S3E3: Expand your Vocabulary in Greek

In this episode we look at compound words with the word -φοβία (-phobia) as their second component. The word φοβία comes from φόβος, which means fear. So, all the words we’ll see today describe having a fear of something, and that “something” is defined by the first part of each word. The first word we’ll look at is υψοφοβία, from the words ύψος meaning height and φοβία. So, υψοφοβία means the fear of heights. In English, we use the word acrophobia, which also exists in Greek as ακροφοβία. Next, we have αγοραφοβία, from the words αγορά, which in this case means public space and not market, and φοβία. Just like in English, agoraphobia, it refers to the fear of open or crowded places. Then we have κλειστοφοβία, from κλειστός, meaning closed, and φοβία, which means the fear of confined or enclosed spaces. The English word is claustrophobia, where the first component comes from the Latin claustrum and the Greek φοβία. Our next word is αρρωστοφοβία, from άρρωστος, meaning sick, and φοβία. This describes the fear of getting sick. In English, the equivalent term is nosophobia, from νόσος, the ancient Greek word for illness or disease, and phobia. Although this term exists in English, it’s mostly used in medical contexts. In everyday language, we usually say fear of getting sick or health anxiety.

In this episode we're taking everyday professions and breaking the Greek words apart to see where they come from and what they literally mean. Because in Greek, words aren’t random. They’re built with intention, logic, and history. Nurse = νοσοκόμα. The Greek word νοσοκόμα comes from two parts: νόσος = disease, illness and κομέω / κομώ = to take care of, to tend. So νοσοκόμα literally means: 👉 “the person who takes care of illness.” The word itself emphasizes care, not just medical tasks. Ophthalmologist = οφθαλμίατρος. This word becomes very clear once you break it down: οφθαλμός = eye and ιατρός = doctor. So οφθαλμίατρος literally means: 👉 “doctor of the eye.” That’s why so many medical terms around the world are built directly from Greek roots. Gynecologist = γυναικολόγος. Let’s break this one apart: γυνή / γυναίκα = woman and λόγος = study, science, discourse. So γυναικολόγος means: 👉 “someone who studies and specializes in the woman’s body.” Here, λόγος doesn’t just mean “word.” It means systematic study. Dentist = οδοντίατρος. οδούς / οδόντος = tooth and ιατρός = doctor. And οδοντίατρος is literally: 👉 “the doctor of the teeth.”. That’s also why we have words like ορθοδοντική and οδοντολογία. Psychologist = ψυχολόγος. One of the most meaningful examples: ψυχή = soul, mind, inner life and λόγος = study So ψυχολόγος literally means: 👉 “someone who studies the soul.” The Greek word reaches beyond “mental health” and into the inner world of a person. What I love about Greek is that the words explain themselves once you know how to break them down. When you understand the roots: vocabulary sticks, meaning deepens and the language comes alive

In this episode, Emily and Danai will be talking about their favorite Greek movies and other world famous Greek movies that would be interesting to watch. Either you're a beginner, intermediate or advanced level!

In this episode, you will hear a dialogue at the λαϊκή αγορά and phrases we use while shopping. We also give you a bit of the background of how a Greek λαϊκή αγορά is.

In this episode we're starting our new series, Etymology. In this series we will explore the roots of different Greek words and discover which of these words also exist in English.