Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| κολλητός | kollitós | masculine |
| κολλητή | kollití | feminine |
The term is used to describe an especially close and trusted friend. In casual Greek, it is very common to add the possessive pronoun μου after the noun to say "my best friend" (e.g., κολλητός μου).
What does it mean word for word?
The word κολλητός is derived from the verb κολλάω, which means "to stick" or "to glue." It literally translates to "stuck" or "glued," implying that the person is inseparable from you.
Which one should you use?
The form κολλητός is the masculine singular form, while κολλητή is the feminine singular form.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Κολλητός is an informal term used to refer to a best friend. For formal writing or polite conversation, the standard and more literal way to say "my best friend" is ο καλύτερος φίλος μου.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to a group, use the plural forms: κολλητοί for a group of male best friends or a mixed-gender group and κολλητές for a group consisting only of female best friends.
How do you pronounce it?
kollitós
Did you know?
- The verb κολλάω used to form κολλητός is also used in Greek to say someone has 'caught' a cold or a virus.
- You might see the word κολλητοί used in a different context in Greek newspapers to refer to 'loyalists' or people who are 'stuck' to a political party.
- In ancient Greek, the concept of a 'best friend' was often linked to φιλία, a term that encompassed not just affection but a shared moral and intellectual bond.
Examples in context
- Ο Γιώργος είναι ο καλύτερός μου φίλοςGiorgos is my best friend
- Είναι ο κολλητός μου.Eínai o kollitós mou.He is my best friend.
- Ο Γιώργος είναι κολλητός μου από την παιδική ηλικία.O Yiórgos eínai kollitós mou apó tin paidikí ilikía.George has been my best friend since childhood.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a mutual acquaintance at a cafe.
- Ελένη EleniΠού είναι ο Νίκος;Poú eínai o Níkos;Where is Nikos?
- Κώστας KostasΕίναι ο κολλητός μου και είναι σπίτι.Eínai o kollitós mou kai eínai spíti.He is my best friend and he is at home.
- Ελένη EleniΤον ξέρω πολύ καλά.Ton xéro polý kalá.I know him very well.
- Κώστας KostasΝαι, είναι πολύ καλός άνθρωπος.Nai, eínai polý kalós ánthropos.Yes, he is a very good person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “best friend” translations and entries κολλητός, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
