Moon & Month

Moon & Month

Author: Emmanuela Lia January 18, 2026 Duration: 2:14

I’d like to thank the global audience this podcast has developed throughout the years . You have been incredibly loyal and supportive .127 countries have been constantly listening and as impossible as it would be to mention every single city, town, and village, I will be giving a shout out to a new place every week. You can also email me at yourgreeksunday@gmail.com to let me know where you’re listening from. I always love hearing from you! Today a shout out to a new addition to our audience; Akron in Ohio, which was named by general Simon Perkins in 1825  after the Greek word for  ‘edge’ because of its strategic elevated position. Thank you for listening Akron and welcome to the family!

(Piano music)Hello, and welcome to Your Greek Word On A Sunday, a weekly, bite-size podcast for anyone curious on language, etymology and connections. I am your host, Emmanuela Lia and wherever you are in the world, if you want to entertain your brain for a few minutes, this is the podcast for you. Let's Go! 

This Ancient Greek goddess has two names (in this version of her myth anyway) . She was a Titan, the Sun was her brother or her husband depending which Ancient Greek historian you ask and her first name is Σελήνη (Selene) which means ‘the one that shines bright light’ . Her second name, Μήνη (minie) was given to her because people counted time according to her movement. Circling the sky every day on her chariot, led by her half black and half white, winged horses. So you could only see her at night and from different angles. But there was one time when you could see her whole before she started her circles again. For 28 to 30 days. Ancient Greeks named that period Mήνα (mena). Now, this word has an even more ancient root ‘min’, which means that languages like Sanskrit , Persian, Armenian and Greek all share a variation of it. And it meant ‘to count’  In English, the word came from proto Germanic ‘menon’ and Latin ‘mensis’ who borrowed the sound from Ancient Greek. ΜΗΝΗ/MOON and MONTH


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Each week, Emmanuela Lia offers a quiet, thoughtful moment with Your Greek Word On A Sunday. This award-nominated podcast explores the fascinating journey of language, focusing on a single Greek word that has found a home in everyday English. It’s a bite-sized piece of history and connection, released every Sunday. You’ll hear more than just a definition; each episode traces the word’s path from ancient roots to modern usage, revealing how ideas and culture travel and transform across centuries and continents. Emmanuela unpacks the stories embedded within these travelling words, showing how they silently shape our thinking and link us to a distant past. Listening to this podcast feels like uncovering a hidden layer of meaning in the language we use without a second thought. It’s for anyone curious about where words come from, how history echoes in our speech, and the subtle threads that connect different worlds. The gentle, weekly rhythm and focused format make it a perfect companion for a reflective morning or a calm evening, turning a simple etymological exploration into a consistent ritual of discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 335

Your Greek Word On A Sunday
Podcast Episodes
Orchid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33
Hello Pittsburgh! Welcome to the family and thank you for creating the very first emergency medical services in America! Freedom House Ambulance Service was created in 1967 and was staffed entirely by trained black men a…
Odeon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16
And we’re back to greeting our new audiences this time from Pristina in Kosovo! Did you know that 50% of the population of Kosovo's Capital is under 30? Sounds like a vibrant city to me! Thank you for listening Pristina!…
Iota [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37
Taking a break from welcoming cities today because I’d like to remind you to leave us a review on the platform of your choice. It means a lot more than you think, it helps other people find us. If you also like to email…
Spiral [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35
I’m very happy to welcome Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria in our audience ! With a name that means ‘Wisdom’ in Greek and being one of its closest neighbours it’s inexcusable that I’m yet to visit! One thing I’ll be lookin…
Eucalyptus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29
A big welcome to Bangkok today! I’m so happy to have you in our audience. The city has a series of modesty laws including one that states that you should always wear underwear when you’re in a public space. Don’t worry ,…
Halcyon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57
Today, I’d like to welcome Olso in our audience! Oslo has a fantastic first! It was the first city to design a bee highway. A series of rooftops, green spaces and balconies were bees can follow throughout the city and po…
Hippodrome [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38
This week, I’d like to welcome Reno in Nevada. Did you know that from the 1930s, and well into the 50s, Reno was called the divorce capital of the world? Hollywood actors would go there to get a divorce quickly because i…
Callisthenics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27
A big welcome to the small town of Voorburg in the Netherlands! It was fascinating to read about the history of this town. It’s one of the oldest inhabited places in the Netherlands, dating back to the 1st century and it…
Dogma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27
Welcoming one of my favourite cities this week. Vienna! Did you know that there are more dead people occupying the Vienna cemetery than alive people in the city? Ha! Welcome Vienna , thank you for listening! (Piano music…
Stentorian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17
Hello! This week I’m happy to welcome Toronto in our audience! Did you know that in Mohawk language 'Toronto' means ‘the place where trees stand in water’? You do now! Thank you for listening Toronto!(Piano music) Hello,…