ΛΟΓΟΣ IN SCIENCE
Λόγος is the Greek word that is most often used in English as a component of compound words. “Ο λόγος” means the verbal expression, the speech, and the reason as well. In ancient Greek it additionally meant the logic, the rational thinking, implying the direct connection between talking, reasoning, and rational thinking in ancient Greek society. Consequently, the suffix -λογία, -logy, which occurs in English words, means “the science”.
Η αρχαιο+λογία, archaeology, is the science that studies the antiquity, η μικροβιολογία, microbio+logy, is the science that studies the microbes, viruses. Gerontology is the medicine field which studies people of old age, ecclesiology is the study of the different Churches, etc. These are only a few of the English words that end in -logy.
The first compound of these words is also a Greek word. If you know the meaning of the words below, which you most probably do, then you know more Greek words than you think.
- -logy: The suffix -logy indicates the science, the study of, the theory.
Examples: archaeology, astrology, bacteriology, cosmology, climatology, dermatology, ecology, ecclesiology, ethnology, geology, gerontology, graphology, gynecology, hematology, meteorology, methodology, microbiology, musicology, morphology, neurology, seismology, speleology, technology, theology, typology, zoology.
- -logist. The suffix -logist indicates the specialist engaged in the study of something. Just add this ending instead of -logy in the above words and you name him: archaeologist, geologist, anthropologist etc.
WORD CLUSTERS
English word Greek word Pronunciation
Anthropology η ανθρωπολογία EE anthropoloYEEa
Anthropologist ο ανθρωπολόγος O anthropoLOyos
Human, man ο άνθρωπος O Anthropos
Archaeo+logy η αρχαιολογία EE arheoloYEEa
Archaeologist ο αρχαιολόγος O arheoLOyos
Ancient o αρχαίος, -α, -ο O arHEos, -a, -o
Antiquities τα αρχαία TA arHEa
Astro+logy η αστρο+λογία EE astroloYEEa
Astrologist ο αστρο+λόγος O astroLOyos
The star το άστρο, το αστέρι TO Astro, TO aSTEri
The stars τα άστρα, τα αστέρια TA Astra, TA aSTEria
Bacterio+logy η βακτηριο+λογία EE vaktirioloYEEa
Bacteriologist ο βακτηριο+λόγος O vaktirioLOyos
Bacterium το βακτήριο, -α TO vakTEErio, -a
Climatology η κλιματολογία EE klimatoloYEEa
Climatologist ο κλιματολόγος O klimatoLOyos
Climate το κλίμα TO KLEEma
Meteoro+logy η μετεωρο+λογία EE meteoroloYEEa
Meteorologist ο μετεωρο+λόγος O meteoroLOyos
Meteor ο μετεωρίτης O meteoREEtis
Dermato+logy η δερματο+λογία EE dermatoloYEEa
Dermatologist ο δερματο+λόγος O dermatoLOyos
Skin το δέρμα TO DErma
Geo+logy η γεω+λογία EE yeoloYEEa
Geologist ο γεω+λόγος O yeoLOyos
The earth η γη EE YEE
Do you realize now, how many more Greek words you already know?
EXERCISE
Can you translate into English these sentences using the vocabulary above?
The word μελετάει means he/she/it studies.
- Το λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ.
- Η ανθρωπολογία μελετάει τον άνθρωπο.
- Ο Γιώργος είναι καλός* άνθρωπος.
- Η Μαρία είναι καλός* άνθρωπος.
- Η αρχαιολογία μελετάει τα αρχαία.
- Η Ελλάδα έχει αρχαία.
- Η Σπάρτη είναι αρχαία πόλη.
- Ο αρχαιολόγος βρίσκει αρχαία.
- Η γεωλογία μελετάει τη γη.
- Η αστρολογία μελετάει τα αστέρια.
- Ο αστρολόγος μελετάει τα αστέρια.
- Ο ουρανός έχει αστέρια.
- Ο ουρανός έχει μετεωρίτες.
- Ο μετεωρολόγος μελετάει τον καιρό.
- Η κλιματολογία μελετάει το κλίμα.
- Το κλίμα της Ελλάδας είναι καλό.
- Η Ελλάδα έχει καλό κλίμα.
- Ο δερματολόγος μελετάει τα μικρόβια και τα βακτήρια στο δέρμα.
καλός, καλή, καλό (kaLOS, -EE, kaLO) = good
βρίσκει (VREEski) = he/she/it finds
ουρανός (uraNOS) = the sky
τον καιρό (TON keRO) = the weather
PRONUNCIATION KEY
i (idiom), ee (bee), e (energy), o (organism), oo (boot), y (yes), h (helium), th (theory), d (the). The capitalized syllables are accented.
The post Our Everyday Greek: Greek you Already Know from English Words Ending in -logy appeared first on The National Herald.