πλοία
Wordform Details
Translation: shipvessel
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
neuterpluralnominativeIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: πλοίο
Translation: ship; vessel; boat (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek πλοῖον (ploîon, 'vessel, ship'), derived from the verb πλέω (pléō, 'to sail, to float'). The word has maintained its meaning throughout Greek history, referring to watercraft used for transportation. The root is related to the Indo-European *pleu- which gives us English words like 'float', 'fleet', and 'flow'.
Example Usage
Το πλοίο αναχωρεί στις έξι το απόγευμα.
The ship departs at six in the evening.
Ταξιδεύουμε με πλοίο για το νησί.
We're traveling to the island by ship.
Το πλοίο μεταφέρει εμπορεύματα από την Ελλάδα στην Ιταλία.
The ship transports goods from Greece to Italy.
Εργάζεται σε επιβατηγό πλοίο.
He works on a passenger ship.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'ploio' sounding like 'float' - ships float on water.
- Connect it to the English word 'ply' as in 'to ply the waters' (ships ply the seas).
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
Greece has a rich maritime history dating back thousands of years, and shipping remains an important industry in modern Greece. The country's geography, with numerous islands and extensive coastlines, has made ships essential for transportation, commerce, and defense throughout Greek history.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'πλοίο' means 'ship', 'πλοίαρχος' means 'captain' or 'ship master' - the person in command of the ship.
This word:
Το πλοίο είναι μεγάλο.
The ship is large.
Notes: These words are related but refer to different concepts in maritime terminology.
Mnemonic: 'Πλοίαρχος' contains 'πλοίο' (ship) plus 'αρχος' (leader/commander) - the leader of the ship.
Explanation: Though they look somewhat similar, 'πλοίο' means 'ship' while 'πλούτος' means 'wealth' or 'riches'.
Notes: These words have completely different meanings and etymologies despite their similar appearance.
Mnemonic: Think of 'πλούτος' as related to Pluto, the god of wealth, while 'πλοίο' is related to floating vessels.