διακοπές
diakopésfeminine, plural
The Greek word for holiday is διακοπές (diakopés).
The term διακοπές refers to a period of one or more days taken off from work for leisure or travel. It covers the meanings of both the British 'holiday' and the American 'vacation'.
Meaning: period of one or more days taken off work for leisure and often travel (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word διακοπές is a feminine plural noun and is almost always used in its plural form when referring to a holiday period. To say 'on holiday', use the preposition σε with the definite article, resulting in the phrase στις διακοπές. If you want to say someone has left or gone 'for holiday', use the preposition για, resulting in για διακοπές.
How do you pronounce it?
diakopés
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the singular form η διακοπή to mean a holiday. In the context of leisure travel, the plural οι διακοπές is the standard form.
Did you know?
- In Greece, the August holiday period is so culturally significant that many small businesses and shops close entirely for several weeks, a practice known as 'seasonal closure'.
- The word διακοπές shares its root with the verb διακόπτω, which means 'to interrupt' or 'to cut off'.
- While διακοπές is used for leisure, the term εορτή is used for a public holiday or a feast day, creating a sharp distinction between 'time off' and 'celebration'.
Examples in context
- Είναι σε διακοπές μ' έναν φίλο.She's on holiday with a friend.This sentence shows how to say someone is on holiday with a friend using διακοπές.Tatoeba #5378413 by Zeus, translation #5377947 by sundown
- Στις διακοπές θα πάω στη Γαλλία.I will go to France on holiday.This sentence demonstrates using διακοπές to talk about traveling to a destination.Tatoeba #2398816 by mululatv, translation #8819309 by lucasmg123
- Έχει φύγει για διακοπές στη Μεσόγειο.He's gone on holiday to the Mediterranean.This sentence illustrates the use of διακοπές when someone has left for a holiday.Tatoeba #5378577 by Zeus, translation #295192 by sundown
- Πού πας για διακοπές;Where are you going for holidays?
- Είχαμε υπέροχες διακοπές!We had wonderful holidays!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are chatting in the office kitchen.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΠότε πηγαίνεις για διακοπές φέτος, Ελένη;Póte pigéineis gia diakopés fétos, Eléni?When are you going on holiday this year, Eleni?
- Ελένη EleniΘα πάω τον Αύγουστο. Εσύ πότε φεύγεις;Tha páo ton Ávgousto. Esý póte févgeis?I will go in August. When are you leaving?
- Γιώργος GiorgosΕγώ δεν έχω ακόμα προγραμματισμένες διακοπές.Egó den écho akóma programmatisménes diakopés.I don't have scheduled holidays yet.
- Ελένη EleniΠρέπει να αποφασίσεις σύντομα, Γιώργο!Prépei na apofasíseis sýntoma, Giórgo!You should decide soon, Giorgos!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “holiday” translations and entries διακοπές, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
