A look at some Greek online dictionaries gives two words that are both translated as “girl”: koritsi and kopela. What, if any, is the difference between the two? Also, what would be the correct combining form (i.e.: would a shy kid who’s afraid of girls be a koristiphobe or a kopelaphobe, or something else)? Thanks.
Did you mean to use modern Greek or classical Greek? Those are modern Greek words you’ve got there.
Here’s a great Greek-English dictionary:
http://www.kypros.org/cgi-bin/lexicon
Use that link, then type your Greek words into the left-hand window. You can use Roman letters if you need to.
The results will be:
“Koritsi” = girl, burd (?), wench, twirl (the verb?)
“Kopela” = lass (a term of direct address?)
The Classical Greek word for girl is korê. If you want to coin a scientific-sounding word for use in English, Modern Greek won’t do. I recommend you go to the library and look in the unabridged Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon. They might even have the compound you’re looking for. Or at least show examples of how the word korê forms compounds.
The fear of young girls is parthenophobia
The fear of women is gynephobia or gynophobia
My Oxford Greek-English Dictionary defines koritsi as “girl, maid, (infm) puss, chick, girlfriend”, while it defines kopela as simply “girl”. My college textbook, OTOH, says koritsi is “young girl” while kopela is “young woman, girl”. So it seems koritsi has more of a slangy, condescending feel to it than kopela.
I believe Jomo Mojo and bibliophage have a better grip on the word-formation aspect.
[C. Montgomery Burns]
…Excellent…
[/C. Montgomery Burns]
Thanks, folks!