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ἄλφι. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ἄλφι, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
ἄλφι in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
ἄλφι you have here. The definition of the word
ἄλφι will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
ἄλφι, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Ancient Greek
Etymology
From Proto-Hellenic *álpʰi, possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élbʰi(t) (“barley”),[1] thus the original meaning may have been “barley-flour”; this word may itself be derived from the root *h₂elbʰ- (“white”). Compare Proto-Albanian *albi (“barley”) (whence modern Albanian elb) and Proto-Iranian *arpacyaH (“barley”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ál.pʰi/ → /ˈal.ɸi/ → /ˈal.fi/
Noun
ἄλφῐ • (álphi) n (indeclinable)
- flour, especially barley flour.
Usage notes
Plural: ἄλφιτα (álphita) (Homeric), used in opposition to ἀλείατα (aleíata, “wheat flour”).[2]
This is a frequent word in Attic and Ionic dialects, and opposed to ἄλευρον (áleuron, “wheat flour”).[2]
References
Further reading