Learn Greek › B1 › θεούλη
θεούλη
little god (an affectionate or ironic nickname for someone treated as a darling) /θeˈuli/
nounB1#1965 most common
Also: spoiled darling, someone treated as if he can do no wrong
Example sentences
Το μωρό είναι ο θεούλης της οικογένειας.
The baby is the family's little darling.
Η γιαγιά φωνάζει τον εγγονό της «θεούλη μου».
The grandmother calls her grandson 'my little god'.
Ο μπαμπάς τον κακομαθαίνει και τον κάνει θεούλη του σπιτιού.
His father spoils him and makes him the little god of the house.
Νομίζει πως είναι ο θεούλης του γραφείου και όλοι πρέπει να τον υπακούν.
He thinks he's the little god of the office and that everyone must obey him.
Ο προπονητής τους αντιμετωπίζει σαν θεούληδες, λες και δεν κάνουν ποτέ λάθος.
The coach treats them like little gods, as if they never make a mistake.
Η ειρωνεία της έκφρασης «θεούλης του σπιτιού» δείχνει πόσο εύκολα η υπερβολική επιείκεια μεταμορφώνει ένα παιδί σε μικρό τύραννο.
The irony of the phrase 'little god of the house' shows how easily excessive indulgence turns a child into a small tyrant.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ο θεούλης | οι θεούληδες |
| Genitive | του θεούλη | των θεούληδων |
| Accusative | τον θεούλη | τους θεούληδες |
| Vocative | θεούλη | θεούληδες |
Word family
θεόςgod
θεάgoddess
θεούλαlittle goddess
θεϊκόςdivine, godlike
θεοποιώto deify, to treat as a god
Etymology
Θεούλης is built from θεός, meaning god, plus the diminutive suffix -ούλης, one of the most common affectionate endings in Modern Greek. The suffix softens or endears the base word, so a 'little god' can be a beloved child or, with a shift in tone, a spoiled adult. The origin of θεός itself is disputed among linguists and is not securely traced to a single Indo-European root, so no root is given here.
Learn Greek the way that sticks.
Every word here is a full Polylex card with native audio and spaced repetition, so 3,509 words actually move into long-term memory.
Start free
Every word here is a full Polylex card with native audio and spaced repetition, so 3,509 words actually move into long-term memory.
Start free