Learn Greek › A2 › θείος
θείος
uncle /ˈθi.os/
nounA2#826 most common
Also: older man (friendly/respectful term of address), divine (homonymous adjective θεῖος)
Example sentences
Ο θείος μου είναι γιατρός.
My uncle is a doctor.
Πήγαμε στο σπίτι του θείου μου.
We went to my uncle's house.
Φώναξα τον θείο μου να μας βοηθήσει με το αυτοκίνητο.
I called my uncle to help us with the car.
Κάθε καλοκαίρι ο θείος μάς έπαιρνε βόλτα με τη βάρκα του.
Every summer our uncle would take us out on his boat.
Αν δεν ήταν ο θείος μου, δεν θα είχα καταφέρει να σπουδάσω στο εξωτερικό.
If it weren't for my uncle, I wouldn't have managed to study abroad.
Ο θείος μου, άνθρωπος ολιγομίλητος μα βαθιά καλοσυνάτος, μου δίδαξε περισσότερα με τη σιωπή του παρά με τα λόγια του.
My uncle, a man of few words but deeply kind, taught me more through his silence than through his words.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | θείος | θείοι |
| Genitive | θείου | θείων |
| Accusative | θείο | θείους |
| Vocative | θείε | θείοι |
Word family
θείαaunt
θειούληςdear/little uncle (affectionate)
θειούλαdear/little aunt (affectionate)
θείοιuncles; aunt and uncle together
Etymology
In Modern Greek θείος is the ordinary word for 'uncle,' inherited from Ancient Greek θεῖος, which already carried this kinship sense in the Hellenistic period. Its origin is debated and is often treated as an old familiar term, so it is best kept distinct from its exact homonym θεῖος 'divine,' which is a transparent derivative of θεός 'god.' The feminine counterpart θεία 'aunt' is built on the same root.
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