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Dikoryfo (Greek: Δικόρυφο, before 1927: Ζωνδήλα, Zondila,[2] between 1927 and 1940: Δίκορφο, Dikorfo)[3] is a small village in the region of Epirus in Greece. The village is located to the north western side of Mount Mitsikeli.[4]

Name

The local form of the placename Tzontila is derived from the Albanian word çotill/ëa, meaning ‘stamp, wooden tool used to churn butter‘.[4] It stems from the Albanian toçill/ë, –a, ‘potter’s wheel’, which evolved through metathesis from Slavic words for whetstone, rendered as točilo in Bulgarian and točilj in Serbian.[5]

The placename was formed as tšotila, earlier çottila.[6] The sound became due to the nasal n in the preceding preposition or article in the expression zn tšotila, later zn džudila.[6] Additionally, the t was assimilated into d to match the preceding voiced consonant of t to d, and the unstressed o narrowed into an u sound.[6] The linguist Kostas Oikonomou stated the toponym’s Albanian origin is also supported by the formation of the demonyms dždilats (masculine), dždilatsa (feminine), which use the Albanian suffix –at(i) to form family and ethnic names.[6]

History

Some inhabitants of Tzontila (modern Zoodochos) in the Kourenta region fled the village and resettled in the Zagori region, where they established the village of Tzontila (modern Dikoryfo).[4] The inhabitants of the village in Zagori refer to Tzontila in Kourenta as Paliotz’dila (Old Tzontila).[4]

Demographics

The village is inhabited by Greeks.[7]

References

  1. ^ “Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού – Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό” [Results of the 2021 Population – Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ Institute for Neohellenic Research. “Name Changes of Settlements in Greece: Zondila Zagoriou – Dikorfo”. Pandektis. Archived from the original on 1 January 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  3. ^ Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government. “Διοικητικές Μεταβολές των Οικισμών: Ζωνδήλα Ζαγορίου – Δίκορφον – Δικόρυφον” [Administrative Changes of Settlements: Zondila Zagoriou – Dikorfo – Dikoryfon]. EETAA (in Greek). Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d Oikonomou 2002, p. 286.
  5. ^ Oikonomou 2002, pp. 286–287.
  6. ^ a b c d Oikonomou, Kostas E. (2002). Τα οικωνύμια του νομού Ιωαννίνων. Γλωσσολογική εξέταση [The oikonyms of the prefecture of Ioannina. A linguistic examination] (PDF) (in Greek). Nomarchiaki Aftodioikisi Ioanninon. p. 287. ISBN 9789608316010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2024.
  7. ^ Kahl, Thede (1999). “Die Zagóri-Dörfer in Nordgriechenland: Wirtschaftliche Einheit – ethnische Vielfalt” [The Zagóri Villages in Northern Greece: Economic Unity – Ethnic Diversity]. Ethnologia Balkanica (in German). 3: 106. Dikóryfo: griechische Zagorisier