Learn Greek › A2 › σκληρός
σκληρός
hard /skliˈros/
adjectiveA2#806 most common
Also: tough, harsh, severe, rigid, stiff
Example sentences
Το ψωμί είναι σκληρό.
The bread is hard.
Αυτό το κρεβάτι είναι πολύ σκληρό.
This bed is very hard.
Ο προπονητής μας είναι πολύ σκληρός μαζί μας.
Our coach is very tough on us.
Πέρασε μια σκληρή περίοδο μετά την απόλυσή του.
He went through a hard period after his dismissal.
Παρά τη σκληρή του εμφάνιση, ήταν ένας ευαίσθητος άνθρωπος.
Despite his harsh appearance, he was a sensitive man.
Οι σκληροί διαπραγματευτές σπάνια υποχωρούν, ακόμη κι όταν τα επιχειρήματά τους αποδεικνύονται σαθρά.
Tough negotiators rarely back down, even when their arguments turn out to be flimsy.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | σκληρός | σκληροί |
| Genitive | σκληρού | σκληρών |
| Accusative | σκληρό | σκληρούς |
| Vocative | σκληρέ | σκληροί |
Word family
σκληρότηταhardness, severity
σκληραίνωto harden, make/grow hard
σκληράharshly, hard
σκληρύνωto harden, stiffen
σκληρόκαρδοςhard-hearted, callous
Etymology
From Ancient Greek σκληρός (sklērós) 'hard, dry, rough', derived from the verb σκέλλω (skéllō) 'to dry up, parch' — the underlying notion being something dried out and therefore stiff and unyielding. The same root yields σκελετός (skeletós) 'dried-up body, skeleton'. Via scientific Greek the word survives in international medical vocabulary such as 'sclerosis' and 'scleroderma' (a hardening of tissue).
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