αδελφή
adelfí/a.ðelˈfi/feminine
The Greek word for sister is αδελφή (adelfí). It is also spelled αδερφή (aderfí).
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| αδελφή | adelfí | /a.ðelˈfi/ | feminine |
| αδερφή | aderfí | feminine, alternative form |
The term refers to a woman or girl who shares the same parents.
Which one should you use?
αδελφή is the standard spelling, whereas αδερφή is an alternative spelling used frequently in everyday speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to more than one sister, use the plural form αδελφές.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /a.ðelˈfi/.
Did you know?
- The word αδελφή is literally built from the Greek words for 'same' and 'womb', describing a sister as someone from the same womb.
- In Greek culture, calling a woman αδελφή in a non-familial setting can be a way to establish a boundary of platonic respect and protect modesty.
- While English uses 'sibling' for any gender, Greek traditionally uses the masculine αδελφός to refer to a group of brothers and sisters together.
Examples in context
- Είμαι η αδερφή σου.I'm your sister.This sentence shows how to use αδερφή to state a relationship.Tatoeba #2631916 by Zeus, translation #1979740 by CM
- Μιλάω στην αδερφή μου.I am talking to my sister.This sentence demonstrates using αδερφή when speaking to a sister.Tatoeba #4374722 by Tensai, translation #1661096 by Amastan
- Είναι η αδερφή του Τομ.She's Tom's sister.This sentence uses αδερφή to identify someone else's sister.Tatoeba #5529836 by Zeus, translation #311826 by CK
- Η αδελφή μου είναι πολύ γενναιόδωρη.My sister is very generous.
- Πήγα στον γάμο με την αδελφή μου.I went to the wedding with my sister.
- 47 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giorgos and Anastasia are looking at a family photo.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΠοια είναι αυτή η κοπέλα;Poia einai afti i kopela?Who is this girl?
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΕίναι η μικρή μου αδελφή.Einai i mikri mou adelfi.She is my little sister.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΜοιάζετε πολύ μεταξύ σας.Moiazeta poly metaxy sas.You look very much alike.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΝαι, η αδελφή μου είναι όπως εγώ.Nai, i adelfi mou einai opos ego.Yes, my sister is just like me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sister” translations and entries αδελφή, αδερφή, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries αδελφή, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
