αργός
argós/aɾˈɣos/
The Greek word for slow is αργός (argós).
αργός is used to describe something or someone that is not quick in motion. Related Greek terms include the verb αργώ, which means to become slow and επιβραδύνω, which means to delay or keep from going quickly.
Meaning: not quick in motion (adj)
Which one should you use?
While αργός is the most common word for slow in Greek, the term Βραδύς also means slow.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective αργός must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The masculine singular is αργός, the feminine singular is αργή and the neuter singular is αργό. For plurals, use αργοί for masculine, αργές for feminine. If you want to use the word as an adverb meaning 'slowly', use the form αργά.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is argós and the IPA is /aɾˈɣos/.
Did you know?
- The word αργός is the root of the English word 'argon', a noble gas named for being 'lazy' because it does not react with other elements.
- In Greek, the adverb αργά can mean 'slowly' or 'late', meaning the same word is used for both the speed of an action and the time it occurs.
- Greek uses βραδύς for 'slow' in formal or medical contexts, such as βραδυκαρδία for a slow heart rate.
Examples in context
- Ο Τομ είναι πολύ αργός.Tom is very slow.This sentence is useful for describing a person's speed using αργός.Tatoeba #5576689 by Zeus, translation #5576491 by CK
- Ο υπολογιστής που χρησιμοποιείς είναι αργός.The computer you use is slow.This sentence is useful for describing a computer's speed using αργός.Tatoeba #5523224 by Zeus, translation #5497794 by CarpeLanam
- Είναι πολύ αργός.He is too slow.Tatoeba #5536799 by Zeus, translation #5493694 by robmen
- Παρακαλώ, μπορείς να οδηγήσεις πιο αργά;Please, can you drive more slowly?
- Ο ρυθμός της ομιλίας του ήταν πολύ αργός.The pace of his speech was very slow.
- Ήταν λίγο βραδύς στο να αντιληφθεί τι έλεγα.He was a bit slow in realizing what I was saying.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Eleni and Giorgos are walking together to a meeting.
- Ελένη EleniΓιατί είσαι τόσο αργός σήμερα, Γιώργο;Giati eisai toso argos simera, Giorgo?Why are you so slow today, Giorgos?
- Γιώργος GiorgosΔεν νιώθω πολύ καλά.Den niotho poly kala.I don't feel very well.
- Ελένη EleniΠρέπει να βιαστείμε, ο χρόνος τελειώνει.Prepei na viasteime, o chronos teleioni.We have to hurry, time is running out.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΣυγγνώμη, θα προσπαθήσω να γίνω πιο γρήγορος.Sygnomi, tha prospathiso na gino pio grigoros.Sorry, I will try to be faster.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slow” translations and entries αργός, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
