βιβλιοθήκη
vivliothíki/vivlioˈθici/feminine
The Greek word for library is βιβλιοθήκη (vivliothíki).
The word βιβλιοθήκη refers to an institution that holds books or other materials.
Meaning: institution which holds books, etc. (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of βιβλίο (biblío), meaning 'book' and -θήκη (-thíki), meaning 'container' or 'receptacle'.
How does it change in a sentence?
βιβλιοθήκη is a feminine noun, so its definite article is η. The plural form is βιβλιοθήκες, and the genitive singular form used to indicate possession or 'of the library' is βιβλιοθήκης.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is vivliothíki.
Did you know?
- The root βίβλος is also the name of the ancient Phoenician city Biblos, which was the primary port for importing papyrus from Egypt to Greece.
- In modern Greek, while βιβλιοθήκη is the standard word, it is also commonly used to refer specifically to a 'bookshelf' or a 'bookcase' inside a home.
- The root βιβλίο comes from 'byblos', the Greek word for 'papyrus', which was the material used to make books before paper became common.
Examples in context
- Ο Τομ είναι στη βιβλιοθήκη.Tom is in the library.This sentence shows how to use βιβλιοθήκη to state a location.Tatoeba #5597675 by Zeus, translation #5589817 by CK
- Τι ώρα κλείνει η βιβλιοθήκη;What time does the library close?This sentence uses βιβλιοθήκη to ask about closing times.Tatoeba #10673845 by amoeba, translation #10652763 by sundown
- Η βιβλιοθήκη είναι στα δεξιά.The library is to the right.This sentence uses βιβλιοθήκη to describe a direction.Tatoeba #3209643 by Zeus, translation #462766 by lukaszpp
- Πάω στη βιβλιοθήκηI am going to the library
- Περνάω πολύ χρόνο στη βιβλιοθήκη.I spend a lot of time at the library.
- Ξέρεις πού βρίσκεται η βιβλιοθήκη;Do you know where the library is located?
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Eleni and Dimitris are discussing where to study.
- Ελένη EleniΘέλεις να πάμε στη βιβλιοθήκη;Theleis na pame sti vivliothiki?Do you want to go to the library?
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΝαι, χρειάζομαι ησυχία για το διάβασμα.Nai, chreiazomai isychia gia to diavsama.Yes, I need quiet for studying.
- Ελένη EleniΗ βιβλιοθήκη είναι ανοιχτή σήμερα;I vivliothiki einai anoichti simera?Is the library open today?
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΝαι, είναι ανοιχτή μέχρι τις οκτώ.Nai, einai anoichti mechri tis okto.Yes, it is open until eight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “library” translations and entries βιβλιοθήκη, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
