"The birth"

Translation: Η γέννα

[Rob183829]

Is there a difference in usage between γέννα and γεννήση?

[troll1995]

Yes. Γέννηση is the birth, whereas γέννα is the delivery, the labor, the birth. So you can say "Η γέννησή του παιδιού ήταν δώρο"=The child's birth was a gift. "Η γέννα ήταν δύσκολη=the delivery/birth was difficult", also "the birth went well and the mother is fine=η γέννα πήγε καλά και η μάνα είναι μια χαρά"

[mizinamo]

Or to put it differently: γέννηση is "birth" from the point of view of the child, and γέννα is "birth" from the point of view of the mother.

[LadyRovina]

So, γέννηση is a process, and γέννα is a result?

[mizinamo]

I think most mothers would consider childbirth very much a process!

[Gillian430222]

How are you supposed to figure that out from looking @ 'the birth'

[Rob183829]

Thanks, once again

[sigita1661sigita]

Why "H γέννα, η γέννηση" is not accepted? Thanks!

[mizinamo]

Because that's a translation for "the birth, the birth" -- but there's only one instance of "the birth" here.

You can answer with η γέννα or with η γέννηση (both are accepted) -- but not both at once. Pick one :)

[Curious_Dore]

And is "birthday" related to those words somehow?

[mizinamo]

"birthday" in Greek is τα γενέθλια -- a plural term like the name of some other feasts such as the Latin "Bacchanalia, Saturnalia".

I believe it's related, but not very closely, as this has the γεν- stem with one nu rather than γενν- with two.