How Do You Spell KATHAREVUSA?

Pronunciation: [kˈaθe͡əvjˌuːsə] (IPA)

Katharevusa is a Greek word that refers to a form of the Greek language used for official purposes during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is spelled /kathaˈrevusa/ in IPA phonetic transcription, with the emphasis on the second syllable. The word is a combination of two Greek words: katharos, meaning "pure," and evreosis, meaning "language." Katharevusa was based on Ancient Greek and aimed to purify and standardize the modern Greek language. However, it was eventually replaced by Demotic Greek, which is the language spoken in Greece today.

KATHAREVUSA Meaning and Definition

  1. Katharevusa is a term that refers to a form of the Greek language, which emerged in the 19th century and gained prominence during the early to mid-20th century. It was an attempt to revive and purify the Greek language, taking inspiration from classical Greek while incorporating elements of spoken demotic Greek. The word "katharevusa" itself translates to "purist" or "purified."

    Katharevusa was characterized by its adherence to grammatical rules and morphological features of classical Greek, as well as its avoidance of loanwords and foreign influences. Its proponents believed that the language had declined over the centuries and sought to elevate it by returning to the linguistic norms of ancient Greece. As a result, katharevusa maintained a more archaic and formal style compared to the contemporary spoken Greek, known as demotic Greek, which evolved naturally over time.

    Katharevusa was widely used in formal and official settings, including academia, literature, law, and government communication. It played a significant role in shaping modern Greek literature and intellectual discourse in the early 20th century. However, it also faced criticism as being artificial and too restrictive, leading to difficulties in communication between speakers of katharevusa and demotic Greek.

    As the 20th century progressed, katharevusa gradually lost its prominence and influence, giving way to demotic Greek as the standard form of the language. Today, katharevusa is considered archaic and is mainly encountered in older texts or formal contexts.

Common Misspellings for KATHAREVUSA

  • jatharevusa
  • matharevusa
  • latharevusa
  • oatharevusa
  • iatharevusa
  • kztharevusa
  • kstharevusa
  • kwtharevusa
  • kqtharevusa
  • karharevusa
  • kafharevusa
  • kagharevusa
  • kayharevusa
  • ka6harevusa
  • ka5harevusa
  • katgarevusa
  • katbarevusa
  • katnarevusa
  • katjarevusa

Etymology of KATHAREVUSA

The word katharevusa is derived from the Greek language. It comes from the combination of two Greek words: katharos meaning pure and evusa meaning language or dialect. Therefore, katharevusa can be translated as pure language or pure dialect.

Similar spelling words for KATHAREVUSA

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