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γυνή

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Ancient Greek

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γυνὴ καλεῖται Σαπφὼ Λέσβου.

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-Hellenic *gʷonā. Cognates include Mycenaean Greek 𐀓𐀙𐀊 (ku-na-ja), Sanskrit ग्ना (gnā́), जनि (jáni), Old Armenian կին (kin), and Old English cwēn (English queen).

The weak stem is probably from the strong stem suffixed with *-keh₂ (compare μέγᾰς (mégas)). Compare also Latin mulier for the development of using hypocorisms to refer to women. (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

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Noun

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γῠνή (gunḗf (genitive γῠναικός); third declension

  1. woman, female
    • 412 BCE, Euripides, Helen 329:
      Γυναῖκα γὰρ δὴ συμπονεῖν γυναικὶ χρή.
      Gunaîka gàr dḕ sumponeîn gunaikì khrḗ.
      A woman ought to help a woman.
  2. wife

Declension

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Greek (Modern & varieties):
    • Greek: γυναίκα (gynaíka)
    • Mariupol Greek: инэ́ка (inéka)
    • Tsakonian: γουναίκα (gounaíka)

Further reading

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