Learn Greek › B2 › αρραβώνας
αρραβώνας
engagement (to marry) /a.ra.ˈvo.nas/
nounB2#2954 most common
Also: betrothal, engagement ring, pledge, deposit (older/formal sense)
Example sentences
Ο Νίκος και η Μαρία έκαναν αρραβώνα.
Nikos and Maria got engaged.
Της πήρε ένα όμορφο δαχτυλίδι για τον αρραβώνα.
He bought her a beautiful ring for the engagement.
Ο αρραβώνας τους θα γίνει το καλοκαίρι.
Their engagement will take place in the summer.
Μετά τον αρραβώνα, άρχισαν να ετοιμάζουν τον γάμο.
After the engagement, they started preparing for the wedding.
Παλιά, ο αρραβώνας θεωρούνταν σχεδόν εξίσου δεσμευτικός με τον γάμο.
In the past, an engagement was considered almost as binding as marriage.
Στην Καινή Διαθήκη, το Πνεύμα δίνεται ως αρραβώνας της μελλοντικής κληρονομιάς.
In the New Testament, the Spirit is given as a pledge of the future inheritance.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ο αρραβώνας | οι αρραβώνες |
| Genitive | του αρραβώνα | των αρραβώνων |
| Accusative | τον αρραβώνα | τους αρραβώνες |
| Vocative | αρραβώνα | αρραβώνες |
Word family
αρραβωνιάζομαιto get engaged
αρραβωνιαστικόςfiancéαρραβωνιαστικιάfiancée
αρραβώνιασμαthe act of getting engaged
Etymology
Ancient Greek ἀρραβών was borrowed from a Semitic source, close to Hebrew and Phoenician terms for a pledge or deposit left to secure a contract. The word moved into Greek commercial and legal language, then narrowed to mean the pledge given before marriage. Modern Greek αρραβώνας kept that narrower sense of engagement, while the older meaning of deposit or down payment survives in formal, legal, and biblical usage.
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