ψωμί
Wordform Details
Translation: bread
Part of Speech: noun
Inflection Type:
neutersingularnominative/accusativeIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: ψωμί
Translation: bread; livelihood (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek ψωμίον (psōmíon), diminutive of ψωμός (psōmós) meaning 'morsel' or 'bit of bread'. The word evolved to become the standard term for bread in Modern Greek, replacing the Ancient Greek ἄρτος (ártos). The metaphorical meaning of 'livelihood' developed from bread's historical importance as a basic necessity of life.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'so me' (ψω-μί) - as in 'that bread is so me!' to remember the pronunciation
- Remember that bread (ψωμί) is a 'sum of' (sounds like ψω-) many ingredients
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Bread holds immense cultural significance in Greek society. It's considered sacred in Greek Orthodox tradition, and offering bread and salt to guests is a traditional welcome gesture. Fresh bread is bought daily in many households, and the smell of fresh bread from local φούρνοι (bakeries) is a characteristic of Greek neighborhoods.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While related to bread-making, ψήνω means 'to bake/grill' while ψωμί is the product (bread)
This word:
Έφαγα το ψωμί.
I ate the bread.
Confused word:
Ψήνω το ψωμί.
I'm baking the bread.
Notes: These words often appear together in contexts about bread-making
Mnemonic: ψωμί ends in -μί (me) because it's what you eat, ψήνω ends in -νω because it's what you do