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φήμη
reputation; rumor /ˈfi.mi/
nounB1#1066 most common
Also: fame, word (that's going around), renown
Example sentences
Άκουσα μια φήμη.
I heard a rumor.
Η φήμη λέει ότι θα κλείσει το μαγαζί.
Rumor has it that the shop will close.
Δεν πιστεύω σε φήμες χωρίς αποδείξεις.
I don't believe rumors without proof.
Η φήμη του ως τίμιου ανθρώπου τον ακολουθεί παντού.
His reputation as an honest man follows him everywhere.
Η φήμη διαδόθηκε γρήγορα στην πόλη πριν επιβεβαιωθεί επίσημα.
The rumor spread quickly through the city before it was officially confirmed.
Καμία δημόσια φήμη δεν μπορεί να αντικαταστήσει την ουσιαστική αξιολόγηση του έργου του.
No public reputation can substitute for a substantive evaluation of his work.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | η φήμη | οι φήμες |
| Genitive | της φήμης | των φημών |
| Accusative | τη φήμη | τις φήμες |
| Vocative | φήμη | φήμες |
Word family
φημίI say (ancient)
προφήτηςprophet
φημολογείταιit is rumored
δυσφημώto defame, slander
ευφημισμόςeuphemism
Etymology
Φήμη comes from Ancient Greek phḗmē, meaning speech, utterance, or report. It derives from the verb phēmí, 'I say,' which goes back to a Proto-Indo-European root for speaking. Over time the word narrowed from 'a thing said' to 'what people say about someone,' giving modern senses of rumor and reputation.
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