Palabra Lexi · common words in Greek
How to say "family" in Greek
"Family" in Greek is οικογένεια (ikoyénia), pronounced i-ko-YE-ni-a (stress on the syllable in capitals). It is a feminine noun (η οικογένεια, plural οι οικογένειες).
| Greek | οικογένεια |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | ikoyénia |
| Pronunciation | i-ko-YE-ni-a |
| Meaning | family |
| Gender | feminine: η οικογένεια |
| Plural | οι οικογένειες |
| Frequency | #81 in the Palabra list of common Greek words |
Pronunciation is spelled out in English, one syllable at a time, with the stressed syllable in capitals; Greek marks that syllable with an accent in writing too. The speaker button uses your browser's built-in Greek voice. Gender and plural: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
How to pronounce οικογένεια
Οικογένεια is pronounced i-ko-YE-ni-a, in IPA /i.koˈʝe.ni.a/. The stress falls on YE, the syllable in capitals. Greek shows this in writing: the accent mark sits on the stressed vowel.
- Γ before an e or i sound is like the y in "yes".
- Ει and οι both sound like ee in "see".
Listen: normal and slow speed, in your browser's Greek voice. IPA: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
Is οικογένεια masculine, feminine or neuter?
Οικογένεια is feminine, so it takes the article η: η οικογένεια. The plural is οι οικογένειες. That fits the usual pattern: most nouns ending in -α and -η are feminine.
Example sentences
Η οικογένειά μου
my family
Αγαπώ την οικογένειά μου
I love my family
"Family" in Greek: everyday use and word roots
Οικογένεια is built from οἶκος (house, household) and γένος (kin, family line).
Useful phrases
- Έχεις οικογένεια;
Do you have a family?
Word roots
- Ancient Greek: οἶκος (oîkos)
- English words from the same root: economy, genealogy
Regional words and roots: Wiktionary and the Liddell–Scott Greek lexicon. Greek varies by region, so treat these as the most common patterns, not strict rules.
How to remember οικογένεια
οικογένεια [i-ko-YE-ni-a] sounds like the English “eco-genius”. Picture this:
A family of eco-geniuses sorts trash into twelve bins and high-fives over each bottle.
A sound-alike plus a vivid scene is the keyword method, a well-studied way to learn vocabulary. How it works.
Practice οικογένεια
Two quick games, right here: no sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere.