Learn Greek › B1 › ιερός
ιερός
sacred, holy /ie.ˈros/
adjectiveB1#1905 most common
Also: holy, hallowed, consecrated
Example sentences
Η εκκλησία είναι ένας ιερός χώρος.
The church is a sacred place.
Το νερό είναι ιερό για πολλούς λαούς.
Water is sacred to many peoples.
Ο Γάγγης είναι ιερός ποταμός για τους Ινδουιστές.
The Ganges is a sacred river for Hindus.
Θεωρούσαν την ελευθερία ιερό δικαίωμα κάθε ανθρώπου.
They considered freedom a sacred right of every person.
Οι αρχαίοι Έλληνες έχτιζαν ιερούς ναούς αφιερωμένους σε διάφορους θεούς.
The ancient Greeks built sacred temples dedicated to various gods.
Η μνήμη των προγόνων μας παραμένει ιερή και απαραβίαστη.
The memory of our ancestors remains sacred and inviolable.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ιερός | ιεροί |
| Genitive | ιερού | ιερών |
| Accusative | ιερό | ιερούς |
| Vocative | ιερέ | ιεροί |
Word family
ιερέαςpriest
ιερόsanctuary, shrine, altar area
ιερότηταsanctity, holiness
ιεροσύνηpriesthood
ιεραρχίαhierarchy
Etymology
Ιερός comes from Ancient Greek ἱερός, meaning sacred or holy, a word already common in Homer. Its deeper origin is disputed. Some scholars link it to Sanskrit iṣirá, meaning vigorous or lively, suggesting an old sense of divine power or force rather than ritual purity. Others treat it as a word of pre-Greek, non-Indo-European origin, so no PIE root can be stated with confidence.
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