αδελφή

See also: ἀδελφή

Greek

Alternative forms

• αδερφή f (aderfí)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀδελφή (adelphḗ), feminine form of ἀδελφός (adelphós, “brother”); from Proto-Hellenic *hə- (“same, together”) from Proto-Indo-European *sm̥- (“together, one”) + *gʷelbʰ- (“womb”), equivalent to ἁ- (ha-, “same”, copulative prefix) +‎ δελφύς (delphús, “womb”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.ðelˈfi/
• Hyphenation: α‧δελ‧φή

Noun

αδελφή • (adelfí) f (plural αδελφές, masculine αδελφός)

1. sister (female sibling)

   Η αδελφή μου σπουδάζει νομική.

   I adelfí mou spoudázei nomikí.

   My sister is studying law.

2. (medicine) sister (nurse)

   Πάω να φωνάξω την αδελφή να σου αλλάξει την πάπια.

   Páo na fonáxo tin adelfí na sou alláxei tin pápia.

   I'm going to get the sister to change your bedpan.

3. sister (form of address for nuns)

   Η Αδελφή Ιωάννα είναι καλόγρια εδώ και επτά χρόνια.

   I Adelfí Ioánna eínai kalógria edó kai eptá chrónia.

   Sister Ioanna has been a nun for seven years now.

4. (colloquial, derogatory) queer, faggot (homosexual man)

   Το γκέι μπαρ είναι γεμάτο αδελφές.

   To gkéi bar eínai gemáto adelfés.

   The gay bar is full of queers.

Declension

declension of αδελφή

case     \     number	singular	plural
nominative	αδελφή •	αδελφές •
genitive	αδελφής •	αδελφών •
accusative	αδελφή •	αδελφές •
vocative	αδελφή •	αδελφές •
There are double forms in the plural: αδελφάδες, αδελφάδων. The genitive plural αδελφάδων is to be preferred, preventing confusion with the genitive plural of αδελφός     αδελφάδων = of sisters     αδελφών = of brothers

Antonyms

• αδελφός m (adelfós, “brother”)

Coordinate terms

see: Appendix:Greek vocabulary/Family

Derived terms

• αδελφούλα f (adelfoúla) (diminutive)

Related terms

• see: αδελφός m (adelfós, “brother”)

• see: νοσοκόμα f (nosokóma, “nurse”)

• see: καλόγρια f (kalógria, “nun”)