ψέμα

Greek

Etymology

Inherited from Mediaeval Byzantine Greek ψέμα (pséma), from Hellenistic Koine Greek ψεῦμα (pseûma)[1] with simplification [vm] > [m]. The expected double [mm] (ψέμμα) has not been written in mediaeval times because the simplification happened after the period when double consonants were pronounced -as in ῥεῦμα (rheûma) > ρέμα (réma).[2] From Ancient Greek ψεῦσμα (pseûsma), a derivative of Ancient Greek ψεύδω (pseúdō) with suffix -μα (-ma).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈpse.ma/
Hyphenation: ψέ‧μα

Noun

ψέμα • (pséma) n (plural ψέματα)

lie
Synonym: αναλήθεια (analítheia)

Declension

declension of ψέμα

case \\ number	singular	plural
nominative	ψέμα •	ψέματα •
genitive	ψέματος •	ψεμάτων •
accusative	ψέμα •	ψέματα •
vocative	ψέμα •	ψέματα •

Derived terms

αθώο ψέμα n (athóo pséma)
κακά τα ψέματα (kaká ta psémata)
λευκό ψέμα n (lefkó pséma, “white lie”)
λέω ψέματα (léo psémata, “I tell lies”)
με τα ψέματα (me ta psémata)
πες το ψέματα (pes to psémata)
στα ψέματα (sta psémata, “pretending”)
χοντρό ψέμα n (chontró pséma, “literally: a 'fat' lie, a big lie”)

Related terms

for stem ψευδο- (psevdo-) see ψεύδομαι (psévdomai, “I lie”)
for stem ψευτο- (psefto-) see ψεύτης m (pséftis, “liar”)

References

ψέμα - Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.
Babiniotis, Georgios (2010), “ψέμα”, in Etymologikó lexikó tis néas ellinikís glóssas [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek] (in Greek), Athens: Lexicology Centre