αληθινός
alithinós
The English word 'true' is translated into Greek as αληθινός (alithinós).
The adjective αληθινός is used to describe something that is true or real in the sense of being genuine or authentic.
Meaning: concurring with a given set of facts (adj)
Which one should you use?
While αληθινός means 'true' or 'real' regarding something genuine, it is distinct from the word used to indicate that a statement is 'factually true' or 'correct', which is αληθής.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. While αληθινός is the masculine form, the feminine form is αληθινή and the neuter form is αληθινές.
How do you pronounce it?
alithinós
Did you know?
- The word αληθινός is built from the root αληθ-, which historically combines a prefix meaning 'not' and a root meaning 'forget'. To tell the 'true' thing was originally to 'not forget' the facts.
- The Ancient Greek ancestor of this word, ἀληθής, was used to describe things that are 'unconcealed'.
- In modern Greek, using αληθινός to describe a person often carries a poetic or literary weight, implying a sense of soulful authenticity.
Examples in context
- Ένας αληθινός φίλος δεν θα με ξεχνούσε ποτέ.A true friend would never forget me.This sentence shows how to use αληθινός to describe a friend.Tatoeba #11573441 by carlosalberto, translation #11573413 by carlosalberto
- Η θέση που ανέφερες είναι σωστή.The statement you mentioned is true.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “true” translations and entries αληθινός, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
