Learn Greek › B1 › ασφαλώς
ασφαλώς
certainly /asfaˈlos/
adverbB1#1271 most common
Also: surely, of course, safely
Example sentences
Ασφαλώς!
Certainly!
Θα έρθεις μαζί μας; Ασφαλώς!
Will you come with us? Certainly!
Ασφαλώς μπορώ να σε βοηθήσω αύριο.
I can certainly help you tomorrow.
Ασφαλώς και δεν συμφωνώ με αυτή την απόφαση.
I certainly do not agree with this decision.
Ασφαλώς γνώριζε τους κινδύνους πριν αναλάβει το έργο.
He certainly knew the risks before taking on the project.
Ασφαλώς, η κρίση θα μπορούσε να είχε αποφευχθεί αν οι αρμόδιοι είχαν λάβει εγκαίρως τα κατάλληλα μέτρα.
Certainly, the crisis could have been avoided if those responsible had taken the appropriate measures in time.
Word family
ασφαλήςsafe, secureασφάλειαsafety, security, insuranceασφαλίζωto secure, to insure
επισφαλήςprecarious, unstable
σφάλμαerror, mistakeEtymology
Ασφαλώς is the adverb form of the adjective ασφαλής, meaning safe or secure. That adjective is built from the negative prefix α- attached to a stem related to the verb σφάλλω, to trip, fail, or err, so the adjective literally suggested something that will not fail or falter. Over time the adverb shifted from a literal sense of safely to a common conversational use meaning certainly or surely, affirming a statement without doubt. The origin of σφάλλω itself is not securely traced to a single Indo-European root, so no reconstruction is given here.
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