The Greek word associated with hope in Pandora’s jar is elpis. In Works and Days, Hesiod uses this term for the hope that remains inside the container after the other harmful contents have escaped.
Elpis does not always map perfectly onto the modern English word “hope.” In ancient Greek, it can mean expectation or anticipation, and its value may depend on context. That semantic range is one reason the ending of Pandora’s story has generated different interpretations.
The story does not explicitly settle whether the enclosed hope is a blessing, a withheld comfort, or something more ambiguous. Later retellings commonly present it as the good that humanity retains after suffering enters the world. The Greek term preserves the connection to the original poem while reminding readers that translation can affect interpretation.