υπόκοσμος
ypókosmosmasculine
The English phrase 'underworld' is translated into Greek as υπόκοσμος (ypókosmos).
υπόκοσμος is a masculine noun used to describe two different things: the criminal underworld, consisting of people engaged in crime or vice and the mythological underworld, which is the realm of the dead.
Meaning: part of society engaged in crime or vice (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the prefix υπό, meaning 'under' and κόσμος, meaning 'world' or 'universe'.
How do you pronounce it?
ypókosmos
Did you know?
- The word κόσμος inside υπόκοσμος originally meant 'order' or 'ornament' rather than 'world'. This is why the Greek word for 'cosmetics' shares the same root.
- In modern Greek, κόσμος is often used to mean 'people' or 'the crowd' instead of the physical planet.
- While υπόκοσμος is a direct translation of 'underworld', Greeks traditionally used the word Άδης to refer to the mythological realm of the dead.
Examples in context
- Ο άνθρωπος αυτός ζει στον υπόκοσμο.This man lives in the underworld.
- Οι μυστικοί δεσμοί μεταξύ των εγκληματιών ενισχύουν τον παράνομο κόσμο.The secret ties among criminals strengthen the underworld.
- Ο ποιητής περιγράφει τον Άδη ως ένα σκοτεινό και μυστηριώδες μέρος.The poet describes the underworld as a dark and mysterious place.
- Ο υπόκοσμος είναι πολύ επικίνδυνος.O ypókosmos eínai polý epikýndynos.The underworld is very dangerous.
- Πολλά μυστικά κρύβει ο υπόκοσμος.Pollá mystiká krívei o ypókosmos.The underworld hides many secrets.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a crime documentary they just watched.
- Ελένη EleniΕίδα ένα ντοκιμαντέρ για τον υπόκοσμο.Eída éna dokimantér gia ton ypókosmo.I saw a documentary about the underworld.
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΉταν τρομακτικό το περιεχόμενό του;Ítan tromaktikó to periechoménó tou?Was its content scary?
- Ελένη EleniΝαι, έδειξε πώς λειτουργεί ο υπόκοσμος.Ne, édeixe pós leitourgí ei o ypókosmos.Yes, it showed how the underworld operates.
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΠραγματικά είναι ένας σκοτεινός κόσμος.Pragmatiká eínai énas skoteinós kósmos.It really is a dark world.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “underworld” translations and entries υπόκοσμος, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
