How to Say "Shepherd" in Greek

βοσκός

voskósmasculine

In Greek, the word for shepherd is βοσκός (voskós). Wiktionary also lists τσοπάνης (tsopánis).

Meaning: a person who tends sheep (noun)

Ways to say it

“shepherd” in Greek
Greek	Romanization (Wiktionary)	IPA	Note
βοσκός	voskós		masculine
τσοπάνης	tsopánis	/t͡soˈpa.nis/	masculine

The term refers to a person who tends sheep.

While both words mean shepherd, βοσκός is the standard or more formal term, whereas τσοπάνης is a more colloquial term used in everyday speech.

The plural form of the standard term βοσκός is βοσκόι. The plural form of the colloquial term τσοπάνης is τσοπάνηδες.

voskós

While βοσκός is the standard Greek term, the colloquial τσοπάνης is actually a linguistic traveler from the East. It was borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish word çoban, which itself has roots in Classical Persian.
In Greek folk songs, the shepherd is a recurring archetype often used to symbolize longing, loneliness and the rugged beauty of the mountains.
The Greek word βοσκός shares its root with the verb for 'feeding' or 'grazing', emphasizing the act of nourishing animals over simply guarding them.

Ο βοσκός οδηγεί τα πρόβατα στο λιμπαδί.
O voskós odigí ta próvata sto limpadí.
The shepherd leads the sheep to the pasture.
Ένας μοναχός βοσκός ζει στα βουνά.
Énas monachós voskós zi sta vouná.
A lonely shepherd lives in the mountains.

Anastasia and Kostas are talking about a man they saw in the countryside.

Αναστασία Anastasia

Ποιος ήταν αυτός ο άνδρας στα βουνά;
Pios ítan aftós o ándras sta vouná;
Who was that man in the mountains?
Κώστας Kostas

Ήταν ένας βοσκός που δουλεύει εκεί.
Ítan énas voskós pou doulévi ekí.
He was a shepherd who works there.
Αναστασία Anastasia

Φαινόταν πολύ κουρασμένος.
Fainótan polý kourasménos.
He looked very tired.
Κώστας Kostas

Είναι δύσκολη η δουλειά του.
Íne dýskoli i douliá tou.
His job is difficult.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏