Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| χρυσός | chrysós | /xɾiˈsos/ | masculine |
| χρυσαφής | chrysafís | masculine | |
| χρυσαφένιος | chrysafénios | masculine | |
| μαλαματένιος | malamaténios | /malamaˈteɲos/ | masculine |
The term χρυσός is used to refer to the actual metal or substance, and it is also used in metaphorical expressions such as 'silence is gold'. When you want to describe something that possesses a golden color or a golden glow rather than being made of the metal itself, you should use the descriptive form χρυσαφής. Additionally, the words μάλαμα and διαμάντι can be used as symbols for anything or anyone considered to be very valuable, while χρυσό νόμισμα is a symbol for a coin.
Which one should you use?
Use χρυσός when referring to the actual metal or material. In contrast, use χρυσαφής to describe a golden color or appearance.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form χρυσός is masculine and must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. For the neuter plural, the form χρυσά is used.
How do you pronounce it?
chrysós (/xɾiˈsos/)
Did you know?
- The word χρυσός is an ancient loan from Semitic languages, appearing in its earliest form as ku-ru-so in Mycenaean Greek during the Bronze Age.
- In traditional Greek idioms, calling someone χρυσός does not just mean they are valuable, but often implies they are exceptionally kind-hearted or a 'golden' person.
- While χρυσαφής describes a golden color, the related word χρυσαφένιος is often used in literature to describe a shimmering or radiant quality, such as the light of a sunset.
Examples in context
- Ο χρυσός δεν είναι φτηνός.Gold isn't cheap.This sentence shows the use of χρυσός to discuss the price of the metal.Tatoeba #5429367 by Zeus, translation #5420278 by CK
- Η σιωπή είναι χρυσός.Speech is silver, silence is gold.This sentence uses χρυσός in a metaphorical expression.Tatoeba #1339662 by enteka, translation #239721 by jakov
- Ό,τι λάμπει δεν είναι χρυσός.All that glitters is not gold.This sentence uses χρυσός in a proverbial context regarding appearance.Tatoeba #1302848 by enteka, translation #20086 by Swift
- Για αυτήν την επίδειξη, χρησιμοποιήσανε μόνο κοσμήματα από χρυσό.For this exhibition, they used solely gold jewelry.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
George and Maria are looking at jewelry in a store.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΚοίτα αυτόν τον χρυσό δαχτυλίδι!Koíta aftón ton chrysó dachtylídi!Look at this gold ring!
- Μαρία MariaΕίναι πολύ όμορφος, Γιώργο.Eínai polý ómorphos, Giórgo.It is very beautiful, George.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΠιστεύεις ότι είναι πραγματικά χρυσός;Pistéveis óti eínai pragmatiká chrysós;Do you believe it is actually gold?
- Μαρία MariaΝαι, το λέει η ετικέτα.Nai, to léei i etikéta.Yes, the label says so.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gold” translations and entries χρυσός, χρυσαφής, μαλαματένιος, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries μαλαματένιος, χρυσός, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
