μήτηρ

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

  • From Proto-Hellenic *mā́tēr (compare Mycenaean Greek 𐀔𐀳𐀩 (ma-te-re), Doric μᾱ́τηρ (mā́tēr)), from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr. Cognates include Phrygian ματαρ (matar), Old Armenian մայր (mayr), Latin māter, Old Persian 𐎶𐎠𐎫𐎠 (m-a-t-a /⁠mātā⁠/), Avestan 𐬨𐬁𐬙𐬀𐬭 (mātar), Sanskrit मातृ (mā́tṛ), Old Church Slavonic мати (mati), and Old English mōdor (English mother).

    Pronunciation

     

    Noun

    μήτηρ • (mḗtērf (genitive μητέρος or μητρός); third declension

    1. mother
    2. source or origin

    Declension

    Derived terms

    • μητρο- (mētro-)
    • Μητρόδωρος (Mētródōros)
    • μητρόπολῐς (mētrópolĭs)
    • Δημήτηρ (Dēmḗtēr)
    • μητρομήτωρ or ματρομάτωρ (mētromḗtōr or matromátōr), grandmother from mother's side (literally meaning mother's mother)
    • μητροπάτωρ (mētropátōr), grandfather from mother's side (literally meaning father's mother)

    Descendants

    • Greek: μητέρα (mitéra)

    Further reading