πελάγη της αμφιβολίας.
He was lost in the seas of doubt.
Χάθηκε στο πέλαγος των πληροφοριών.
He got lost in the sea of information.
Το Αιγαίο Πέλαγος είναι γεμάτο με όμορφα νησιά.
The Aegean Sea is full of beautiful islands.
Χάθηκε στο πέλαγος των σκέψεών του.
He got lost in the sea of his thoughts.
Το καράβι έπλεε στο ανοιχτό πέλαγος.
The ship was sailing on the open sea.
Χάθηκε στα πελάγη του Αιγαίου.
He was lost in the waters of the Aegean.
Mnemonics
- Think 'pelagic zone' in marine biology - the open ocean waters
- Sounds like 'pelican goes' - pelicans fly over the open sea
Cultural Context
Often used in literary, poetic, or formal contexts. Greece's maritime heritage makes sea-related vocabulary rich and nuanced. This word appears frequently in classical literature and formal writing about maritime topics.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: θάλασσα is the general word for sea and can refer to coastal waters, while πέλαγος specifically refers to deep, open ocean waters far from shore
Confused word:
Κολυμπούσαμε στη θάλασσα κοντά στην παραλία.
We were swimming in the sea near the beach.
Notes: πέλαγος is more formal and literary, while θάλασσα is the everyday word for sea
Mnemonic: πέλαγος = pelagic (deep ocean zone), θάλασσα = general sea including shallow coastal waters