Greek Family Words: Κουμπάρος, Γαμπρός and Νύφη
Greek vocabulary for relatives and in-laws, words with several meanings like γαμπρός and νύφη, and the important role of godparents (κουμπάροι and νονοί).
Family is central in Greek life, and the vocabulary reflects it, including some words with more than one meaning and a special role for godparents.
Immediate family
- η οικογένεια — family
- οι γονείς — parents
- η μητέρα / η μαμά — mother / mum
- ο πατέρας / ο μπαμπάς — father / dad
- ο αδελφός / ο αδερφός — brother
- η αδελφή / η αδερφή — sister
- τα αδέλφια — siblings
- ο γιος / η κόρη — son / daughter
- το παιδί / τα παιδιά — child / children
- τα δίδυμα — twins
- το μοναχοπαίδι — only child
Extended family
- ο παππούς / η γιαγιά — grandfather / grandmother
- οι παππούδες — grandparents
- ο εγγονός / η εγγονή — grandson / granddaughter
- ο θείος / η θεία — uncle / aunt
- ο ξάδερφος / η ξαδέρφη — cousin (male / female)
- ο ανιψιός / η ανιψιά — nephew / niece
- οι συγγενείς — relatives
Marriage and partners
- ο άντρας — husband, man
- η γυναίκα — wife, woman
- ο σύζυγος — spouse (formal)
- ο φίλος / η φίλη — friend, boyfriend / girlfriend
- ο αρραβωνιαστικός / η αρραβωνιαστικιά — fiancé / fiancée
- ο γάμος — wedding
- παντρεμένος / παντρεμένη — married
- ελεύθερος / ελεύθερη — single
- χωρισμένος / χωρισμένη — separated, divorced
- χήρος / χήρα — widower / widow
In-laws
- ο πεθερός / η πεθερά — father-in-law / mother-in-law
- ο κουνιάδος / η κουνιάδα — brother-in-law / sister-in-law
- ο γαμπρός — son-in-law, brother-in-law (sister's husband), or bridegroom
- η νύφη — daughter-in-law, sister-in-law (brother's wife), or bride
- ο συμπέθερος / η συμπεθέρα — the parent of your child's spouse
Γαμπρός and νύφη have several meanings, and context decides.
Godparents and koumbaroi
Godparents carry great importance in Greek Orthodox culture.
- ο νονός / η νονά — godfather / godmother
- το βαφτιστήρι — godchild
- η βάφτιση — baptism
- ο κουμπάρος / η κουμπάρα — best man / maid of honour who sponsors a wedding (koumbaros and koumbara), who also often becomes a godparent to the couple's children, creating a lifelong bond
A koumbaros is a serious honour, and the relationship is treated almost as family.
Traditions with names
It's traditional for the first son to be named after his paternal grandfather, and the first daughter after her paternal grandmother, though customs vary and are changing.
Talking about your family
- Έχω δύο αδέλφια. — I have two siblings.
- Είμαι μοναχοπαίδι. — I'm an only child.
- Οι γονείς μου μένουν στην Πάτρα. — My parents live in Patras.
- Ο πατέρας μου είναι γιατρός. — My father is a doctor.
- Είμαι παντρεμένος και έχω δύο παιδιά. — I'm married and have two children.
- Η οικογένειά μου είναι μεγάλη. — My family is big.
Family gatherings
- η γιορτή — celebration, name day
- το οικογενειακό τραπέζι — the family meal, often a long Sunday lunch
- τα γενέθλια — birthday
- ο αρραβώνας — engagement
Practice
Draw your family tree in Greek, labelling each relative with their article.
Common mistakes
- Missing that νύφη and γαμπρός have several meanings.
- Forgetting the article and gender of nouns.
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Offline English–Greek dictionary with meanings in proper Greek script
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