Philotimo a greek word with no translation

«Philotimo», a Greek word with no translation Athens ● Greece ● 13 July 2016    

ANCIENT GREECE HONOUR PHILOTIMO TRANSLATION

«Philotimo», a Greek word with no translation

Philotimo (spelled filotimo, φιλότιμο in Greek) is a noun literally meaning “love of honor”. This word is impossible to be translated in any other language since it is used to describe a combination of virtues.

Those virtues act as a guide of how someone should act in their social behavior but also in their close environment. It mostly has to do with good manners and respect.

This word can somehow describe the Greek soul, a hole nation of hospitable, peaceful people who fought in the past for a better future. All the Greek heroes from Homer’s time till the revolution of 1821 were graced with “philotimo”. The politicians and leaders of this country relied on Greek “philotimo” so to convince the voters that they were the ideal governors.

On the one hand, if someone described you as “aphilotimo” he/she would suggest that you are deprived of “philotimo”, therefore you lucked virtues. This could be a great offence to your face. On the other hand, and especially nowadays if someone is described as very “philotimos” this would mean that he has many virtues but would also suggest that he is doing much more than he is asked to.

For example if you work somewhere and it is time to go home but your colleagues haven’t finished yet their tasks, it takes some “philotimo” to stay with them and help them finish their job instead of leaving at the end of your shift. It also take a lot of “philotimo” to open your home to the refugees who seek some hope in your country, even if you are not a wealthy family. It takes some “philotimo” to take care of your parents till their last days instead of turning your back to them and leaving them to a cold nursing home etc.

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