νιάτα

Greek

From Byzantine Greek νεάτα (neáta), from Ancient Greek νεότης (neótēs, “youth”).

νιάτα • (niáta) n pl

youth (the quality or the time of being young)
Να ’χα τα νιάτα σου, θα τα μπορούσα όλα!
Na ’cha ta niáta sou, tha ta boroúsa óla!
If I had your youth, I could do anything!
- 1963, “Φεύγουν Τα Νιάτα [Févgoun Ta Niáta, Youth Is Leaving]”, in Alekos Sakellarios (lyrics), Manos Hadjidakis (music), Χτυποκάρδια στο θρανίο [Chtypokárdia sto thranío, Heartbeats at the Desk], performed by Aliki Vougiouklaki:
  Φεύγουν τα νιάτα,
  Τα νιάτα κι η δροσιά,
  Φεύγουν τα νιάτα μας και χάνονται,
  Και μαζί τους φεύγει η ξεγνοιασιά.
  Févgoun ta niáta,
  Ta niáta ki i drosiá,
  Févgoun ta niáta mas kai chánontai,
  Kai mazí tous févgei i xegnoiasiá.
  Our youth is going,
  Our youth and coolness,
  Our youth is going and vanishing,
  And with it, our carefree times.
(collective) youth, young people (the young as a group)
Τα οργισμένα νιάτα απαιτούσαν δωρεάν παιδεία.
Ta orgisména niáta apaitoúsan doreán paideía.
The angry youths demanded free education.

(antonym(s) of “youth”): γεράματα n pl (gerámata, “old age”), γηρατειά f (girateiá, “old age”), ωριμότητα f (orimótita, “maturity”)
(antonym(s) of “young people”): γερουσία f (gerousía, “old people, the elderly”)