Learn How to Pronounce Kos | YouPronounce.it

How to Pronounce Kos

Quick Answer: In Greek, the name Kos is pronounced [kos].
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)

Meaning and Context

Kos is a major Greek island in the southeastern Aegean Sea, forming part of the Dodecanese archipelago near the coast of Turkey. Renowned as the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, its rich historical tapestry is most famously exemplified by the Asklepion, an ancient healing temple and one of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece. The island seamlessly blends this profound history with a vibrant tourism infrastructure, offering visitors long, sandy beaches like Tigaki and Marmari, a lively Kos Town with a medieval Knights of St. John castle, and a fertile landscape ideal for cycling. As a key Dodecanese island, it is well-connected by ferry to Rhodes and Bodrum, and via its international Kos Airport, making it a premier destination for those seeking a combination of cultural tourism, beach holidays, and Greek island exploration.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct spelling is "Kos." A common alternate spelling is "Cos," which is the Italianate and historically used Latin transliteration of the Greek name (Κως). This variant is frequently encountered in historical texts and the scientific name for the island's famous lettuce, the "Cos lettuce." Common misspellings and typos include "Koss," with an unnecessary double 's', and "Koš," which incorrectly adds a háček diacritic from Slavic languages. In online searches, users may also mistakenly type "Kos Greece" as a single word ("Kosgreece") or confuse it with similar-sounding terms, though the name itself is short and phonetically straightforward.

Example Sentences

After a morning exploring the ancient columns of the Asklepion, we spent the afternoon relaxing on the golden sands of Paradise Beach in Kos.

Many tourists choose to rent bicycles to traverse the flat terrain of Kos, pedaling from the bustling harbor to serene seaside tavernas.

The medieval castle in Kos Town, built by the Knights of St.

John, offers panoramic views of the turquoise Aegean Sea.

Direct flights to Kos Airport make the island an accessible gateway for exploring the wider Dodecanese chain.

A popular day trip involves taking a short ferry ride from Kos to the volcanic island of Nisyros to walk inside its active crater.

Related Pronunciations

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