Lefkosia

English

Etymology

From Greek Λευκωσία (Lefkosía), from a variant of Byzantine Greek Λευκουσία (Leukousía), equivalent to λευκός (leukós, “white”) or λεύκη (leúkē, “poplar”) + οὐσία (ousía, “property, estate”), but deriving from various Ancient Greek forms including Λευτεῶν (Leuteôn), Λευκοθέον (Leukothéon), and Λευκούπολις (Leukoúpolis) adapting an early or pre-Greek name variously recorded as Λέδραι (Lédrai), Λῆδρον (Lêdron), Λεδρῶν (Ledrôn), Λήδρα (Lḗdra), etc. Doublet of Nicosia.

Proper noun

Lefkosia

1. (sometimes offensive or proscribed) Synonym of Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus.

Usage notes

As this form of the name is a direct transcription of the Greek form of the name rather than the Turkish, it may be taken as implying agreement with the Greek side in the modern Cypriot dispute. Note also that Cypriot Greek often uses /ʃ/ for /s/, making the local form of the endonym sound closer to the Turkish Lefkoşa.

Derived terms

• Lefkosian

Spanish

Etymology

From Greek Λευκωσία (Lefkosía), from a variant of Byzantine Greek Λευκουσία (Leukousía), deriving from various Ancient Greek forms adapting an early or pre-Greek name recorded under numerous variations of Λήδρα (Lḗdra).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lefˈkosja/ [lefˈko.sja]
• Rhymes: -osja
• Syllabification: Lef‧ko‧sia

Proper noun

Lefkosia f

1. Lefkosia (the capital city of Cyprus; capital city of Northern Cyprus)