σκλάβες
Wordform Details
Translation: female slaveservant woman
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
femininepluralaccusativeIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: σκλάβα
Translation: female slave; slave woman; bondwoman (noun)
Etymology: From Medieval Greek σκλάβα (sklava), the feminine form of σκλάβος (sklavos, 'slave'). The term derives from Byzantine Greek Σκλάβος (Sklávos), originally referring to Slavic people who were often captured and enslaved during the Middle Ages. The word entered many European languages, including English 'slave', showing the historical connection between the ethnonym 'Slav' and the concept of enslavement.
Example Usage
Την πήραν σκλάβα οι πειρατές.
The pirates took her as a slave.
Έγινε σκλάβα στο παλάτι.
She became a slave in the palace.
Η κοπέλα αισθανόταν σαν σκλάβα στο σπίτι του άρχοντα.
The girl felt like a slave in the lord's house.
Στα παλιά χρόνια, πολλές γυναίκες ζούσαν ως σκλάβες.
In the old days, many women lived as slaves.
Έγινε σκλάβα των παθών της.
She became a slave to her passions.
Mnemonics
- Think of the English word 'slave' which shares the same root
- The 'σκλ' (skl) sound at the beginning is like the 'scl' in 'sclerosis' - something hard and inflexible, like the harsh conditions of slavery
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
The concept of 'σκλάβα' appears frequently in Greek folk songs, literature, and historical accounts, particularly relating to the Ottoman period when many Greeks were enslaved. The term carries historical weight and is often used in discussions about historical oppression and the fight for freedom during the Greek War of Independence.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'σκλάβα' refers to a female slave (a person), 'σκλαβιά' refers to slavery or bondage (the condition or institution).
Confused word:
Η σκλαβιά καταργήθηκε επίσημα τον 19ο αιώνα.
Slavery was officially abolished in the 19th century.
Notes: The terms are related but used in different contexts - one refers to a person, the other to an institution or condition.
Mnemonic: 'Σκλάβα' ends with 'α' like 'woman' (γυναίκα), referring to a person; 'σκλαβιά' ends with 'ιά' suggesting a state or condition.