Learn Greek › B1 › επιστολή
επιστολή
letter (a written, formal piece of correspondence) /e.pi.sto.ˈli/
nounB1#1603 most common
Also: epistle, missive
Example sentences
Γράφω μια επιστολή.
I am writing a letter.
Έστειλα την επιστολή χθες.
I sent the letter yesterday.
Έλαβα μια επιστολή από τον φίλο μου.
I received a letter from my friend.
Η επιστολή ήταν γραμμένη στα ελληνικά.
The letter was written in Greek.
Ο πρόεδρος έστειλε επίσημη επιστολή διαμαρτυρίας προς την κυβέρνηση.
The president sent an official letter of protest to the government.
Η ανοιχτή επιστολή των συγγραφέων προκάλεσε έντονη συζήτηση στα μέσα ενημέρωσης.
The open letter by the writers sparked intense debate in the media.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | επιστολή | επιστολές |
| Genitive | επιστολής | επιστολών |
| Accusative | επιστολή | επιστολές |
| Vocative | επιστολή | επιστολές |
Word family
επιστέλλωto send a formal letter (archaic/formal)
επιστολικόςepistolary, relating to letters
απόστολοςapostle, messenger
αποστολήmission, shipmentEtymology
Επιστολή comes from the ancient Greek verb επιστέλλω, itself built from the prefix επί (toward, upon) and στέλλω (to send, to dispatch). So the word originally meant simply "a thing sent." English borrowed the word directly as "epistle," keeping the sense of a formal letter.
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