Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| εκκλησία | ekklisía | /e.kliˈsi.a/ | feminine |
| ναός | naós | /naˈos/ | masculine |
Both terms refer to a house of worship, but they are used in different contexts. εκκλησία is the common term for the Christian church, referring to the institution, the congregation or the physical building. ναός is used to refer to a temple, a shrine or a sanctuary, often in a more majestic or classical sense.
What does it mean word for word?
The word εκκλησία is etymologically derived from the concept of a 'calling out' or an assembly of people.
Which one should you use?
εκκλησία is the common word for the Christian church or the congregation. In contrast, ναός refers specifically to a temple or a sacred shrine, frequently used in formal, poetic or classical contexts such as ancient Greek temples.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of εκκλησία is εκκλησίες.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /e.kliˈsi.a/. It has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- In Ancient Greece, an εκκλησία was not a building but a political assembly of citizens who gathered to vote on laws.
- The English word 'ecclesiastical' is a direct linguistic relative of εκκλησία.
- The term ναός shares a deep root with the concept of a 'dwelling', implying that the church is the home of a deity.
Examples in context
- Ο Τομ είναι στην εκκλησία.Tom is in church.This sentence is useful for saying someone is currently located in the building using εκκλησία.Tatoeba #5605658 by Zeus, translation #2273216 by CK
- Την συνάντησα στην εκκλησία.I met her at church.This sentence is useful for saying someone met another person at the location using εκκλησία.Tatoeba #2901571 by glavkos, translation #3912128 by CH
- Αυτή η εκκλησία είναι τεράστια.This church is huge.This sentence is useful for describing the size of a specific church using εκκλησία.Tatoeba #6685096 by NonMiDestar, translation #6684846 by Eccles17
- Πηγαίνουμε στην εκκλησία κάθε Κυριακή.We go to church every Sunday.
- Περπάτησα μέχρι το εκκλησάκι του χωριού μας.I walked to our village's little church.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are planning their Sunday morning.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΠάμε στην εκκλησία σήμερα;Páme stin ekklisía símera?Are we going to church today?
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΝαι, πάμε στις δέκα.Nai, páme stis déka.Yes, let's go at ten.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΠοια εκκλησία θα διαλέξουμε;Poia ekklisía tha dialéxoume?Which church shall we choose?
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΑς πάμε στην παλιά εκκλησία.As páme stin paliá ekklisía.Let's go to the old church.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “church” translations and entries εκκλησία, ναός, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries εκκλησία, ναός, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
