μόρτης

Greek

FWOTD – 7 August 2024

Etymology

Probably derived, through Turkish, from Italian morti, plural of morto (“dead”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmoɾtis/
• Hyphenation: μόρ‧της

Noun

μόρτης • (mórtis) m (plural μόρτηδες, feminine μόρτισσα)

1. (historical, literally) gravedigger (someone immune to plague who was paid to bury the bodies of those affected)
2. (colloquial, derogatory, figuratively) lowlife, lout, bum, ragamuffin, scoundrel (untrustworthy, despicable or disreputable person)
   • 1968, “Η Δουλειά Κάνει Τους Άντρες [Hard Work Makes The Man]”, in Manos Eleutheriou (lyrics), Manos Loïzos (music), Ο σταθμός [The Station], performed by Dimitris Efstathiou:

     Το πλαστό το πασαπόρτι,
     σαν και την καρδιά σου, μόρτη.

     To plastó to pasapórti,
     san kai tin kardiá sou, mórti.

     The forged passport,
     Is like your heart, you lowlife.

Declension

Declension of μόρτης

	singular	plural
nominative	μόρτης •	μόρτηδες •
genitive	μόρτη •	μόρτηδων •
accusative	μόρτη •	μόρτηδες •
vocative	μόρτη •	μόρτηδες •

Synonyms

• (gravedigger): νεκροθάφτης m (nekrotháftis)
• (lowlife, scoundrel): αλήτης m (alítis), αλάνι n (aláni), μάγκας m (mágkas)

Derived terms

• μορτάκι n (mortáki) (diminutive noun)
• μόρτικος (mórtikos) (adjective)
• μόρτικα (mórtika) (adverb)