πονοκέφαλος
ponokéfalos/po.noˈce.fa.los/masculine
The English word 'headache' is translated into Greek as πονοκέφαλος (ponokéfalos). Wiktionary also lists κεφαλαλγία (kefalalgía).
Meaning: pain or ache in the head (noun)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| πονοκέφαλος | ponokéfalos | /po.noˈce.fa.los/ | masculine |
| κεφαλαλγία | kefalalgía |
πονοκέφαλος is the standard term for a pain or ache in the head. In a natural conversational setting, you can express having a headache by saying έχω πονοκέφαλο, which uses the accusative form of the word.
What does it mean word for word?
The word πονοκέφαλος is a compound made of πόνος, meaning 'pain' and κέφαλος, meaning 'head'.
Which one should you use?
πονοκέφαλος is the common term for a headache, whereas κεφαλαλγία is used primarily in medical or clinical contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
πονοκέφαλος is a masculine noun. If you use an adjective to describe it, that adjective must also be in the masculine form.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /po.noˈce.fa.los/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The English word 'cephalopod', meaning 'head-foot' like an octopus, shares the same Greek root κέφαλος found in πονοκέφαλος.
- The term πονοκέφαλος is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a complicated problem or a 'headache' of a situation that is difficult to solve.
- The component πόνος is also the root for the Greek word for 'labor' or 'toil', implying that a headache is a form of physical struggle.
Examples in context
- Ο πονοκέφαλος αυτός δεν φεύει.O ponokéfalos aftós den fíei.This headache won't go away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “headache” translations and entries πονοκέφαλος, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
