Learn Greek › C1 › αγένεια
αγένεια
rudeness /aˈʝeni.a/
nounC1#3952 most common
Also: discourtesy, bad manners, impoliteness
Example sentences
Η αγένειά του με ενόχλησε.
His rudeness bothered me.
Δεν μου αρέσει η αγένεια.
I don't like rudeness.
Ο σερβιτόρος μας φέρθηκε με αγένεια.
The waiter treated us rudely.
Η αγένεια των πελατών κούρασε τους υπαλλήλους.
The customers' rudeness wore out the staff.
Θεωρώ αγένεια το να διακόπτεις κάποιον όταν μιλάει.
I consider it rude to interrupt someone while they are speaking.
Παρά την προφανή του αγένεια, κατάφερε να πείσει το κοινό με τα επιχειρήματά του.
Despite his obvious rudeness, he managed to win over the audience with his arguments.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | η αγένεια | οι αγένειες |
| Genitive | της αγένειας | των αγενειών |
| Accusative | την αγένεια | τις αγένειες |
| Vocative | αγένεια | αγένειες |
Word family
αγενήςrude, discourteous
αγενώςrudely
ευγένειαpoliteness, courtesyευγενήςpolite, nobleγένοςkind, race, birth
Etymology
The word pairs the privative prefix α- (not, without) with the same base found in ευγένεια, which combines ευ- (good) and γένος (birth, stock, kind). Ευγένεια literally meant good breeding and came to mean politeness or nobility of manner. Αγένεια is its direct negation, so it means the absence of that quality: coarse or discourteous behavior rather than a lack of noble ancestry.
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