αλίμονο

Greek

Alternative forms

• αλλοίμονο (alloímono)

Etymology

Univerbation of the Byzantine Greek ἀλλ’ εἰ μόνον (all’ ei mónon, “but if only!”).

Interjection

αλίμονο • (alímono)

1. (followed by genitive weak personal pronoun) alas, woe expressing distress or misery

   Αλίμονό του, τι έπαθε ο καημένος!

   Alímonó tou, ti épathe o kaïménos!

   Alas, see what happened to the poor guy!

2. (followed by genitive weak personal pronoun) Expresses a threat, God help:

   Αλίμονό σου αν σε πιάσει!

   Alímonó sou an se piásei!

   God help you if he catches you!

Synonyms

• φευ (fef)

Further reading

• αλίμονο, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language