αλάνα
Greek
Etymology
From αλάνι n (aláni) + -α (-a). Derived from Ottoman Turkish آلاڭ (alañ).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /aˈlana/
- Hyphenation: α‧λά‧να
Noun
αλάνα • (alána) f (plural αλάνες)
- (colloquial) vacant lot, empty lot (plot of land that hasn't been built on)
- Τα παιδιά παίζουν ποδόσφαιρο στην αλάνα.
- Ta paidiá paízoun podósfairo stin alána.
- The children play football in the vacant lot.
- (colloquial, derogatory, by extension) augmentative of αλάνης (alánis, “bum, tramp, lout”) (person who lives, or spends most of his time, in the streets or in the above lot)
- Έχουν μαζευτεί όλες οι αλάνες της γειτονιάς και κάνουν θόρυβο.
- Échoun mazefteí óles oi alánes tis geitoniás kai kánoun thóryvo.
- All the louts of the neighbourhood have gathered and are making noise.
Declension
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | αλάνα (alána) | αλάνες (alánes) |
| genitive | αλάνας (alánas) | αλανών (alanón) |
| accusative | αλάνα (alána) | αλάνες (alánes) |
| vocative | αλάνα (alána) | αλάνες (alánes) |
The genitive plural is awkward.
Alternative forms
- (vacant lot): αλάνι n (aláni) (dated, obsolete)
Related terms
- αλάνης m (alánis, “carefree man of the streets”)
- αλανιάρης (alaniáris, “carefree man of the streets, bum”, adjective)
- αλάνικος (alánikos, “loutish”)
- and see: αλάνι n (aláni)