paidion

Paidion is a Greek noun meaning “little child” or “infant.” It is a diminutive form derived from pais, the general word for child, with the diminutive suffix -ion, a combination that conveys smallness or affection. The term appears in classical Greek as well as in Koine Greek, and it continues to surface in scholarly discussions of ancient texts.

In Greek literature, paidion is used to denote a young child or infant and is typically employed with an affectionate or tender nuance. In religious and early Christian writings, the word occurs in reference to infants or very young children and is commonly translated into English as “babe” or “little child,” depending on context. Because of its diminutive sense, paidion often appears in passages emphasizing vulnerability, care, or innocence.

Grammar and usage notes indicate that paidion is typically encountered as a neuter singular noun. It appears with the standard definite article in Greek text and, like many ancient nouns, has a range of contextual translations in English that reflect age and tenderness rather than a precise age.

Modern Greek usage tends to favor παῖδί (paidi) for “child” in everyday speech, with paidion surviving mainly in archaic, liturgical, or scholarly contexts. In discussions of Greek etymology or Bible translation, paidion remains a recognized term that highlights the language’s diminutive forms and their nuance.

See also: Pais (Greek), Paidía (children).