μαβί

Greek

Etymology

From Ottoman Turkish ماوی (mavi, blue), from Arabic مَاوِيّ (māwiyy, watery), ultimately from Arabic مَاء (māʔ, water).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /maˈvi/

Noun

μαβί • (mavín (indeclinable)

  1. (dated, poetic) azure, dark blue
    Synonym: λουλακί (loulakí)
  2. (colloquial) mauve, dark purple
    Synonyms: μενεξεδί (menexedí), μοβ (mov)

Usage notes

See μαβής (mavís) for a discussion on the semantic shift (from "dark blue" to "mauve") of the this term starting from the second half of the 20th century.