ανεμοστρόβιλος
anemostróvilosmasculine
The Greek word for tornado is ανεμοστρόβιλος (anemostróvilos). Wiktionary also lists σίφουνας (sífounas).
Meaning: violent windstorm (noun)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ανεμοστρόβιλος | anemostróvilos | masculine |
| σίφουνας | sífounas | masculine |
Both terms in the Greek language refer to a violent windstorm or a tornado.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ανεμοστρόβιλος is a compound made of άνεμος, meaning wind and στρόβιλος, meaning whirl or vortex.
Which one should you use?
ανεμοστρόβιλος is the standard, more descriptive term for a whirlwind or tornado. In contrast, σίφουνας is often used to describe a funnel-shaped phenomenon, such as a tornado or a waterspout and it can also mean a siphon.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both ανεμοστρόβιλος and σίφουνας are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
anemostróvilos
Did you know?
- The word στρόβιλος is also used in botany to describe a 'cone' or 'strobilus', such as those found on pine trees, because of their spiraling structure.
- The root άνεμος in ανεμοστρόβιλος is the ancestor of the English word 'anemometer', the instrument used to measure wind speed.
- The word σίφουνας is the same word used to describe a 'siphon' in chemistry or plumbing, reflecting the visual similarity between a tornado's funnel and a curved tube.
Examples in context
- Ένας ανεμοστρόβιλος χτύπησε την πόλη χθες.Enas anemostrovilos chtypse tin poli chthes.A tornado hit the city yesterday.
- Ο ανεμοστρόβιλος προκάλεσε μεγάλη ζημιά στον κήπο.O anemostrovilos prokalese megali zhimiá ston kipo.The tornado caused great damage to the garden.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are watching a news report about severe weather.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΚώστα, δες τον ανεμοστρόβιλο στην τηλεόραση!Kosta, des ton anemostrovilo stin tileorasi!Kostas, look at the tornado on the television!
- Κώστας KostasΕίναι πολύ τρομακτικός αυτός ο ανεμοστρόβιλος.Ine poly tromaktikos aftos o anemostrovilos.That tornado is very scary.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΕλπίζω να μην πληγίσει κανέναν.Elpizo na min pligisei kanenan.I hope it doesn't hit anyone.
- Κώστας KostasΕίμαι σίγουρος ότι ο ανεμοστρόβιλος θα περάσει μακριά.Ime sigouros oti o anemostrovilos tha perasi makria.I am sure the tornado will pass far away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tornado” translations and entries ανεμοστρόβιλος, σίφουνας, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ανεμοστρόβιλος, CC BY-SA 4.0.
