Ways to say it
| Ancient Greek | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| μέλας | melas | masculine |
| μέλαινα | melaina | feminine |
| μέλαν | melan | neuter |
The adjective agrees with gender, so a black object described with a feminine noun takes μέλαινα (melaina), and a neuter noun takes μέλαν (melan).
What does it mean word for word?
μέλας is the base masculine form of the adjective for black or dark. Its stem also appears in the noun μέλαν, which specifically means 'ink', literally 'the black thing'.
Which one should you use?
The three forms, μέλας, μέλαινα and μέλαν, are not different words for black but the same adjective changing to match the gender of the noun it describes.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
μέλας is used in every register, from Homeric epic describing a 'black ship' to philosophical and scientific prose.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word appears constantly in Homer, where μέλαινα νηῦς, 'black ship', is a fixed poetic phrase.
How does it change in a sentence?
μέλας follows a third declension pattern for an adjective, with μέλανος as its genitive masculine form.
How do you pronounce it?
μέλας stresses the first syllable, with a short vowel in the second, close to 'ME-las'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Learners sometimes apply only the masculine μέλας regardless of the noun's gender, forgetting that Greek adjectives must agree with the noun.
When do people say it?
The word μελαγχολία, 'melancholy', literally means 'black bile', coming from the ancient medical theory that an excess of black bile in the body caused sadness.
Did you know?
- μέλαινα νηῦς, 'black ship', is a fixed phrase that recurs throughout Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, describing ships darkened with pitch.
- English 'melancholy' comes directly from μέλας, black, combined with χολή, bile, from the ancient theory of four bodily humors.
Examples in context
- μέλαινα νηῦς.melaina neus.A black ship.
- ὁ κύων μέλας ἐστίν.ho kyon melas estin.The dog is black.
- μέλαν γράφω ἐπὶ τῷ χάρτῃ.melan grapho epi to charte.I write in black ink on the paper.
Example conversation
A merchant named Kleon describes his goods to a buyer named Phile at the market.
- Phileἔχεις ἱμάτιον μέλαν?echeis himation melan?Do you have a black cloak?
- Kleonναί, ἰδοὺ τὸ μέλαν ἱμάτιον.nai, idou to melan himation.Yes, here is the black cloak.
- Phileκαλόν ἐστιν.kalon estin.It is beautiful.
- Kleonἀγοράσεις αὐτό?agoraseis auto?Will you buy it?
