# Question for Greek linguists

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-greek-linguists/58571>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 19, 2001, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-greek-linguists/58571 "2001-03-19T10:13:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-greek-linguists/58571/1 "2001-03-19T10:13:34Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-greek-linguists/58571/2 "2001-03-19T12:54:08Z")

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Did you mean to use modern Greek or classical Greek? Those are modern Greek words you’ve got there.

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**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-greek-linguists/58571/3 "2001-03-19T15:10:04Z")

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Here’s a great Greek-English dictionary:

[http://www.kypros.org/cgi-bin/lexicon](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?)

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**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-greek-linguists/58571/4 "2001-03-19T15:30:24Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-greek-linguists/58571/5 "2001-03-19T20:07:57Z")

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The fear of young girls is parthenophobia  
The fear of women is gynephobia or gynophobia

[http://www.tesarta.com/www/resources/phobias/phobias.html](http://www.tesarta.com/www/resources/phobias/phobias.html)

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**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-greek-linguists/58571/6 "2001-03-20T06:17:05Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-greek-linguists/58571/7 "2001-03-21T23:54:20Z")

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[C. Montgomery Burns]  
…Excellent…  
[/C. Montgomery Burns]

Thanks, folks!