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

	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”)