αδελφή

Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀδελφή (adelphḗ), feminine form of ἀδελφός (adelphós, brother); from Proto-Hellenic *hə- (same, together) from Proto-Indo-European *sm̥- (together, one) + *gʷelbʰ- (womb), equivalent to ἁ- (ha-, same, copulative prefix) +‎ δελφύς (delphús, womb).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /a.ðelˈfi/
  • Hyphenation: α‧δελ‧φή

Noun

αδελφή • (adelfíf (plural αδελφές, masculine αδελφός)

  1. sister (female sibling)
    Η αδελφή μου σπουδάζει νομική.I adelfí mou spoudázei nomikí.My sister is studying law.
  2. (medicine) sister (nurse)
    Πάω να φωνάξω την αδελφή να σου αλλάξει την πάπια.Páo na fonáxo tin adelfí na sou alláxei tin pápia.I'm going to get the sister to change your bedpan.
  3. sister (form of address for nuns)
    Η Αδελφή Ιωάννα είναι καλόγρια εδώ και επτά χρόνια.I Adelfí Ioánna eínai kalógria edó kai eptá chrónia.Sister Ioanna has been a nun for seven years now.
  4. (colloquial, derogatory) queer, faggot (homosexual man)
    Το γκέι μπαρ είναι γεμάτο αδελφές.To gkéi bar eínai gemáto adelfés.The gay bar is full of queers.

Declension

Declension of αδελφή
singular plural
nominative αδελφή (adelfí) αδελφές (adelfés)
genitive αδελφής (adelfís) αδελφών (adelfón)
accusative αδελφή (adelfí) αδελφές (adelfés)
vocative αδελφή (adelfí) αδελφές (adelfés)

There are double forms in the plural: αδελφάδες, αδελφάδων.
The genitive plural αδελφάδων is to be preferred, preventing confusion with the genitive plural of αδελφός
    αδελφάδων = of sisters
    αδελφών = of brothers

Antonyms

Coordinate terms

see: Appendix:Greek vocabulary/Family

Derived terms