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τσίρκο
circus /ˈtsirko/
nounB2#2371 most common
Also: a chaotic, absurd scene (figurative)
Example sentences
Πάμε στο τσίρκο.
Let's go to the circus.
Το τσίρκο έχει ελέφαντες και κλόουν.
The circus has elephants and clowns.
Ο θείος μου δουλεύει σε ένα τσίρκο ως ακροβάτης.
My uncle works at a circus as an acrobat.
Πολλές χώρες έχουν απαγορέψει τα τσίρκα με άγρια ζώα.
Many countries have banned circuses with wild animals.
Ο διευθυντής του τσίρκου ανακοίνωσε ότι οι παραστάσεις αναβάλλονται.
The circus director announced that the shows are postponed.
Οι δημοσιογράφοι περιέγραψαν τη συνεδρίαση του κοινοβουλίου σαν τσίρκο.
Journalists described the parliamentary session as a circus.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | το τσίρκο | τα τσίρκα |
| Genitive | του τσίρκου | των τσίρκων |
| Accusative | το τσίρκο | τα τσίρκα |
| Vocative | τσίρκο | τσίρκα |
Word family
τσίρκοcircus
τσιρκολάνοςa clownish or foolishly acting person
κάνω τσίρκοto make a scene, to act foolishly or chaotically
Etymology
Τσίρκο entered Modern Greek as a loanword from Italian circo, which comes from Latin circus, a term for a ring-shaped arena used for public games and races. Latin circus is usually traced back to a Greek word for ring, so the term made a round trip: it has Greek roots in the distant past, but the modern Greek word was borrowed back through Italian rather than inherited directly. This kind of re-borrowing is common with international loanwords tied to entertainment and public spectacle.
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