Learn Greek › B2 › κτήνος
κτήνος
beast (animal, esp. livestock) /ˈktinos/
nounB2#2337 most common
Also: brute (brutish person), head of livestock, farm animal / beast of burden
Example sentences
Το κτήνος τρώει χόρτο.
The beast eats grass.
Ο αγρότης έχει πολλά κτήνη στο χωράφι.
The farmer has many animals in the field.
Μη φέρεσαι σαν κτήνος, ηρέμησε!
Don't behave like a beast, calm down!
Η φροντίδα των κτηνών απαιτεί καθημερινή δουλειά.
Caring for the livestock requires daily work.
Όποιος βασανίζει αδύναμους ανθρώπους δεν είναι παρά ένα κτήνος.
Whoever tortures weak people is nothing but a beast.
Στα μάτια του ιστορικού, ο δικτάτορας κατέληξε ένα ανελέητο κτήνος, ανίκανο για συμπόνια.
In the historian's eyes, the dictator ended up a merciless brute, incapable of compassion.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | κτήνος | κτήνη |
| Genitive | κτήνους | κτηνών |
| Accusative | κτήνος | κτήνη |
| Vocative | κτήνος | κτήνη |
Word family
κτηνοτρόφοςlivestock farmer, herder
κτηνοτροφίαanimal husbandry, livestock farming
κτηνίατροςveterinarian
κτηνώδηςbestial, brutal
κτηνωδίαbestiality, brutal atrocity
Etymology
Modern Greek κτήνος descends from Ancient Greek κτῆνος ('beast, head of cattle'), a derivative of the verb κτάομαι ('to acquire, possess'). The word literally denoted a 'possession' — and since wealth was counted in livestock, it came to mean domestic animals or beasts of burden. The figurative use for a brutish, cruel person developed from the notion of a creature ruled by instinct rather than reason.
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