ephebe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / Archaic / LiteraryFormal, Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “ephebe” mean?
A young man in ancient Greece, typically between 18 and 20, undergoing military training and civic education.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A young man in ancient Greece, typically between 18 and 20, undergoing military training and civic education.
A youth, especially one who is physically and aesthetically reminiscent of the idealized young male figure from ancient Greek art and culture; can be used (often self-consciously) in literary or historical contexts to refer to a young man at the cusp of adulthood.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage; the word is equally rare and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, it carries connotations of classical history, male beauty, and an academic/literary register.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, possibly slightly more likely to appear in British academic writing due to classical education traditions, but the difference is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “ephebe” in a Sentence
[Greek article] + ephebean ephebe of (a certain age/city)the ephebe as (a cultural symbol)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ephebe” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The marble statue depicted a flawless ephebe from the classical period.
- His thesis focused on the daily life of the Athenian ephebe.
American English
- The museum's new acquisition is a bronze figure of a running ephebe.
- In the novel, the protagonist is portrayed as a modern-day ephebe, naive and beautiful.
adjective
British English
- The ephebic (derived adjective) ideal was central to Greek sculpture.
- He had an almost ephebic grace about him.
American English
- The artist was known for his ephebic portraits of young men.
- Her study traced the ephebic traditions across different poleis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in classical studies, art history, and historical anthropology to describe the specific social institution of male adolescent training in ancient Greek city-states.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Specific term in classical archaeology and history.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ephebe”
- Incorrect pronunciation (e.g., /ˈiːfiːb/ or /ɛˈfiːbɪ/).
- Using it in modern, non-literary contexts (e.g., 'The ephebe delivered my pizza.').
- Spelling errors: 'efebe', 'epheeb'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized word used almost exclusively in academic, historical, or high-literary contexts.
No, the term is specifically masculine. The related term for a young woman in ancient Greece is 'parthenos' (maiden).
'Ephebe' refers to a specific socio-political and military role in ancient Greek society for males aged 18-20, carrying cultural weight. 'Teenager' is a modern, generic demographic term.
There is no verb. The standard derived adjective is 'ephebic' (e.g., ephebic beauty). The institution or period of training is the 'ephebeia'.
A young man in ancient Greece, typically between 18 and 20, undergoing military training and civic education.
Ephebe is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Ephebe: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɛfiːb/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɛˈfib/ or /ˈɛfib/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'EPHEBE' = 'A-FE-B' (as in 'A FEBrile youth') – a youth in the feverish, energetic prime of life.
Conceptual Metaphor
YOUTH IS A TRAINING PERIOD; THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD IS A RITE OF PASSAGE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'ephebe' be most appropriately used?