Your Greek Word On A Sunday

Episode 245:Tactic

24 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Τάσσω (tasso) in an Ancient Greek verb and it means 'I put things in order' . Something that was studied in An...

Episode 244: Cream

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)This sweet word is a combination of Ancient Greek and late Latin. It came into English in the 14th century from the French (o...

Episode 243: Autocracy

10 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Today's word has a small journey as it's very straight forward. It has also been reduced to a single meaning in Gre...

Episode 242:Meander

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music) There are two versions of this myth and I chose the one places ancient Turkey and Ancient Greece geologically closer than t...

Episode 241: Hectic

25 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)This word came to us from medicine and the metaphorical meaning is what we use today. Χεκτικός (Hektikos), in ancient...

Episode 240: Sardonic

18 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Oenanthe Crocata, is a flower with a very sweet taste that grows near lakes in Sardinia. It's also known as 'Sardon...

Episode 239: Date

11 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Today's word is so much older than the Valentine celebration and I have to admit I thought it would make a good joke.  ...

Episode 238: Fame

04 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Φήμη (feme) was one of Gaia's daughters and sister to Hope, among others. She was responsible for spreading the news...

Episode 237: Policy

28 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Intro & soft piano musicΠόλις (polis) in both ancient and modern Greek means the 'City' . This is a root word for many more that we...

Episode 236: Synthesis

21 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Intro & soft piano musicΣυν (syn) is a preposition meaning 'and', 'together'. Θέση (thesi) means 'position' C...

Episode 235: Center

14 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Intro & soft piano musicΚεντρί (kendri) in both ancient and modern Greek means the 'Sting' . Because the point of a compass was as...

Episode 234: Night

07 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & soft piano music)Happy New Year everyone! May you be happy, prosper and shine in whatever you decide to do this year!We begin 2024 with a...

Episode 233: Pause

24 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Merry Christmas to those celebrating and , have a well deserved rest those of you who don't! Today's word is the la...

Episode 232: Orchestra

17 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)The Ancient Greek Theatre has many parts and each of them has their specific function within Greek Drama. I won't talk a...

Episode 231: Catechism

10 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)In every language, I suspect, there are words that have lost their original meaning because they've become closely assoc...

Episode 230: Symbol

03 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & piano music)There are some words whose history of meaning surprises me because it's not based on reason or practicality but, sentime...

Episode 229: Emphasis

26 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)I love it when I get the chance to prove how tricky Greek language can be. Only because it's a challenge to describe. A...

Episode 228: Irony

19 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)The origins of all three meanings of this word, can be found in Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. But an Ancient Greek comedy ch...

Episode 227: Dialect

12 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Δια (dia) means 'between', 'across' and it's also the name of the mathematical symbol for divisio...

Episode 226: Metaphor

05 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)We're doing all things language this November!Φέρω (fero) is an ancient Greek verb meaning 'to carry', &ap...

Episode 225: Tomb

29 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Happy Halloween everyone! This word has an interesting history and several origin theories. The Ancient Greek word Τύμβο...

Episode 224: Phantom

22 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Approaching Halloween so, let the spooky words in! Φαίνειν is an ancient Greek infinitive and it means 'to appea...

Episode 223: Hypothesis

15 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)There are some Greek words that the original meaning has been almost lost except for the occasional one that is used for this...

Episode 222: Encyclopaedia

08 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)If you see and Ancient Greek text, you'll understand it's difficult to know when a word ends and another begins. To...

Episode 221: Base

01 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hello and welcome to our seventh season! Can you believe it?! Seventh! Well, it's thanks to you we're still here. Subscribing, downloading a...

Episode 220: Ocean

02 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is the last episode for this season and I'd like to thank you for staying with us for another year! If you have questions, ideas or comments...

Episode 219: Sand

25 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Ψάω (psao) the verb for 'grinding' and 'smoothing' , and ψάμμος (psammos) the noun, is an ancien...

Episode 218: Thermos

18 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)We are counting down to the end of this season and as summer seems to be already here, our last three words are dedicated to ...

Episode 217: Calligraphy

11 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music) Κάλλος (kallos) in ancient Greek, and in some cases in modern too, meant 'beauty'.  Γραφή (graphe) is...

Episode 216: Paradox

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Παρά (para) in both ancient and modern Greek is a preposition and it means 'on the side' or 'across' ...

Episode 215: Bible

28 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before we begin, just a little reminder that you can send your comments and questions to [email protected], follow us in Twitter @yourgreeksun...

Episode 214: Ostracized

21 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Staying in ancient Greece but in more earthly matters today. This is a word that lasted all this time although the custom die...

Episode 213: Theme

14 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music) Τίθημι (tithimi) is an ancient greek verb meaning 'I put in the right place, I position correctly'. Among t...

Episode 212: Comet

07 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)As we enter Spring and enjoying clear skies more and more, can you imagine what the sky must have looked like in ancient time...

Episode 211: Marmalade

30 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music) What are  you having for breakfast? I  have a word for you that's been going in circles like that spoon in your tea....

Episode 210:Plethora

23 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)One of the things I was worried about, around season 2 of this podcast, was how to explain the spelling when talking about di...

Episode 209: Dialogue

16 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Here is a word that has created some noise on pronunciation, meaning and, origin. Well, the origin is Greek but, which versio...

Episode 208: Philanthropy

09 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)In the first few lines of Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus, we hear, for the first time ever, the word that marked the Titan&apo...

Episode 207: Utopia

02 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)This, is another combined, greek word that was made up by a non-Greek. It was the philosopher and humanist Thomas More this t...

Episode 206: Planet

26 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before we begin today, I'd like to remind you of our email address [email protected] where you can send your questions, ideas or comments...

Episode 205:Agony

19 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Αγω (ago) in both ancient and modern Greek means, 'I draw out', 'I bring forth'. Αγώνας (agonas)...

Episode 204:Phase

12 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Φαίνειν (phainin) is an ancient Greek infinitive. The verb is Φαίνομαι (phaenome) and it means 'I show&ap...

Episode 203: Critical

05 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Κρίνω (crino) , is an ancient Greek verb, the noun is κρίση (crisi) and the adjective κριτική (critiki) All ...

Episode 202: Symbiosis

26 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Greeks have been using this word widely for a very long time but in English it was used only as a biology term until the 1920...

Episode 201:Pentagon

19 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)What do Okras, Euclid, and a south Korean boy band have in common? Well, πέντε (pendae) in Greek means 'five' ...

Episode 200: Seismic

12 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Welcome to our 200th episode! This feels like a very weird time to celebrate, especially when the rescue teams in Turkey and ...

Episode 199: Philadelphia

05 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before we begin today, I want to remind you to download this or any episode you might like; or if you listen frequently then why not slide that button...

Episode 198: Prototype

29 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)This word has changed very little in its travels and it took the common route arriving here. Greek, Latin, French and in the ...

Episode 197: Monotone

22 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Μονός (monos) in modern Greek means 'single' and τόνος(tonos) means -among other things- a musical '...

Episode 196: Kaleidoscope

15 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)This is a Greek word that wasn't invented by the Greeks! Sir David Brewster, was a Scottish physicist known for his work...

Episode 195: Schedule

08 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Any New Year's resolutions yet? Well, in Ancient Greek, 'Σχέδη' (Schedi) meant papyrus leaf-also known as...

Episode 194: Phoenix

01 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Happy New Year everyone! Here's a little myth of strength and beauty to kickstart the month. The Ancient Greeks believe...

Episode 193: Pole

25 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music) Merry Christmas, everyone celebrating and have a wonderful Sunday, those of you who don't. Πολώ is an ancient Gree...

Episode 192: Synchronisation & Synchronicity

18 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & Piano music)Today, I'll be telling you about two Greek words. One was invented by the Greeks and the other by the Swiss psychologist...

Episode 191: Barbarian

11 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Nowadays, in order to describe something we don't understand, we make a reference to a difficult language for us. The En...

Episode 190: Scepticism

04 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music) Σκέπτομαι (skeptome) in Ancient Greek and Σκέφτομαι (skeftome) in modern, means ' I think' . T...

Episode 189:Dichotomy

27 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Τέμνω (temno) in Greek means 'I cut', the noun is Τομή (tomi). Δυο (dio) means 'two' and when...

Episode 188: Melancholy

20 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Well, I know I've said I won't be doing any medical terms but this one is an exception and has a very interesting o...

Episode 187: Gherkin

13 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Cucumis anguria, is the official name of small cucumbers. In medieval Greek it was called 'ανγκούριον' (a...

Episode 186: Myriads

06 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music) Xenophon of Athens, was an army general, historian , and philosopher. His most famous work is 'Anabasis', that de...

Episode 185:Apocalypse

30 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro and piano music)Απο (apo) is a preposition meaning 'from' and 'away from' (such as, in this case) Καλύπτω (kalipt...

Episode 184: Hermit

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)This is a prime example of a metaphor gaining its own power and becoming a stand-alone word. Ερημος (erimos) in both An...

Episode 183: Patriot

16 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)This is a word that has stayed intact from the beginning, including its derivatives. Πατήρ (patir) means 'Father&ap...

Episode 182: Murmur

09 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)*Reads in ancient  Greek* 'Ποταμών άφρω μορμύροντα ιδών' That's what Homer called a ...

Episode 181: Epoch

02 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hello and welcome to Season 6 of Your Greek Word On A Sunday. A little bit of news before we begin our word journey this season. We have, now , a new ...

Episode 180: Tantalising

03 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Welcome to the last episode of the season! I have a little gruesome myth for you today, so we can leave all the ugliness behi...

Episode 179: Astrology & Astronomy

26 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & piano music) Here are two words that started as part of one practice. A practice that was considered by philosophers, Kings and scientist...

Episode 178: Calm

19 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & piano music)Since we seem to be having a mini summer here in the UK, I couldn't but do this word today. Καύμα (kavma) in both a...

Episode 177: Monopoly

12 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & piano music)Μονός (monos) means 'single', 'sole'. Πωλείν (polin) is an infinitive and it means 'to se...

Episode 176: Anarchy

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & Piano music) I'm quite tempted to go into politics with this word and yes, this might be the time but it's not the place for it...

Episode 175: Apotheosis

29 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & Piano music)Απο is a preposition and it means 'from' or 'as'. Θεός (Theos)means 'god' The combined i...

Episode 174: Trilogy

22 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Τρία (Tria) in Greek means 'Three'. Λόγος(Logos) means speech, rational thinking and...story. In ancient G...

Episode 173: Hypothesis

15 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Υπό means 'under'. Θέση originally meant 'placement', 'position' . It still does but 'seat' is an equal...

Episode 172: Canopy

08 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & Piano music)What do you think when you hear the phrase 'Greek Summer'? The three S' right? Sea, Sun and Sunsets! Well..if ...

Episode 171: Liquorice

01 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & Piano music)There are mentions in Ancient Greek texts of a plant's root used to ease Asthma and inflammation. It grows in Northern G...

Episode 170: Chaos

24 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)There is an ancient Greek epic poem called Theogony composed by Hesiodus in 7th century BC, about how the gods came to be. Af...

Episode 169: Synopsis

17 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & piano music)I've decided to keep this episode very short, in line with what the word means. Συν means 'with' and is als...

Episode 168: Allegory

10 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & Piano music)This word followed the route most Greek words took to come here. Greek-Latin-Old French-Middle English-Modern English. It arr...

Episode 167: Paradigm

03 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Δείκνυμι (diknimi) is an ancient Greek verb and it means 'I show', 'I present'. Para is a preposi...

Episode 166: Dolphins

27 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music) I've decided to give myself a little cheerful research for a change and tell you a myth. These magnificent creatures we...

Episode 165: Oligarchy

20 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & piano music)Ancient Greece has seen a fair amount of different types of ruling, from Kings to Democracy and it's been a bumpy ride. ...

Episode 164: Philodox

13 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & Piano musi) In my search for information on this word in English, I was told by the internet, multiple times, that this is a very rare wo...

Episode 163: Despotic

06 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & music)Δεσπόζω is an ancient Greek Verb, The adjective is Δεσποτικός and the noun Δεσπότης, meaning the absolute ...

Episode 162: Catastrophe

27 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & piano music)Κατά (kata) is a preposition and, among other things, it means 'down'. Στροφή (strofi) means 'turn&a...

Episode 161: Elegy

20 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro &piano music)An Ελεγεία in ancient Greece was a religious poem made from two different verses. An hexameter and a pentameter. The po...

Episode 160: Melody

13 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & piano music)Music is primarily comprised of three parts, Αρμονία/Harmony, Ρυθμό/Rhythm and Μελωδία. That last one is a...

Episode 159: Rhinoceros

06 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(intro & piano music) Ρις (Rhis) in ancient Greek (and as a medical term, in modern Greek too) menas 'nose'. Κέρας (Keras) means...

Episode 158: Analysis

30 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & piano music)Ανά (ana) in Greek, is both a preposition and a prefix depending on its use and one of its meanings is 'again'-&...

Episode 157: Mystic

23 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

(Intro & Piano music) Μυώ (meo) is an ancient Greek verb and it means I initiate someone into a religion, I induct. The ceremony for that induc...

Episode 156: Syringe

16 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Before we start today, i'd like to reassure you that, there's nothing wrong with your podcast platform or this podcast. Human error however,...

Episode 154: Symposium

02 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

SYMPOSIUM/ΣΥΜΠΟΣΙΟ(intro with piano music)Happy New Year everyone! Today, we're going to talk about parties.The preposition 'συν&...

Episode 155: Decade

26 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

DECADE/ΔΕΚΑΣ(Intro with piano music)Δέκα (Deka) in both ancient and modern Greek means, ten (so does Dasa in Sanskrit by the way). Δεκάς...

Episode 153: Acme

26 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

ACME/ΑΚΜΗ(Intro with piano music) With the winter solstice right behind us, New Year's eve coming up and this being the last episode of the y...

Episode 152: Carols

19 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

CAROLS/ΧΟΡΟΣ(Intro with piano music)Χορός (choros) in both modern and ancient Greek, means Dance. Αυλός (aulus) means pan-pipe or flute...

Episode 151: Symptom

12 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

SYMPTOM/ΣΥΜΠΤΩΜΑΣυν (syn) is a preposition and it means 'with' . Πίπτω (Pipto)is an ancient Greek verb ,still in use today, ...

Episode 150: Mathematics

05 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

MATHEMATICS/ΜΑΘΗΜΑΤΙΚΑ Μανθάνω (Manthano) in ancient Greek and Μαθαίνω (Matheno) in modern, means 'I learn'. Τέχν...

Episode 149: Hyper

28 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

HYPER/ΥΠΕΡWords transitioning from the Greek Alphabet to the Latin one, usually get a do-over in both spelling and pronunciation. Thankfully in mo...

Episode 148: Panic

21 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

PANIC/ΠΑΝΙΚΟΣGreek Myths are so complex and -more often than not- linked to each other that it's very difficult to focus on one story. Tod...

Episode 147: Draconian

14 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

DRACONIAN/ΔΡΑΚΟΝΤΙΑInstagram @yourgreeksunday ,Blue Sky @yourgreeksunday.bsky.socialemail [email protected]

Episode 146: Ecology

07 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

ECOLOGY/ΟΙΚΟΛΟΓΙΑInstagram @yourgreeksunday ,Blue Sky @yourgreeksunday.bsky.socialemail [email protected]