A Tiny Word with a Colossal Impact
Ancient Greek Word of the Week: Micro
Μικρόν: A Tiny Word with a Colossal Impact
By Eugenia Manolidou, Elliniki Agogi
There are certain words that I call door-openers. One of the most common ones is the word “micro” - in Greek µικρόν (pron.“micrón” meaning small). «Μικρόν» is indeed one of these words that open the door to a world of concepts, innovations, and discoveries. Despite its size, it plays a colossal role in the fields of science, technology, and everyday language.
A really ancient word, “micro” is something that is small in size but significant in impact. Let’s see some of these micro-words:
Microbiology, the study of microbes (from micro + bios - which is the Greek word for “life”), explores the world of tiny organisms or living things. Microchips changed technology, because they allowed for the creation of smaller, more efficient and powerful devices, from computers to smartphones. Micromanage is a type of management with a lot of attention to minor or small details.
But micro also exists in our daily language!
A microphone makes tiny sounds bigger, louder, so our voices or music reach farther. A microcosm shows us a small version of the cosmos and a microwave uses tiny waves to cook our food quickly. All of these are examples of how something small can do big things.
And of course a microscope (from micro + scope - which is the Greek word σκοπέω –ῶ - “examine, inspect, look to or into, consider”) allows us to see and discover very, very small things.
From the microscopic building blocks, to the compact devices that define our modern existence, “micro” is a door-opener to a vast sphere of knowledge and innovation.
Write it out!
Practice ancient Greek with this traceable printout. You can download it below:
Questions:
Can you find more words that start with “micro”?
How do you think “micrón” is pronounced in ancient Greek?
Activity:
Tiny Treasure hunt:
Grab your magnifying glasses and get ready for a Tiny Treasures Hunt! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find some amazing tiny treasures hiding all around you. Look for small rocks, colorful leaves, interesting bugs, or even tiny patterns on objects. Explore your home or backyard like never before and see what tiny wonders you can discover!
Don't forget to mark off each treasure you find on your list... Once you've completed your hunt, share your discoveries with your family or create a special display to showcase your tiny treasures!