Learn Greek › C1 › μολύβι
μολύβι
pencil /moˈlivi/
nounC1#3450 most common
Also: lead (colloquial, for pencil lead)
Example sentences
Έχω ένα μολύβι.
I have a pencil.
Το μολύβι μου είναι κίτρινο.
My pencil is yellow.
Μπορείς να μου δανείσεις ένα μολύβι;
Can you lend me a pencil?
Ξέχασα τα μολύβια μου στο σχολείο.
I forgot my pencils at school.
Ο ζωγράφος σχεδίασε το πορτρέτο με ένα απλό μολύβι.
The painter drew the portrait with a plain pencil.
Προτιμώ να σημειώνω τις πρώτες μου σκέψεις με μολύβι, γιατί μπορώ να τις σβήσω εύκολα.
I prefer to jot down my first thoughts in pencil, because I can erase them easily.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | το μολύβι | τα μολύβια |
| Genitive | του μολυβιού | των μολυβιών |
| Accusative | το μολύβι | τα μολύβια |
| Vocative | μολύβι | μολύβια |
Word family
μόλυβδοςlead (the metal)
μολυβένιοςmade of lead
μολυβίlead-grey, bluish-grey color
μολυβοθήκηpencil case or pencil holder
ξύνω το μολύβιto sharpen the pencil
Etymology
Μολύβι is a diminutive of μόλυβδος, the ancient Greek word for lead. Early writing implements used a soft lead stylus to mark paper, and the metal's name stuck to the tool long after graphite replaced actual lead. The word μόλυβδος itself is old and its deeper origin is disputed, so no reliable Indo-European root can be given here.
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