Modern Greek Notes
notes langSome Basics
Keyboard Issues
Use polytonic keyboard to get the stress diacritic. Not needed with Duolingo but it’s helpful for reinforcing pronunciation.
In both Windows 10 and Gnome, the input toggle is [Super-Space].
The final-form sigma “ς” used at the end of letter-case words is normally where the US-EN “W” key is.
Intro Verbs
gr | en |
---|---|
είναι | to be |
πίνω | to drink |
τρώω | to eat |
“Regular” Verb Conjugation
conjugation | ending | meaning |
---|---|---|
πίνω | ω | I drink |
πίνεις | εις | you drink |
πίνει | ει | he drinks |
πίνουμε | ουμε | we drink |
πίνετε | ετε | you drink |
πίνουν(ε) | oυν(ε) | they drink |
Pronouns
gr | en |
---|---|
εγω | I |
εσύ | you |
αυτός/αυτή/αυτό | he/she/it |
εμείς | we |
εσείς | you (pl) |
αυτοί/αυτές | they (masc+neut)/they (fem) |
Indefinite Article
These are the singular, nominative case versions:
gr | en |
---|---|
ένας | a/an/one (masc) |
μία | a/an/one (fem) |
ένα | a/an/one (neut) |
This has a slightly different meaning than in English – in Modern Greek, it literally means “one.” So you would not say “She is a mother” you’d just say “She is mother”… otherwise, it would sound like “She is one mother” as opposed to indicating indefiniteness.
The plural seems similar in this way; while there is a set of words for “some,” indefiniteness of plural nouns is expressed by a lack of an article. For example “They are children” as opposed to “They are some children” - “some children” is only used with a generic referent (I think).
Definite Article
Used more than in English – sometimes used before proper nouns. These are the nominative case versions:
gr | en |
---|---|
ο | the (sing masc) |
η | the (sing fem) |
το | the (sing neut) |
οι | the (plur masc) |
οι | the (plur fem) |
τα | the (plur neut) |
Intro Vocabulary
gr | en |
---|---|
ο άντρας | the man |
ο άντρες | the men |
η γυναίκα | the woman |
οι γυναὶκες | the women |
το παιδί | the child |
τα παιδιά | the children |