List of Greek words with English derivatives

From Freepedia

Greek alphabet

Transliteration schemes Greek Traditional Classical Modern Α α a a a Β β b b v Γ γ g g gh, y Δ δ d d dh Ε ε e e e Ζ ζ z z, zd z Η η e ē i Θ θ th th th Ι ι i i i Κ κ c k k Λ λ l l l Μ μ m m m Ν ν n n n Ξ ξ x x x Ο ο o o o Π π p p p Ρ ρ r r r Σ σ ς s s s Τ τ t t t Υ υ y u i Φ φ ph ph ph, f Χ χ ch kh kh Ψ ψ ps ps ps Ω ω o ō o αι ae, e ai e, ai αυ au au af, av ει i ei i ευ eu eu ef, ev γγ ng ng ng γξ nx nx nx γκ nc nk g, ng γχ nch nkh nkh μπ mp mp b, mb ντ nt nt d, nd οι oe, e oi i ου u ou ou, u

This is a list of Greek words with derivatives in English (and other modern languages).

Contents
Transliteration Greek Words with Modern Derivatives Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω See also External links

Transliteration

There are considerable differences between the various transliterations used to represent the Greek alphabet in English. The table in the sidebar shows:

• the "traditional" transliteration, in other words that used in Latin, representing classical Greek: this is the form in which most Greek words have made their way into English
• a "classical" transliteration, commonly used to represent more accurately the pronunciation of Ancient Greek
• the "modern" transliteration often used for Modern Greek — see Transliteration of Greek into English for some variations.

Greek had no letter h: a rough breathing over an initial vowel or diphthong – ἁ ἑ ἡ ἱ ὁ ὑ ὡ – indicates that the word was pronounced with an initial h, and a smooth breathing – ἀ ἐ ἠ ἰ ὀ ὐ ὠ – indicates the absence of an h, but this has since disappeared in speech, and Modern Greek omits the breathings. An initial upsilon (υ) always had the rough breathing – ὑ – hence hy is very common at the start of words derived from Greek, but no (or very few) such words start with y.

The letter rho (ρ) at the start of a word always had the rough breathing – ῥ – and is transliterated rh. If a rho occurred doubled within a word, the first ρ always had the smooth breathing and the second the rough breathing – ῤῥ – leading to the transiliteration rrh.

For a fuller discussion of these matters, see Greek alphabet.

Note: the distinction between the rough and smooth breathings as shown above may not be very clear on certain browsers.

Greek Words with Modern Derivatives

The Citation form shown is the form most commonly shown in dictionaries, but this form is often unrepresentative of the word as used to form a compound word, hence the Root form is also shown.

The "classical" transliteration as described above is used for both the Citation form and the Root form.

The Greek words are shown in polytonic orthography, in other words showing the breathings and the fuller range of accents, as used in Ancient Greek.

Α

(h)a

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
α-	a-	α-	a-	without, not	asymmetric, asymptote, atrophic
ἀγγείον	angeion	ἄγγειο-	angio-	vessel	angiosperm, angiocardiography
ἄγγελος	angelos	ἄγγελ-	angel-	messenger	archangel, evangelist
ἄγειν	agein	ἄγω-	agō-	to drive, lead	pedagogue, anagoge, mystagogue
ἅγιος	hagios	ἁγιο-	hagio-	holy	hagiography
ἄγκυρα	ankyra	ἄγκυρ-	anchor-	anchor	anchoring, anchorage
ἀγορά	agora	ἀγορ-	agor-	marketplace	agoraphobia
ἀγρός	agros	ἀγρο-	agro-	tilled land	agrobiology, agronomics, agriculture, agrology
ἀγωνία	agōnia	ἀγωνι-	agōn-	agony	agonize, antagonistic, agony
ἀήρ	aēr	ἀέρο-	aero- air-	air	aerodynamics, anaerobic airplane
αθλητής	athlētēs	αθλητ-	athlet-	contestant in the games	athlete, athletics
αἳμα	haima	αἳμ-	em- hem-	blood	anemia, anemic, hemophilia, hemorrhage
αἰσθητικός	aisthētikos	αἰσθη-	aisthē-	to perceive	aesthetic, anaesthesia
Ἀκαδημία	Akadēmia	Ἀκαδημ-	akadēm-	the school where Plato taught, the field of Academos	academy, academic
ἄκανθος	akanthos	ἄκανθ-	akanth-	thorn plant	acanthous, acanthocephala
ἀκάρι	akari	ἀκαρ-	akar-	a kind of mite	acarid, acariasis
ἀκμή	akmē	ἀκ-	ac-	highest point	acme, acrid
ἀκόλουθος	akoluthos	ἀκόλουθ-	akoluth-	follower	anacoluthon
ἀκούειν	akouein	ἀκουστικ-	acoustic-	to hear	acoustics, acoustic nerve
ἄκρον	akron	ἀκρο-	acro-	edge, topmost	acronym, acrobat
ἀκτίς	aktis	ἀκτινo-	aktino-	ray	actinometer, actinozoa, actinium
ἀλεξείν	alexein	ἀλεξ-	alex-	to ward off	Alexander, alexipharmic
ἀλληγορείν	allēgorein	ἀλληγορ-	allēgor-	to interpret allegorically	allegory
ἄλληλον	allēlon	ἀλληλο-	allēlo-	of one another	allelomorph, parallelogram
ἄλλος	allos	ἀλλο-	allo- alle-	other, different	allotropy, allocholesterol allergy
ἅλς	hals	ἁλ-	hal-	salt	halogen
ἄλφα	alpha	ἄλφα-	alpha-	alpha	alphanumeric
ἀλώπηξ	alōpēx	ἀλωπ-	alop-	fox	alopecia
ἀμαύρωσις	amaurōsis	ἀμαυρω-	amauro-	blacken	amaurosis fugax
ἀμβλύς	amblus	ἀμβλυ-	ambly-	dim	amblyopia, amblygonite
ἄμβροτος	ambrotos	ἀμβρο-	ambro-	immortal	ambrosia, ambrotype
ἄμβων	ambōn	ἀμβω-	ambo-	raised edge	ambo
ἀμμωνιακός	ammōniakos	ἀμμονια-	ammōnia-	from Ammōn	ammonia, ammoniacal
ἀμνησία	amnēsia	ἀμνησ-	amnēs-	oblivion	amnesia, amnesty
ἄμυλον	amylon	ἄμυλ-	amyl-	starch	amyl, amyl alcohol
ἀμφί	amphi	ἀμφι-	amphi-	on both sides	amphibious, amphioxus
ἀνά	ana	ἀνα-	ana-	again, backward, upward	anabolism, anachronism, anaplasia
ἀνάκλισις	anaklisis	ἀνακλει-	anakli-	to lean back	anaclitism, anaclisis
ἀναλέγειν	analegein	ἀναλε-	anale-	to gather	analects
ἀνάλογος	analogos	ἀνάλογ-	analog-	proportionate	analog, analogy
ἀναλύειν	analuein	ἀνάλυ-	analy-	to loosen, to simplify	analysis, analytical
ἀνατομία	anatomia	ἀνατομι-	anatomi-	dissection	anatomical, anatomist
ἀναχρονισμός	anachronismos	ἀναχρονισ-	anachronis-	wrong time reference	anachronistic, anachronism
ἄνεμος	anemos	ἄνεμο-	anemo-	wind	anemometer, anemone
ἀνήρ	anēr	ἀνδρ-	andr-	man (male human)	androgen, android
ἄνθος	anthos	ἀνθο-	antho-	flower	anthology, chrysanthemum
ἄνθρωπος	anthrōpos	ἀνθρωπο-	anthrōpo-	human being	anthropology, anthropomorphism
ἀνιέναι	anienai	ἀνι-	ani-	to go up	anion
ἄνισος	anisos	ἀνισο-	aniso-	unequal, dissimilar	anisotropic, anisometric, anisometropia
ἄνοδος	anodos	ἄνοδ-	anod-	way up	anode, anodising
ἀνόνυμος	anonumos	ἀνόνυμ-	anonym-	nameless	anonymity, anonymous
ἀντί	anti	ἀντι-	anti-	opposite, counter	antidote, antimatter, antiaircraft
ἀνώμαλος	anōmalos	ἀνώμαλ-	anōmal-	uneven	anomaly
ἄξιος	axios	ἀξιο-	axio-	worthy	axiology, axiom
ἄξων	axōn	ἀξο-	axo- axi-	axis	axoneme , axoplasm, axisymmetric
ἀόριστος	aoristos	ἀοριστ-	aorist-	indefinite	aoristic, aorist
ἀορτή	aortē	ἀορτ-	aort-	the great artery	aortic, aorta
ἁπλούς	haplous	ἁπλο-	haplo-	single	haploid, haplodiploid
ἀπό	apo	ἀπο-	apo-	away from	apology, apostrophe, apocrypha
ἀποκαλύπτειν	apokaluptein	ἀποκαλυπ-	apocalyp-	to reveal	apocalypse
ἀποπλήσειν	apoplēssein	ἀποπλη-	apople-	to cripple by a stroke	apoplexy, apoplectic
ἀποστάτης	apostatēs	ἀποστατ-	apostat-	defector	apostate, apostasy
ἀποστέλλειν	apostellein	ἀποστ-	apost-	to send	apostle, apostolic
ἀράχνη	arakhnē	ἀραχνη	arakhnē-	spider	arachnid
ἄργιλλος	argillos	ἀργιλ-	argil-	clay	argillite, argillaceous
Ἂρης	Arēs	ἀρεο-	areo-	planet Mars	areocentric, areology
ἀριθμός	arithmos	ἀριθμ-	arithm-	number	arithmetic, logarithm
ἄριστος	aristos	ἀριστο-	arist-	best	aristocracy
ἁρμονία	harmonia	ἁρμονι-	armoni-	agreement, harmony	harmony, enharmonic
ἁρρυθμία	arrhuthmia	ἁρρυθμ-	arrythm-	lack of rhythm	arrhythmia, arrhythmic
ἀρχαῖος	arkhaios	ἀρχαιο-	arkhaio-	ancient	archaeology, archetype
ἀρχή	arche	ἀρχη-	archi-	chief, authority	archbishop, anarchy
ἀρχιτέκτων	arkhitektōn	ἀρχιτεκτ-	architect-	chief builder	architecture, architect
ἄρωμα	arōma	ἀρωμα-	aroma-	spice	aroma, aromatic compounds
ἀσθένεια	astheneia	ἀσθεν-	asthen-	weakness	asthenia, asthenopia
ἀσπάραγος	aspharagos	ἀσπαραγ-	asparag-	asparagus	asparagine acid
ἀσπίς	aspis	ἀσπ-	asp-	shield	asp
ἄσθμα	asthma	ἀσθμα-	asthma-	asthma	asthmatic
ἄσυλον	asulon	ἀσυλ-	asyl-	sanctuary	asylum
ἀσφυξία	asphuxia	ἀσφυξ-	asphyx-	stopping of the pulse	asphyxiant
ἀστήρ	astēr	ἀστερ-	aster-	star	asteroid, asterisk
ἄστρον	astron	ἀστρο-	astro-	constellation	astrology, astronaut
ἀτμόσφαιρα	atmosphaera	ἀτμοσφαιρ-	atmospher-	vapor + sphere	atmosphere, atmospheric
Ἂτλας	Atlas	ἀτλα-	atla-	name of a Titan	atlas, Atlantic
ἄτομος	atomos	ἀτομ-	atom-	un + cut	atomic, atomizer
αὐθεντικός	authentikos	αὐθεντικ-	authentic-	original	authentication, authentic
αὐστηρός	austēros	αὐστηρ-	auster-	harsh, bitter	austerity
αὐταρχία	autarchia	αὐταρχ-	autarch-	absolute governing	autarchy, autarchic
αὐτάρκεια	autarkia	αὐτάρκ-	autark-	self-sufficiency	autarky
αὐξάνειν	auxanein	αὐξ-	aux-	to increase	auxin, auxesis,
αὐτός	autos	αὐτο-	auto-	self (reflexive pronoun)	autonomy, automatic
ἀφαιρείν	aphairein	ἀφαιρ-	apher-	take away	apheresis, hemaphairesis
ἁψίς	hapsis	ἁψ-	aps-	arch	apse, apsidal

Β

b

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
βάρβαρος	barbaros	βαρβαρο-	barbaro-	stranger, non-Greek	barbarian
βαρύς	barus	βαρυ-	baru-	heavy	baritone
βίος	bios	βιο-	bio-	life	biology
βραχύς	brachus	βραχυ-	brachu-	short	brachycephalic

Γ

g

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
γαῖα, γῆ	gaia, gē	γεα-	gea-	earth	geology, Gaia, geometry
γάμος	gamos	γαμ-	gam-	marriage	polygamy, gamete
γέννησις	genesis	γέν-	gen-	to give birth, beget	genetic
γιγνῶσκειν	gignōskein	γνῶ-	gnō- gnē-	to know	diagnostic, agnostic
γίγας	gigas	γιγ-	giga-	huge, enormous	Giga- (prefix) as in gigabyte, gigantic
γράφειν	graphein	γραφ-	graph-	to write	graphics, geography
γυνή	gunē	γυναικ-	gunaik-	woman	polygyny, gynecology misogynist

Δ

d

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
δῆμος	dēmos	δημο-	dēmo-	district, its inhabitants, commoners	democracy, demographic
δόξα	doxa	δοξ-	dox-	opinion	orthodox, paradox
δράσις	drasis	δρασ-	dras-	action	drastic, anadrastic

Ε

(h)e

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
εἰκών	eikon	εἰκών	icon	icon, picture, painting	icon, iconicity, iconoclast
ἕλιξ	helix	ἑλικ-	helic-	helix	helix, helicopter, helicity
ἑπτά	hepta	ἑπτα-	hepta-	seven	heptarchy, heptagon, heptameter
εὖ	eu	εύ-	eu-	well	eulogy, euphoria

Ζ

z

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
ζῶον	zōon	ζωο-	zōo-	animal	zoology

Η

(h)ē

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
ἡγεμῶν	hēgemōn	ἡγεμον-	hēgemon-	leader	hegemony
ἥλιος	hēlios	ἡλιο-	hēlio-	sun	helion, heliotropic, heliocentric
ἠώς	ēōs	ἠο-	ēo-	dawn	eocene

Θ

th

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
θεός	theos	θε-	the-	a god	theology, atheism
θερμός	thermos	θερμ-	therm-	hot	isotherm, thermoelectric, Thermos (brand of vacuum flask))

Ι

(h)i

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
ἰατρός	iatros	ἰατρο-	iatro-	physician	psychiatrist
ἴδιος	idios	ἰδι-	idi-	one’s own, private	idiolect, idiom
ἱερός	hieros	ἱερο-	hiero-	sacred	hierarchy, hieroglyph
ἰχθύς	ikhthus	ἰχθυ-	ikhthu-	fish	ichthyology, ikhthus

Κ

k, c

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
κακός	kakos	κακο-	kako-	bad	cacophony
κλῶνος	klōnos	κακο-	klōn-	branch, twig	clone, cloning
κόσμος	kosmos	κοσμ-	kosm-	order, the universe, jewell	cosmography, cosmetic
κράτος	kratos	κρατ-	krat-	power, rule	autocrat, democracy, bureaucracy

Λ

l

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
λίθος	lithos	λιθο-	litho-	stone	lithography, neolithic
λόγος	logos	λογο-	logo-	thought, word	theology, logic

Μ

m

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
μακρός	makros	μακρο-	makro-	long	macron, macrobiotic
μέγας	megas	μεγ-	mega-	big, large	Mega- (prefix), as in megabyte
μέλας	melas	μελαν-	melan-	pigmented, black, ink	Melanesia
μέταλλον	metallon	μεταλλ-	metal-	metal	medal, metalloid
μικρός	mikros	μικρο-	mikro-	small	microscope
μνῆστις	mnēstis	μνη-	mne-	memory	amnesia, amnesty
μόνος	monos	μονο-	mono-	alone, solitary, forsaken	monotony, monolog
Μοῦσα	Mousa	μουσ-	mous-	a patron goddess of the arts	music, museum

Ν

n

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
ναυτικός	nautikos	ναυτ-	naut-	sailor, ship	nautical, astronaut
νέος	neos	νεο-	neo-	new, young	neon, neologism

Ξ

x

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
ξένος	xenos	ξενο-	xeno-	strange, stranger, guest	xenophobia
ξύλον	xulon	ξυλ-	xul-	wood	xylophone, xylem

Ο

(h)o

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
οῒνος	oinos	οῒνο-	oeno-	wine	oenomel
ὀλίγος	oligos	ὀλιγο-	oligo-	few, little	oligarchy
ὅμοιος	homoios	ὁμοιο-	homoio-	similar	homeopathy
ὀξύς	oxus	ὀξυ-	oxu-	sharp, acid, sour	oxygen
ὀρθός	orthos	ὀρθ-	orth-	straight, correct, normal	orthography

Π

p

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
πάθος	pathos	παθ-	path-	suffering, disease	pathology, telepathy
παιδεία	paideia	παιδεια-	paideia-	education, culture	encyclopaedia
παῖς	pais	παιδ-	paid-	boy, child	paediatrician, pedophilia
πᾶς	pas	παν, πανσο;-	pan-, panto-	all, complete	pantheism, pantomime
πατήρ	pater	πατρ-	patr-	father	patriarch
περί	peri	περι-	peri	around	perimeter
πόλος	polοs	πολ-	pol-	axis, sky	North Pole, polarize
πολύς	polus	πολυ-	polu-	many, much	Polynesia, polytonic
πρόγραμμα	programma	πρόγραμμ-	programm-	program/schedule	programmer, multiprogramming

Ρ

r(h)

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
ῥεύμα	rheuma	ῥεύμ-	rheum-	a flowing, rheum	rheumatism, rheum
ῥίς	rhis	ῥιν-	rhin-	nose	rhinoceros, rhinoplasty

Σ

s

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
σαῦρος	sauros	σαυρο-	sauro-	lizard	dinosaur
σκοπός	skopos	σκοπ-	skop-	observer	telescope
σοφία	sophia	σοφια-	sophia-	knowledge, wisdom	philosophy, sophistry

Τ

t

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
τῆλε	tēle	τηλε-	tēle-	distant	telephone, telepathy
τόξον	toxon	τοξ-	tox-	archer’s bow, poison	toxin

Υ

(h)u, (h)y

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
ὕδωρ	hudor	ὑδρο-	hudro-	water	hydrodynamics, hydrolysis
ὕπνος	hupnos	ὑπνο-	hupno-	sleep	hypnotism

Φ

ph

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
φιλία φίλος	philia, philos	φιλια- φιλο-	philia-, philo-	friendship friend	Philadelphia, philosophy, zoophilia
φοβία φόβος	phobia phobos	φοβια φοβο-	phobia phobo-	irrational fear fear	phobia, Cryophobia Phobos,
φυτόν	phuton	φυτο-	phuto-	plant	neophyte
φωνή	phōnē	φωνη-	phōnē-	voice	telephone, phonograph

Χ

kh, ch

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
χαίτη	khaitē	χαιτη-	khaitē-	loose, flowing hair	polychaete
χρόνος	khronos	χρον-	khrono-	time	chronology, chronometer

Ψ

ps

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
ψυχή	psukhē	ψυχη-	psukhē-	spirit, mind, soul	psychology

Ω

(h)ō

Citation form		Root form		Meaning	English Derivative
ὠόν	ōon	ὠο-	ōo-	egg	oocyte, oology
ὥρα	hōra	ὡρα-	hōra-	season, hour	horoscope

See also

• Greek language
• Classical compound
• Transliteration of Greek into English
• English words of Greek origin
• List of Latin words with English derivatives
• Greek words for love
• Iso

External links

• English-French-modern Greek vocabulary : words of Greek origin
• The Perseus Project - has many useful pages for the study of classical languages and literatures, including dictionaries.