παιδί
paidí/peˈði/neuter
The English word child is translated into Greek as παιδί (paidí). Wiktionary also lists τέκνο (tékno).
Meaning: son or daughter, someone's child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| παιδί | paidí | /peˈði/ | neuter |
| τέκνο | tékno | /ˈtek.no/ | formal, neuter |
The terms used for a child or an offspring are παιδί and τέκνο. Both are neuter nouns.
Which one should you use?
τέκνο is a more formal way to refer to an offspring.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
τέκνο is a formal term.
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun παιδί becomes the plural παιδιά (the children). The formal noun τέκνο becomes the plural τέκνα (the offspring/children).
How do you pronounce it?
paidí (/peˈði/)
Did you know?
- While παιδί is used for children, the Ancient Greek root παῖς was also used to refer to slaves, as they were seen as being in a similar subordinate position to children.
- The root of παιδί is also found in the English word 'pedagogue', which originally described a slave who led a 'child' to school.
- In Greece, calling an adult παιδί μου ('my child') is a common way for older people to show affection or warmth, regardless of the other person's actual age.
Examples in context
- Ο Τομ έχει ένα παιδί.Tom has one child.This shows how to say someone has one παιδί.Tatoeba #5550056 by Zeus, translation #4493736 by CK
- Τι παιδί τόσο πανέξυπνο!What a very smart child!This is an exclamation about a smart παιδί.Tatoeba #4758592 by ggia, translation #9597943 by Nylez
- Εγκατέλειψε το παιδί της.She abandoned her child.This illustrates the use of παιδί in the context of abandonment.Tatoeba #5398710 by Zeus, translation #2769540 by carlosalberto
- Το παιδί είναι πολύ χαριτωμένο!The child is very cute!
- Αυτό το παιδί είναι έξυπνο.This child is smart.
- Η αδελφή μου έχει δύο παιδιά.My sister has two children.
- Πόσα παιδιά έχετε;How many children do you have?
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nikos and Kyriaki are talking about Kyriaki's family.
- Νίκος NikosΈχεις κάποιο παιδί, Κυριακή;Écheis kápoio paidí, Kyriaki?Do you have a child, Kyriaki?
- Κυριακή KyriakiΝαι, έχω ένα μικρό παιδί.Nai, écho éna mikró paidí.Yes, I have one small child.
- Νίκος NikosΕίναι αγόρι ή κορίτσι;Eínai agóri í korítsi?Is it a boy or a girl?
- Κυριακή KyriakiΕίναι ένα χαριτωμένο αγόρι.Eínai éna charitōméno agóri.It is a cute boy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “child” translations and entries παιδί, τέκνο, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
