Figures of speech
Metaphor, metonymy, hyperbole, litotes: the machinery that makes words say more than they say — essential for reading press and literature.
Metaphor and simile
The simile keeps its σαν: Κοιμάται σαν πουλάκι. The metaphor drops it: Είναι θησαυρός αυτό το παιδί. Everyday Greek is saturated with dead metaphors: πόδι του τραπεζιού (table leg), καρδιά του προβλήματος, ρίζα του κακού.
- Κοιμάται σαν πουλάκι.He sleeps like a little bird.
- Είναι θησαυρός αυτό το παιδί.That child is a treasure.
- το πόδι του τραπεζιούthe leg of the table
Metonymy and hyperbole
Metonymy — container for content: Ήπια ένα ποτήρι (I drank a glass), Διάβασα όλον τον Καζαντζάκη (author for work), Η Αθήνα αποφάσισε (city for government). Hyperbole — conventional exaggeration: Πεθαίνω της πείνας, Σε περίμενα αιώνες, Στο είπα χίλιες φορές.
- Ήπια ένα ποτήρι.I drank a glass.
- Διάβασα όλον τον Καζαντζάκη.I’ve read all of Kazantzakis.
- Πεθαίνω της πείνας.I’m starving.
- Στο είπα χίλιες φορές!I’ve told you a thousand times!
Litotes, irony, personification
Litotes — saying less to mean more: Όχι κι άσχημα (not bad at all), Δεν είναι και λίγο (that’s a lot!). Irony — the opposite of what you think: Ωραία τα κατάφερες! (well done… not). Personification: Η πόλη ξυπνάει, τα κύματα χορεύουν. All three live on intonation as much as on words.
- Όχι κι άσχημα!Not bad at all!
- Ωραία τα κατάφερες!Nice job you did there!
- Η πόλη ξυπνάει.The city wakes up.
Your turn
Choose the correct form.
Често задавани въпроси
What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor in Greek?
The simile keeps «σαν»: «Κοιμάται σαν πουλάκι» (he sleeps like a little bird). The metaphor drops it: «Είναι θησαυρός αυτό το παιδί» (that child is a treasure). Everyday Greek is saturated with dead metaphors: «το πόδι του τραπεζιού» (the table leg).
What does «Διάβασα όλον τον Καζαντζάκη» mean?
“I have read all of Kazantzakis” — a metonymy, the author standing for his works. The same device gives «Ήπια ένα ποτήρι» (container for content) and «Η Αθήνα αποφάσισε» (the city for the government).
What is litotes, and how does Greek use it?
It is saying less to mean more: «Όχι κι άσχημα!» (not bad at all = pretty good), «Δεν είναι και λίγο» (that is no small thing = it is a lot). It rests as much on intonation as on the words.