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φτωχός
poor /fto.xoˈs/
adjectiveC1#3278 most common
Also: needy, impoverished, destitute
Example sentences
Ο φτωχός άνθρωπος ζητάει βοήθεια.
The poor man is asking for help.
Η φτωχή γυναίκα δεν είχε λεφτά για φαγητό.
The poor woman didn't have money for food.
Μεγάλωσε σε μια φτωχή οικογένεια στην επαρχία.
He grew up in a poor family in the countryside.
Παρόλο που ήταν φτωχός, δεν σταμάτησε ποτέ να ονειρεύεται.
Although he was poor, he never stopped dreaming.
Η κυβέρνηση υποσχέθηκε μέτρα για τους φτωχότερους πολίτες της χώρας.
The government promised measures for the poorest citizens of the country.
Η αυξανόμενη ανισότητα έχει καταστήσει ακόμη πιο ευάλωτους όσους ήταν ήδη φτωχοί πριν από την κρίση.
Rising inequality has made those who were already poor before the crisis even more vulnerable.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | φτωχός | φτωχοί |
| Genitive | φτωχού | φτωχών |
| Accusative | φτωχό | φτωχούς |
| Vocative | φτωχέ | φτωχοί |
Word family
φτώχειαpoverty
φτωχαίνωto become poor, to impoverish
φτωχικόςmodest, humble (of a home, meal, or style)
φτωχούληςpoor little one (affectionate or pitying diminutive)
Etymology
Φτωχός comes from Ancient Greek πτωχός, meaning a beggar or destitute person. The ancient word is traditionally linked to the verb πτώσσω, to crouch or cower, describing the posture of someone begging in fear or submission. In spoken Greek the initial consonant cluster πτ- softened to φτ-, giving the modern form. The meaning broadened from begging specifically to poverty in general.
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