Learn Greek › B2 › χρέος
χρέος
debt /ˈxre.os/
nounB2#2248 most common
Also: obligation, duty, what is owed
Example sentences
Έχω ένα χρέος.
I have a debt.
Πρέπει να πληρώσω το χρέος μου.
I have to pay my debt.
Το χρέος της χώρας αυξάνεται κάθε χρόνο.
The country's debt grows every year.
Θεωρεί χρέος του να βοηθάει τους πιο αδύναμους.
He considers it his duty to help the weakest.
Ξόφλησε όλα τα χρέη του πριν φύγει στο εξωτερικό.
He paid off all his debts before he left abroad.
Το δημόσιο χρέος εκτινάχθηκε στα ύψη, βυθίζοντας τη χώρα σε παρατεταμένη ύφεση.
The public debt skyrocketed, plunging the country into a prolonged recession.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | χρέος | χρέη |
| Genitive | χρέους | χρεών |
| Accusative | χρέος | χρέη |
| Vocative | χρέος | χρέη |
Word family
χρωστάω/χρωστώto owe
χρεώνωto charge, to debit
χρεοκοπίαbankruptcy
χρεωμένοςindebted, in debt
χρεόγραφοbond, security
Etymology
From Ancient Greek χρέος 'need, obligation, debt', a neuter noun built on the impersonal verb χρή 'it is necessary, one must'. The same root underlies the family of words for 'need' and 'use' (χρεία, χρήζω, χρήση). The financial sense of 'money owed' and the moral sense of 'duty, obligation' have coexisted since antiquity.
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