κοριτσι και αγόρι;
What are the roots of the words for boy and girl in Greek? It seems (intuitively) to me that αγόρι is connected with αγορά, as the favourite boys' activity was always roaming in public places. :-) Is that true? And what about the girls, then?
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Okay. According to wiki, my knowledge and a couple of dictionaries and etymology sites:
For αγόρι:
Comes from medieval Greek αγόρι(ν) / αγούριν , from ἄγωρος.
The interesting thing for me is, ἄγωρος comes from the Ancient Greek ἄωρος ἀ- + ὥρα, which has an Indo-European root, that is yōr-ā yēr / yeh₁r-, meaning έτος, εποχή (year in english). Sounds similar to year too, no?
For κορίτσι:
Comes from Medieval Greek κορίτσι(ν), from Ancient Greek κόρη.
Κόρη comes from the Ancient Greek κούρη, that also has an Indo-European root, that is ker-, meaning αυξάνω (increase in english).
That's all from me! ^.^
I believe that κορίτσι is a diminutive of κόρη, which is "girl" or "maiden" or something like that in Ancient Greek.
There aren't many online sources for etymology but one I always check is Wiktionary. These words actualy had etymology on the English Wiktionary but if there isn't one you can try changing the language (especially to the language this word is from).
Thank you very much. Wiktionary is really reliable. I know someone who contributes and he does a great deal of research before he uploads anything. Yes, I will use it. If you like words you should try: wsmith@wordsmith.org it gives a word a day with etymology.
True. I may have been overly impressed by the care my friend took, into thinking all Wiktionary was reliable. Thanks for putting me back on my feet.
The same kind of word can be used for the fruits άγουρος meaning not ripe
Αγώρι according to prof. Babiniotis, due to the ethymological chain: άωρος-άγουρος-αγώρι
