kyrios

Kyrios (Greek: κύριος) is a masculine noun meaning "lord, master, owner" and, in polite usage, "sir." It is the standard ancient Greek term for a person who has authority or ownership, such as the master of a household or the ruler of a city. In classical texts it could denote a master, a guest of honor, or any person of high status, and it was used as a respectful form of address.

Grammatically, κύριος is a second-declension masculine noun. Its singular forms are N: κύριος, G: κυρίου, D: κυρίῳ, Acc: κύριον, Voc: κύριε. Plural forms include N: κύριοι, G: κυρίων, D: κυρίοις, Acc: κύριους, Voc: κύριοι. The article can be used with the term to indicate “the lord” or “the master” in context.

In religious contexts, Kyrios takes on a central significance. In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (the Septuagint), κύριος is used to translate the divine name Adonai. In early Christian writings, Kyrios is the title applied to God and to Jesus Christ, often rendered in English as “the Lord.” The phrase “the Lord Jesus Christ” and similar usages frame Jesus within a divine lordship in both liturgy and theology.

In modern Greek, κύριος remains a common term for “sir” or “Mr.” in everyday speech, while retaining its religious sense when referring to God or Christ. The term continues to function as both a general honorific and a specialized theological title in scholarly and liturgical contexts.