cephalonia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Geographical
Quick answer
What does “cephalonia” mean?
A Greek island in the Ionian Sea, the largest of the Ionian Islands.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Greek island in the Ionian Sea, the largest of the Ionian Islands.
Can refer to anything associated with or originating from the island (e.g., Cephalonian culture, Cephalonian wine).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Pronunciation may vary slightly.
Connotations
Geographical, historical, touristic. Neutral connotations.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, appearing mainly in geographical, historical, or travel contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cephalonia” in a Sentence
[preposition +] Cephalonia + [verb]Cephalonia + [copula + adjective]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cephalonia” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- They enjoyed the Cephalonian hospitality.
- It was a typical Cephalonian dish.
American English
- They sampled the Cephalonian wine.
- It's a Cephalonian tradition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tourism or wine export contexts (e.g., 'We are expanding our tours to Cephalonia').
Academic
Used in geography, history, archaeology, and classical studies.
Everyday
Used in travel planning and discussions (e.g., 'We're holidaying in Cephalonia this summer').
Technical
Used in geology, seismology (the island is in a seismically active zone).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cephalonia”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cephalonia”
- Misspelling: Cephallonia, Cefalonia, Kephalonia.
- Using it as a common noun without the article 'the' (e.g., 'I visited Cephalonia', correct; 'I visited the Cephalonia', incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Cephalonia' is the traditional English/Latin spelling. 'Kefalonia' is a modern transliteration from the Greek name Κεφαλονιά.
Yes, the derived adjective is 'Cephalonian' (e.g., Cephalonian culture, Cephalonian wine).
It is known for its scenic beauty, Myrtos Beach, Robola wine, and as the setting for 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin'.
In British English, it's /ˌsɛfəˈləʊnɪə/ (sef-uh-LOH-nee-uh). In American English, it's /ˌsɛfəˈloʊniə/ (sef-uh-LOH-nee-uh). The main difference is in the vowel of the stressed syllable ('loh' vs 'loh', with a slightly different 'o' sound).
A Greek island in the Ionian Sea, the largest of the Ionian Islands.
Cephalonia is usually formal/geographical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CEPHAL' sounds like 'SEA-FALL' – a sea falls around this Greek island.
Conceptual Metaphor
ISLAND AS DESTINATION/HOMELAND.
Practice
Quiz
What is Cephalonia?