paidos

Paidos is a transliteration of the ancient Greek noun παῖς, genitive παιδός, meaning “a child.” In classical Greek, the word appears in various grammatical forms, with the genitive singular παιδός (paidos) commonly rendered as paidos in Latinized transcriptions. The term also occurs in diminutive forms such as παιδίον (paidíon), meaning “little child” or “infant.”

Derived forms and related concepts from paido- include paideia (παιδεία), the broad education and cultural formation of a citizen; paidagogos (παιδαγωγός), originally a tutor or guardian who accompanied boys to school; and a range of compounds built on the root for educational and developmental ideas. In ancient Greek literature, these terms underpin discussions of upbringing, schooling, and moral formation.

Usage today: In English scholarly writing, paidos survives primarily as a historical or linguistic form rather than a common lexical item. In modern Greek, the contemporary terms include pais (παῖς) for “child” in classical contexts, and paidí (παιδί) for “child” in modern usage; paideia remains a key concept associated with education and culture. The paido- root continues to appear in academic vocabulary related to education, philosophy, and childhood.

Other uses: The form Paidós (with an accent) is used as a proper name for publishing imprints in the Spanish-speaking world, drawing on the same Greek root but functioning as a distinct brand identity.