επίθεση
epíthesifeminine
The English word 'attack' is translated into Greek as επίθεση (epíthesi).
The noun επίθεση refers to an attempt to cause damage, injury or death. This can be used to describe physical military attacks as well as metaphorical ones, such as a verbal attack or a cyber attack.
Meaning: attempt to cause damage, injury, or death (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
επίθεση is a feminine noun. Its plural form is επιθέσεις (attacks), and its genitive form, used for 'of the attack', is επίθεσης. Related verbs include επιτίθεμαι, which means 'to attack' (meaning both to apply violent force or to aggressively challenge with words) and καταπιάνομαι, which means 'to aggressively challenge with words'.
How do you pronounce it?
epíthesi
Did you know?
- In Greek, the word for a 'heart attack' is έμφραγμα, which means 'blockage'. Unlike English, Greeks do not use the word επίθεση to describe this medical emergency.
- In certain Greek contexts, a 'verbal attack' is not just seen as an insult but as a breach of 'philotimo', the complex cultural concept of honor and doing what is right.
- The word επίθεση shares a root with the English word 'hypothesis', as both come from the Greek root for 'placing' or 'putting'. One is a 'placing upon' and the other is a 'placing under'.
Examples in context
- Επίθεση!Attack!This example shows how to use επίθεση as an exclamation.Tatoeba #7854062 by janMiso, translation #1972610 by CK
- Ο στρατηγός εξαπέλυσε μια σφοδρή επίθεση.The general launched a ferocious attack.This example uses επίθεση to describe a military action.Tatoeba #9779671 by Nylez, translation #9860935 by Nylez
- Δεκάδες άνθρωποι τραυματίστηκαν σοβαρά κατά τη διάρκεια της επίθεσης.Dozens of people were seriously injured during the attack.This example uses επίθεση to describe a period of time during which people were injured.Tatoeba #13304235 by carlosalberto, translation #13304217 by carlosalberto
- Η χώρα βρίσκεται υπό επίθεση από εχθρικές δυνάμεις.The country is under attack from hostile forces.
- Οι ποδοσφαιριστές της ομάδας εξαπέλυσαν μια επίθεση κατά του αντιπάλου.The players of the team launched an attack against their opponent.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anastasia and Nikos are discussing a news report about a conflict.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΕίδες τις ειδήσεις για την επίθεση χθες;Eides tis eidíseis gia tin epíthesi chthes?Did you see the news about the attack yesterday?
- Νίκος NikosΝαι, ήταν μια πολύ τρομακτική επίθεση.Nai, ítan mia polý tromaktikí epíthesi.Yes, it was a very scary attack.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΠού έγινε ακριβώς αυτή η επίθεση;Poú égine akrivós aftí i epíthesi?Where exactly did this attack happen?
- Νίκος NikosΈγινε στο κέντρο της πόλης, Αναστασία.Égine sto kéntro tis pólis, Anastasia.It happened in the city center, Anastasia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “attack” translations and entries επίθεση, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
