χορτοφάγος
chortofágosfeminine, masculine
The Greek word for vegetarian is χορτοφάγος (chortofágos).
χορτοφάγος is a noun used to describe a person who does not eat any animal flesh. If you need to describe something relating to a vegetarian diet, use the adjective χορτοφαγικός.
Meaning: person who does not eat any animal flesh (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word χορτοφάγος is a compound of χορτο-, meaning grass or vegetable and -φάγος, meaning eater.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form χορτοφάγος is the masculine noun. It is used to refer to a male vegetarian or when referring to vegetarians in general. The word can also be used in its feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
chortofágos
Did you know?
- Because of the Greek Orthodox fasting tradition called fasting or νηστεία, many Greeks eat a vegetarian diet for nearly half the year without calling themselves a χορτοφάγος.
- While χορτοφάγος is the technical term, Greeks often use the loanword βεγετάριος in casual conversation and on restaurant menus.
- The suffix -φάγος in χορτοφάγος is the same one found in the English word 'phagocyte', a cell that 'eats' bacteria.
Examples in context
- Ο Τομ είναι χορτοφάγος.Tom is a vegetarian.This sentence is useful for identifying someone's diet using χορτοφάγος.Tatoeba #5593549 by Zeus, translation #2272886 by CK
- Τρως κρέας ή είσαι χορτοφάγος;Do you eat meat or are you a vegetarian?This sentence is useful for asking someone about their food preferences using χορτοφάγος.Tatoeba #2404515 by mululatv, translation #681446 by Source_VOA
- Είναι χορτοφάγος. Δεν ξέρει τι χάνει.He's a vegetarian. He doesn't know what he's missing.This sentence is useful for stating someone's status as a χορτοφάγος.Tatoeba #5521976 by Zeus, translation #5521810 by mailohilohi
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria and Nikos are looking at a restaurant menu.
- Μαρία MariaΘέλω κάτι χωρίς κρέας, είμαι χορτοφάγος.Thélo káti chórís kréas, eímai chortofágos.I want something without meat, I am a vegetarian.
- Νίκος NikosΚοίτα, εδώ έχουν πολλές επιλογές για τον χορτοφάγο.Koíta, edó echoun pollés epilogés gia ton chortofágo.Look, they have many options for the vegetarian here.
- Μαρία MariaΑυτή η σαλάτα φαίνεται υπέροχη.Aftí i saláta fáinetai ypérochi.This salad looks wonderful.
- Νίκος NikosΣυμφωνώ, θα την παραγγείλουμε.Symfonó, tha tin parangeíloume.I agree, we will order it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vegetarian” translations and entries χορτοφάγος, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
