λάδι
ládi/ˈlaði/neuter
The English word "oil" can be translated into Greek as λάδι (ládi) or έλαιο.
Meaning: liquid fat (noun)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| λάδι | ládi | /ˈlaði/ | neuter |
| έλαιο | élaio | neuter |
The term λάδι is the common, everyday word used for any general oil or specifically for cooking oil. When discussing food or cooking, you should almost always use λάδι.
Which one should you use?
λάδι is the everyday term used for common purposes like cooking, while έλαιο is used in more formal or technical contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both λάδι and έλαιο are neuter nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlaði/
Did you know?
- Greek athletes in the ancient Olympic Games rubbed their bodies with λάδι to protect their skin from the sun and to highlight their muscle definition.
- While λάδι is the standard word for oil today, its ancestor ἐλᾴδιον was actually a diminutive form, meaning it originally referred to a 'small amount of oil'.
- In many Greek households, if someone asks for λάδι, they are almost certainly referring specifically to olive oil, even if they do not use the word 'olive' explicitly.
Examples in context
- Αυτός αγόρασε πολύ αλεύρι και λάδι.He bought a lot of flour and oil.This sentence shows how to use λάδι when talking about purchasing groceries.Tatoeba #3644050 by glavkos, translation #291615 by CK
- Δεν ήξερες ότι το λάδι επιπλέει στο νερό;Didn't you know that oil floats on water?This sentence uses λάδι to describe a physical property of oil in water.Tatoeba #2848385 by glavkos, translation #1127847 by CM
- Το λάδι βγαίνει από ελιές.The oil comes from olives.This sentence uses λάδι to describe the source of the liquid.Tatoeba #11253720 by carlosalberto, translation #11253702 by carlosalberto
- Το ελαιόλαδο είναι ζωτικής σημασίας στην ελληνική κουζίνα.Olive oil is vital in Greek cuisine.
- Πρέπει να προσθέσεις λάδι στο τηγάνι για να μαγειρέψεις τα φαγητά.You need to add oil to the pan to cook the food.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dimitris and Anastasia are in the kitchen preparing a salad.
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΠού είναι το λάδι;Pou einai to ladio;Where is the oil?
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΕίναι πάνω στο τραπέζι.Einai pano sto trapezí.It is on the table.
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΕυχαριστώ, Αναστασία.Efcharistó, Anastasia.Thank you, Anastasia.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΠαρακαλώ, Δημήτρη.Parakaló, Dimitrí.You're welcome, Dimitris.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oil” translations and entries λάδι, έλαιο, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries λάδι, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
