TWO FALSE FRIENDS IN GREEK AND ENGLISH THAT ARE ANTONYMS

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Greek: εκλεκτικός/eklektikós

someone who is strict in their choices; picky.

English: eclectic

deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.


Greek: εμπάθεια/empáthia

intense negative emotions towards somebody; enmity.

English: empathy

the experience of understanding another person’s condition from their perspective.


I’ve been using both of these words incorrectly, the one in English, the other in Greek (like a true bilingual, yay) and I only found out recently. Who can blame me?!