lambda

See also: Lambda, Λ, and λ

English

Ancient Greek alphabet

← kappa		→ mu
Λ λ Ancient Greek: λάμβδα
Wikipedia article on lambda

Etymology

From Ancient Greek λάμβδα (lámbda). Doublet of lamed.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈlæm.də/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

lambda (plural lambdas)

1. The eleventh letter of the Classical and Modern Greek alphabet, the twelfth of the Old Greek alphabet.
2. (physics, mathematics) Unit representation of wavelength.(Can we add an example for this sense?)
3. (physics) The cosmological constant.
4. (physics) Ellipsis of lambda baryon.
5. (programming) Ellipsis of lambda expression.
6. (programming) Ellipsis of lambda function.
7. (anatomy) The junction of the lambdoid and sagittal sutures of the cranium.
8. (finance) The percentage change in an option value divided by the percentage change in the underlying asset's price.

Synonyms

• (measure of derivative price sensitivity): elasticity, omega

Hypernyms

• (measure of derivative price sensitivity): Greeks (includes list of coordinate terms)

Derived terms

• antilambda
• Goodman and Kruskal's lambda
• kilolambda
• lambda abstraction
• lambda calculus
• lambdacism
• lambda expression
• lambda function
• lambda hyperon
• lambda leak
• lambda moth
• lambda particle
• lambda point
• lambda probe
• lambda term
• lambdoid
• lamda
• Tukey lambda distribution

Related terms

• lambdacism

Translations

name of the Greek letter

• Arabic: لَامْدَا f (lāmdā)
• Armenian: լամբդա (lambda)
• Asturian: lambda (ast)
• Catalan: lambda (ca) f
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 拉姆達 / 拉姆达 (lāmǔdá),, 蘭布達 / 兰布达 (lánbùdá), 蘭姆打 / 兰姆打 (zh) (lánmǔdǎ)

• Czech: lambda
• Dutch: lambda (nl) m or f, labda m or f
• Esperanto: lambdo (eo)
• Finnish: lambda (fi)
• French: lambda (fr) m
• Georgian: ლამბდა (lambda)
• German: Lambda (de) n
• Greek: λάμδα (el) n (lámda), λάμβδα (el) n (lámvda)

  Ancient Greek: λάμβδα n (lámbda), λάβδα n (lábda)

• Hebrew: לַמְדָּא f (lámda)
• Hungarian: lambda (hu)
• Interlingua: lambda
• Italian: lambda (it)
• Japanese: ラムダ (ja) (ramuda)
• Korean: 람다 (ko) (ramda)
• Macedonian: ламбда f (lambda)
• Malay: lambda
• Māori: rāmana
• Marathi: लाम्बडा n (lāmbaḍā)
• Persian: لاندا (lândâ)
• Polish: lambda (pl) f
• Portuguese: lambda (pt) m
• Russian: ля́мбда (ru) f (ljámbda), ла́мбда f (lámbda)
• Spanish: lambda (es) f
• Swedish: lambda (sv) n
• Tagalog: lamda
• Telugu: లామ్డా (lāmḍā)
• Thai: แลมบ์ดา (lɛɛm-dâa)

See also

• (Greek-script letter names) alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, eta, theta, iota, kappa, lambda, mu, nu, xi, omicron, pi, rho, sigma, tau, upsilon, phi, chi, psi, omega

Catalan

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˈlam.də]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈlam.da]

Noun

lambda f (plural lambdes)

1. lambda; the Greek letter Λ (lowercase λ)

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈlambda]

Noun

lambda n or f

1. lambda (Greek letter)

Declension

when feminine:

Declension of lambda (hard feminine)

	singular	plural
nominative	lambda	lambdy
genitive	lambdy	lambd
dative	lambdě	lambdám
accusative	lambdu	lambdy
vocative	lambdo	lambdy
locative	lambdě	lambdách
instrumental	lambdou	lambdami

Indeclinable when neuter.

Dutch

Etymology

From Ancient Greek λάμβδα (lámbda). Doublet of lamed.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

lambda f (plural lambda's, diminutive lambdaatje n)

1. lambda (letter of the Greek alphabet)

Derived terms

• lambda-expressie
• lambdacalculus

Further reading

• lambda on the Dutch Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^nl

Finnish

Etymology

< Ancient Greek λάμβδα (lámbda)

Greek letter

Λλ	Previous:	kappa
	Next:	myy

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɑmbdɑ/, [ˈlɑ̝mbdɑ̝]
• IPA^(key): /ˈlɑmdɑ/, [ˈlɑ̝mdɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -ɑmbdɑ
• Syllabification^(key): lamb‧da
• Hyphenation^(key): lamb‧da

Noun

lambda

1. lambda (Greek letter)

Declension

Inflection of lambda (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)
nominative		lambda	lambdat
genitive		lambdan	lambdojen
partitive		lambdaa	lambdoja
illative		lambdaan	lambdoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		lambda	lambdat
accusative	nom.	lambda	lambdat
	gen.	lambdan
genitive		lambdan	lambdojen lambdain rare
partitive		lambdaa	lambdoja
inessive		lambdassa	lambdoissa
elative		lambdasta	lambdoista
illative		lambdaan	lambdoihin
adessive		lambdalla	lambdoilla
ablative		lambdalta	lambdoilta
allative		lambdalle	lambdoille
essive		lambdana	lambdoina
translative		lambdaksi	lambdoiksi
abessive		lambdatta	lambdoitta
instructive		—	lambdoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of lambda (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative lambdani lambdani accusative nom. lambdani lambdani gen. lambdani genitive lambdani lambdojeni lambdaini rare partitive lambdaani lambdojani inessive lambdassani lambdoissani elative lambdastani lambdoistani illative lambdaani lambdoihini adessive lambdallani lambdoillani ablative lambdaltani lambdoiltani allative lambdalleni lambdoilleni essive lambdanani lambdoinani translative lambdakseni lambdoikseni abessive lambdattani lambdoittani instructive — — comitative — lambdoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative lambdasi lambdasi accusative nom. lambdasi lambdasi gen. lambdasi genitive lambdasi lambdojesi lambdaisi rare partitive lambdaasi lambdojasi inessive lambdassasi lambdoissasi elative lambdastasi lambdoistasi illative lambdaasi lambdoihisi adessive lambdallasi lambdoillasi ablative lambdaltasi lambdoiltasi allative lambdallesi lambdoillesi essive lambdanasi lambdoinasi translative lambdaksesi lambdoiksesi abessive lambdattasi lambdoittasi instructive — — comitative — lambdoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative lambdamme lambdamme accusative nom. lambdamme lambdamme gen. lambdamme genitive lambdamme lambdojemme lambdaimme rare partitive lambdaamme lambdojamme inessive lambdassamme lambdoissamme elative lambdastamme lambdoistamme illative lambdaamme lambdoihimme adessive lambdallamme lambdoillamme ablative lambdaltamme lambdoiltamme allative lambdallemme lambdoillemme essive lambdanamme lambdoinamme translative lambdaksemme lambdoiksemme abessive lambdattamme lambdoittamme instructive — — comitative — lambdoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative lambdanne lambdanne accusative nom. lambdanne lambdanne gen. lambdanne genitive lambdanne lambdojenne lambdainne rare partitive lambdaanne lambdojanne inessive lambdassanne lambdoissanne elative lambdastanne lambdoistanne illative lambdaanne lambdoihinne adessive lambdallanne lambdoillanne ablative lambdaltanne lambdoiltanne allative lambdallenne lambdoillenne essive lambdananne lambdoinanne translative lambdaksenne lambdoiksenne abessive lambdattanne lambdoittanne instructive — — comitative — lambdoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative lambdansa lambdansa accusative nom. lambdansa lambdansa gen. lambdansa genitive lambdansa lambdojensa lambdainsa rare partitive lambdaansa lambdojaan lambdojansa inessive lambdassaan lambdassansa lambdoissaan lambdoissansa elative lambdastaan lambdastansa lambdoistaan lambdoistansa illative lambdaansa lambdoihinsa adessive lambdallaan lambdallansa lambdoillaan lambdoillansa ablative lambdaltaan lambdaltansa lambdoiltaan lambdoiltansa allative lambdalleen lambdallensa lambdoilleen lambdoillensa essive lambdanaan lambdanansa lambdoinaan lambdoinansa translative lambdakseen lambdaksensa lambdoikseen lambdoiksensa abessive lambdattaan lambdattansa lambdoittaan lambdoittansa instructive — — comitative — lambdoineen lambdoinensa

Derived terms

compounds

• lambda-anturi
• lambdakalkyyli
• lambdatunnistin

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek λάμβδα (lámbda).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɑ̃b.da/, /lɑ̃mb.da/, /lɑ̃m.da/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Audio (Canada (Shawinigan)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Vosges)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

Noun

lambda m (plural lambda or lambdas)

1. lambda (Greek letter)
2. (finance) price elasticity of an option in relation to that of its holder
3. (ethology) the most ordinary member of a group
4. a former unit of capacity or volume equivalent to a microliter, whose symbol is λ
5. (acoustics) a level of intensity equivalent to forty decibels above the threshold for hearing a sound with a frequency of one kilohertz
6. Silver Y (moth)

   Synonym: noctuelle gamma

Usage notes

• Traditionally and most commonly, the plural is spelled without an s. However, according to the 1990 spelling reform, the plural should be spelled with an s.

Adjective

lambda (plural lambdas or lambda)

1. common, usual (especially of a person)
   • 2006, Virginie Despentes, “King Kong Girl”, in King Kong Théorie [King Kong Theory], Éditions Grasset, →ISBN, page 127:

     Mais c'est rare d'être Bukowski, la plupart du temps, c'est juste des tocards lambda.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2015 January, Virginie Despentes, Vernon Subutex, volume 1, Éditions Grasset, →ISBN:

     Branché sur une pulsation souterraine, que l'humain lambda ne perçoit pas.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2024 April 12, L. Ro., quoting Marc Morelli, “Marc Morelli, le chirurgien des machines à coudre”, in La Provence, page 7:

     Je dirais qu'aujourd'hui 20 à 30 % de ma clientèle confectionnent des robes d'Arlésienne, mais finalement, le plus gros de mes ventes est réalisé par des personnes lambda pour de la couture libre, des vêtements pour enfants par exemple.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2025 June, Benoît Bréville, “Tous influenceurs !”, in Le Monde diplomatique, →ISSN, page 21:

     « Il faut pas être un mec lambda », explique un streamer jeux vidéo, qui a décidé de miser sur une caractéristique physique […] .

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Further reading

• “lambda”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012

Hungarian

Etymology

From Ancient Greek λάμβδα (lámbda).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈlɒmbdɒ]
• Hyphenation: lamb‧da
• Rhymes: -dɒ

Noun

lambda (plural lambdák)

1. lambda (Greek letter)

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)

	singular	plural
nominative	lambda	lambdák
accusative	lambdát	lambdákat
dative	lambdának	lambdáknak
instrumental	lambdával	lambdákkal
causal-final	lambdáért	lambdákért
translative	lambdává	lambdákká
terminative	lambdáig	lambdákig
essive-formal	lambdaként	lambdákként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	lambdában	lambdákban
superessive	lambdán	lambdákon
adessive	lambdánál	lambdáknál
illative	lambdába	lambdákba
sublative	lambdára	lambdákra
allative	lambdához	lambdákhoz
elative	lambdából	lambdákból
delative	lambdáról	lambdákról
ablative	lambdától	lambdáktól
non-attributive possessive – singular	lambdáé	lambdáké
non-attributive possessive – plural	lambdáéi	lambdákéi

Possessive forms of lambda

possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	lambdám	lambdáim
2nd person sing.	lambdád	lambdáid
3rd person sing.	lambdája	lambdái
1st person plural	lambdánk	lambdáink
2nd person plural	lambdátok	lambdáitok
3rd person plural	lambdájuk	lambdáik

Icelandic

Noun

lambda n (genitive singular lambda, nominative plural lömbdu) or
lambda f (genitive singular lömbdu, nominative plural lömbdur)

1. lambda (Greek letter)

Declension

Declension of lambda (neuter)

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	lambda	lambdað	lömbdu	lömbdun
accusative	lambda	lambdað	lömbdu	lömbdun
dative	lambda	lambdanu	lömbdum	lömbdunum
genitive	lambda	lambdans	lambda	lambdanna

Declension of lambda (feminine)

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	lambda	lambdan	lömbdur	lömbdurnar
accusative	lömbdu	lömbduna	lömbdur	lömbdurnar
dative	lömbdu	lömbdunni	lömbdum	lömbdunum
genitive	lömbdu	lömbdunnar	lambda	lambdanna

Italian

Noun

lambda m or f (invariable)

1. lambda (Greek letter)

Noun

lambda m (invariable)

1. (anatomy) lambda

Polish

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek λάμβδα (lámbda), from Phoenician 𐤋 (l‬ /⁠lāmed⁠/).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlam.bda/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ambda
• Syllabification: lam‧bda

Noun

lambda f

1. lambda (Greek letter Λ, λ)
2. (physics) lambda baryon

Declension

Declension of lambda

	singular	plural
nominative	lambda	lambdy
genitive	lambdy	lambd
dative	lambdzie	lambdom
accusative	lambdę	lambdy
instrumental	lambdą	lambdami
locative	lambdzie	lambdach
vocative	lambdo	lambdy

Further reading

• “lambda”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[1] (in Polish)

Portuguese

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈlɐ̃.bi.dɐ/, /ˈlɐ̃b.dɐ/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈlɐ̃.bi.dɐ/, /ˈlɐ̃b.dɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈlɐ̃b.da/, /ˈlɐ̃.bi.da/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈlɐ̃.bdɐ/ [ˈlɐ̃.bðɐ]

• Hyphenation: lamb‧da

Noun

lambda m (plural lambdas)

1. lambda (name of the Greek letter Λ, λ)

Further reading

• “lambda”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Greek λάμβδα (lámvda).

Noun

lambda m (plural lambda)

1. lambda

Declension

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative-accusative	lambda	lambdaul	lambda	lambdai
genitive-dative	lambda	lambdaului	lambda	lambdalor
vocative	lambdaule		lambdalor

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlambda/ [ˈlãmb.ð̞a]
• Rhymes: -ambda
• Syllabification: lamb‧da

Noun

lambda f (plural lambdas)

1. lambda; the Greek letter Λ, λ

Further reading

• “lambda”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025