IN GREEK
τενεκές
tenekes
tin; metal can; figurative an incompetent person
IN TURKISH
teneke
teneke
tinplate; tin container
WEAR THE WORD
τενεκές in blue ink and teneke in red, on a T shirt, a tote or a mug.
THE RECORD
- LENT BY, BORROWED BY
- Turkish to Greek
- STARTED IN
- Persian
- CATEGORY
- Household
- HOW THE MEANING DRIFTED
- Greek has a strong figurative use insulting someone as worthless; Turkish usually names tinplate or a can.
COMMENTS
An editor reads every comment before it appears.
SOURCES
- Triantafyllidis, Lexiko tis Koinis Neoellinikis, entry τενεκές www.greek-language.gr
- Nişanyan Sözlük, entry teneke www.nisanyansozluk.com
- Nişanyan Sözlük (checked online)
Etymologies are checked against the dictionaries and studies listed. An entry is stamped settled only when both the Greek and the Turkish side have been checked. Research for this ledger was compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editors.
HOW TO CITE THIS ENTRY
Gold, K. (ed.) (2026) ‘τενεκές / teneke’, entry 151, Defter ή Tefteri: a ledger of shared Greek and Turkish words. https://defteritefteri.com/en/w/151-tenekes/. Accessed [day month year].