Grammar books usually consist of endless pages of rules and exceptions…so we’ve decided to make everything simpler for you!

In this overview of modern Greek grammar, we’ll introduce you to the very basics of Greek grammar, from vocabulary to cases. Therefore, if you’re contemplating learning Greek, then you’ve come to the right place!

In the following sections, you’ll find all of the basic grammar principles of the Greek language so you can start your language learning off on the right foot.  

Table of Contents

1. General Rules
2. Verbs
3. Nouns & Articles
4. Adjectives
5. Adverbs
6. Conclusion

1. General Rules

We’ve got some good news for you!

Greek grammar shares some similarities with English grammar: 

• Both languages use the same types of words
• Both languages have a similar sentence structure

That being said, let’s explore these similarities in the following sections! 

1 – Vocabulary

Just like the English language, Greek features the following word types:

• Nouns
  η γάτα – i gáta – “the cat”

• Articles
  η γάτα – i gáta – “the cat”

• Adjectives
  η μικρή γάτα – i mikrí gáta – “the small cat”

• Verbs
  Εγώ τρέχω. – Egó trého. – “I run.”

• Pronouns
  Εγώ τρέχω. – Egó trého.- “I run.”

• Adverbs
  Εγώ τρέχω γρήγορα. –  Egó trého grígora. – “I run fast.”

• Conjunctions / Linking Words
  Εγώ έχω έναν σκύλο και μία γάτα. – Egó ého énan skílo ke mía gáta. – “I have a dog and a cat.”

• Prepositions
  Εγώ είμαι από την Ελλάδα. – Egó íme apó tin Elláda. – “I am from Greece.”

If you feel like expanding your vocabulary, check out our dedicated articles:

• Top 100 Greek Nouns
• Top 100 Greek Adjectives
• Top 100 Greek Verbs
• Top 100 Greek Adverbs

Customize your learning process by creating your own Word Bank, where you can categorize new words and even print them out!

2 – Sentence Structure

Both languages generally follow the SVO pattern (Subject-Verb-Object) when forming sentences. This is something that spurs many people forward with their plans to learn Greek and encourages those who have recently started. If you create your free lifetime account on GreekPod101.com, you’ll be able to create your first simple sentences from Lesson 1.

Greek: Η Μαρία διαβάζει ένα βιβλίο. Romanization: I María diavázi éna vivlío. Translation: “Maria reads a book.”
Subject – Who? Η Μαρία	Verb – Action διαβάζει	Object – What? ένα βιβλίο.

If you want to learn more, check out our Word Order article, where you’ll find extended analyses of the SVO pattern, along with some other less-common sentence patterns. 

2. Verbs

A chapter that every Greek language learner struggles to master is verb conjugations. You see, according to the Greek verb system, verbs in Greek conjugate based on the subject of the sentence, the tense, and the mood.

1 – Tenses

The tenses of Greek verbs are:

• Present: A continuing action, something happening continuously or repeatedly, a general truth,  or something that is in the process of happening. – It corresponds to the present simple and present continuous.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Εγώ μαγειρεύω κάθε μέρα.
  Romanization: Egó mayirévo káthe méra.
  Translation: “I cook every day.”

• Aorist: An action that happened in the past. Provides no information on how long it took, or whether the results are still in effect. – It corresponds to the past simple.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Εγώ μαγείρεψα χθες.
  Romanization: Egó mayírepsa hthes.
  Translation: “I cooked yesterday.”

• Imperfect: An action that happened in the past for a long period of time or in a repetitive way. – It corresponds to the past continuous.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Την προηγούμενη εβδομάδα, εγώ μαγείρευα κάθε μέρα.
  Romanization: Tin proigúmeni evdomáda, egó mayíreva káthe méra.
  Translation: “Last week, I was cooking every day.”

• Future simple: An action that will take place once or momentarily in the future.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Εγώ θα μαγειρέψω αύριο.
  Romanization: Egó tha mayιrépso ávrio.
  Translation: “I will cook tomorrow.”

• Future continuous: An action that will take place in the future continuously, repeatedly, or for a long time period. 
  
  Example:
  Greek: Εγώ θα μαγειρεύω κάθε μέρα.
  Romanization: Egó tha mayιrévo káthe méra.
  Translation: “I will be cooking every day.”

• Present perfect: An action that has already taken place.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Εγώ έχω μαγειρέψει.
  Romanization: Egó ého mayιrépsi.
  Translation: “I have cooked.”

• Past perfect: An action that happened in the past before another action or at a certain time in the past.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Μέχρι τις 2 μ.μ, εγώ είχα μαγειρέψει.
  Romanization: Μéhri tis dío (metá mesimvrían) egó íha mayιrépsi.
  Translation: “By 2 p.m. I had cooked.”

• Future perfect: An action that will have taken place in the future by a certain time point.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Μέχρι τις 2 μ.μ, θα έχω μαγειρέψει.
  Romanization: Μéhri tis dío (metá mesimvrías) egó tha ého mayιrépsi.
  Translation: “By 2 p.m. I will have cooked.”

2 – Moods

Are you in the mood for some more in-depth knowledge?

As we have already mentioned, Greek verbs conjugate according to the mood, as well. 

Here are the five moods of Greek verbs, along with examples of what they look like:

• Indicative mood: Presents the action or the event as something certain or real (e.g. an objective fact).
  
  Example:
  Greek: Εγώ μαγειρεύω κάθε μέρα.
  Romanization: Egó mayirévo káthe méra.
  Translation: “I cook every day.”

• Subjunctive mood: Presents the action or the event as something wanted, expected, or wished for.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Εγώ θέλω να μαγειρεύω κάθε μέρα.
  Romanization: Egó thélo na mayirévo káthe méra.
  Translation: “I want to cook every day.”

• Imperative mood: May express a command (order), request, or desire.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Mαγείρεψε τώρα!
  Romanization: Mayírepse tóra!
  Translation: “Cook now!”

• The participle:
  
  – The uninflected form has an adverbial function and may indicate time, manner, cause, condition, etc.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Ο χρόνος περνάει γρήγορα μαγειρεύοντας.
  Romanization: O hrónos pernái grígora mayirévodas.
  Translation: “Time passes by quickly while cooking.”
  
  – The inflected form has the function of an adjective, so it needs to agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it defines. It corresponds to the past participle when used on its own in speech.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Το κρέας είναι μαγειρεμένο.
  Romanization: To kréas íne mayireméno.
  Translation: “The meat is cooked.”

• The infinitive: Uninflected form. Not to be confused with the English infinitive. The Greek infinitive is used for the formation of certain tenses: present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect. It corresponds to the past participle when used as part of the verb in the aforementioned tenses.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Εγώ έχω μαγειρέψει.
  Romanization: Egó ého mayιrépsi.
  Translation: “I have cooked.”
  
  Greek: Μέχρι τις 2 μ.μ, εγώ είχα μαγειρέψει.
  Romanization: Μéhri tis dío (metá mesimvrían) egó íha mayιrépsi.
  Translation: “By 2 p.m. I had cooked.”
  
  Greek: Μέχρι τις 2 μ.μ, θα έχω μαγειρέψει.
  Romanization: Μéhri tis dío (metá mesimvrían) egó tha ého mayιrépsi.
  Translation: “By 2 p.m. I will have cooked.”

3. Nouns & Articles

Nouns and articles are another important aspect of Greek grammar. They are gendered and get declined according to each case.

1 – Gender

In Greek grammar, gender is a way of classifying nouns, and this system certainly perplexes many new Greek learners. All Greek nouns are assigned to one of three genders:

• Masculine – e.g. ο σκύλος – o skílos – “the dog”
• Feminine – e.g. η γάτα – i gáta – “the cat”
• Neuter – e.g. το ποντίκι – to pondíki – “the mouse”

As you might have already noticed, there are also different articles for each gender category. Generally, the articles should match the gender of the noun. 

Check out our Greek Word of the Day and expand your vocabulary! Learning a new word each day along with its article will quickly familiarize you with this concept.

2 – Cases

Moreover, nouns change their suffixes according to their placement within a sentence. Therefore, there are four cases:

• Nominative: In this case, the noun is the subject or predicate of the sentence.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Ο σκύλος τρέχει.
  Romanization: O skílos tréhi.
  Translation: “The dog is running.”
  
  Greek: Αυτό είναι ένας σκύλος.
  Romanization: Aftó íne énas skílos.
  Translation: “This is a dog.”

• Genitive: This case is typically used to express possession or indirect objects, among other things.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Η μπάλα του σκύλου είναι κόκκινη.
  Romanization: I bála tu skílu íne kókkini.
  Translation: “The dog’s ball is red.”

• Accusative: Here, the noun is typically the object of the sentence or part of a prepositional phrase.
  
  Example:
  Greek: Εγώ χαϊδεύω τον σκύλο.
  Romanization: Egó haidévo ton skílo.
  Translation: “I pet the dog.”
  
  Greek: Η μπάλα είναι για τον σκύλο.
  Romanization: I bála íne ya ton skílo.
  Translation: “The ball is for the dog.”

• Vocative: This is used when addressing someone or something. 
  
  Example:
  Greek: Σκύλε, κάτσε!
  Romanization: Skíle, kátse!
  Translation: “Dog, sit!”

4. Adjectives

Like in English, adjectives are usually placed before the noun. 

Example:
Greek: ο μικρός σκύλος.
Romanization: o mikrós skílos
Translation: “the small dog”

However, adjectives get declined according to the gender of the noun they refer to, as well as the number and the case. 

Example:
Greek: η μικρή γάτα
Romanization: i mikrí gáta
Translation: “the small cat”

Greek: η ουρά της μικρής γάτας  
Romanization: i urá tis mikrís gátas
Translation: “the tail of the small cat”

Greek: οι μικρές γάτες  
Romanization: i mikrés gátes
Translation: “the small cats”

5. Adverbs

We saved this category for last, because…guess what?! Adverbs in Greek don’t get inflected! These words remain the same, regardless of the way they’re used in speech.

Generally, adverbs are placed either right after the verb or at the end of the sentence.

Example:
Greek: Ο σκύλος τρέχει γρήγορα.
Romanization: O skílos tréhi grígora.
Translation: “The dog is running fast.”

6. Conclusion

That’s (almost) all, folks!

Sure, there’s so much more to analyze about Greek grammar! Whole books are written for that purpose!

However, this wasn’t our intention here. We simply wanted to introduce you to the basic Greek grammar principles so you can start making sense of it right from the beginning.

Greek is a wonderful language and, although the grammar may seem a bit complicated, we’re sure you are going to master it in no time! 

Start learning Greek today for free and discover our many articles, vocabulary lists, and YouTube videos! 

Before you go, let us know in the comments which aspect of Greek grammar is most challenging for you so far. We’d love to hear from you and help you out with anything you’re struggling with.

Happy Greek learning!

Learning a new language can be intimidating. When it comes to a less-popular language like Greek, spoken by only 13.8 million people worldwide, many potential learners wonder “Is it hard to learn Greek?”

The good news is that Greek is a branch of the Indo-European languages. This means that it shares many common characteristics with Spanish, English, and Italian. 

The bad news is… Wait a minute! Is there really any bad news? 

If you’re reading this article, then you should be fluent in English, regardless of your mother tongue. There it is: you’re already familiar with the philosophy of the most popular Indo-European language. This is a huge asset that will play an important role during your Greek-learning journey. 

With GreekPod101.com, you can start learning Greek in a fast and easy way. From our vast experience with students from all over the world, we’ve gathered in this article the most common difficulties that they face while learning Greek, plus solutions and tips on how to overcome them.

After reading this blog post, you’ll be able to say, out loud and with confidence: “Greek is certainly NOT hard to learn!”

Table of Contents

1. You Already Know Some Greek
2. The Easiest & Hardest Parts of the Greek Language
3. I Want to Learn Greek. Where Should I Start?
4. Useful Advice for Novice Greek-Learners
5. Why is GreekPod101.com Great for Learning Greek?
6. Conclusion

1. You Already Know Some Greek

Yes, you do!

Did you know that five percent of the words included in a typical English dictionary have Greek origins? 

Take a look at some examples below.

Greek	Romanization	English Equivalent
κόσμος	kósmos	“cosmos”
ακροβάτης	akrovátis	“acrobat”
ιστορία	istoría	“history”
ανώνυμος	anónimos	“anonymous”
γαλαξίας	galaxías	“galaxy”
βακτήριο	vaktírio	“bacterium”
ρινόκερος	rinókeros	“rhinoceros”
τεχνολογία	tehnoloyía	“technology”
σαρκασμός	sarkazmós	“sarcasm”
δημοκρατία	dimokratía	“democracy”
Ευρώπη	Evrópi	“Europe”
μουσική	musikí	“music”
φοβία	fovía	“phobia”
πανικός	panikós	“panic”
πλανήτης	planítis	“planet”

And these are only some of them.

Innovation was prominent in ancient Greek culture. Therefore, many discoveries and terms, especially in the fields of mathematics, science, and medicine, originated from Greek.

This magical aspect of the Greek language was once highlighted by Mr. Zolotas, a Greek politician in the 1950s who created a whole speech in English using only Greek words. 

2. The Easiest & Hardest Parts of the Greek Language

Why is learning Greek so hard for some students? And what things make it pretty easy? We’ll outline both sides of the Greek language in the following sections! 

2.1 Easiest Parts

We could say that there are more easy parts than there are hard parts, for sure. Greek is, overall, not a hard language to learn, remember?

Here are the easiest aspects of Greek language learning, so you can see for yourself:

• Alphabet
  Even the word “alphabet” itself stems from the Greek word αλφάβητο (alphávito). The Greek alphabet consists of twenty-four letters, ordered from Α/α (“alpha”) to Ω/ω (“omega”), and it’s pretty similar to the alphabets of other European languages. 
  
  Tempted to start learning the Greek alphabet today? Watch  our relevant YouTube video to get a glimpse, or begin learning in depth with our Greek Alphabet Made Easy lesson.

• Word Order
  The basic sentence structure in Greek follows the SVO pattern (Subject-Verb-Object), like the English language. In addition, adjectives are placed before nouns, and adverbs after verbs. 
  
  Here are some examples of simple Greek sentences:

Greek: Εγώ παίζω κιθάρα. Romanization: Egó pézo kithára. Translation: “I play the guitar.”

Subject	Verb	Object
Εγώ	παίζω	κιθάρα

Greek: Ο μαύρος σκύλος κυνηγάει την άσπρη γάτα. Romanization: O mávros skílos kinigái tin áspri gáta. Translation: “The black dog chases the white cat.”

Subject	Verb	Object
Ο μαύρος σκύλος	κυνηγάει	την άσπρη γάτα.

If you want to learn all the details about Greek word order, read our relevant blog post.

• Pronunciation
  Phonetically, Greek is very similar to Spanish, Portuguese, and English. There are five basic vowels—i, u, e, o, a—which are typically included in the syllables. There’s also a stress mark, which can be placed only over vowels, indicating an accented syllable.
  
  Greek also features digraphs (two letters combined, making a distinct sound) and diphthongs (two vowels combined into one syllable), which appear to be tricky for young learners. However, once you learn them and familiarize yourself with the language, these will be a piece of cake.

2.2 Hardest Parts

Well, even the moon has a dark side. Just embrace the challenge!

Here are the main reasons people find the Greek language hard to learn:

• Spelling
  We’re not going to lie: Greek spelling can push you to your limits. But is this a reason to be disappointed?
  
  Even native Greek-speakers make spelling mistakes all the time. When you get started with Greek, focus on comprehension and practical examples. Will you make spelling mistakes? Sure. Will you get better and better with practice? Absolutely!
  
  We strongly recommend reading books, articles, and blog posts in Greek. You can even add Greek subtitles to your favorite movies! By doing so, you’ll familiarize yourself with Greek spelling in no time.

• Verb conjugation
  Verbs in Greek conjugate according to the subject and the number of subjects in a sentence, the tense, the voice (active and passive voice), and the mood. Therefore, Greek verbs can be found in many forms, which indicate the aforementioned properties. And this can be hard. We know.
  
  However, once you dig into the grammar rules, you’ll be able to categorize verbs according to their ending, and you’ll quickly become a master of Greek verb conjugation!

• Noun and adjective declension
  Last, but not least, nouns, pronouns, and adjectives get inflected, too. They showcase different forms according to number, gender, and case. They are also often accompanied by articles, which should agree with the noun.
  
  This is another aspect that many students find challenging. Nevertheless, this is something that you can overcome easily with proper practice.

3. I Want to Learn Greek. Where Should I Start?

At GreekPod101.com, we’ve mastered self-teaching as a lifelong learning method. Here are our pearls of wisdom for getting started with Greek language learning:

• Step 1: Start with simple everyday life sentences.
• Step 2: Try to enhance those sentences with a wider range of vocabulary. Keeping a vocabulary notebook will definitely help.
• Step 3: Continue with grammar. Focus on the basics of verb, noun, and adjective inflection.
• Step 4: Enhance your listening skills by watching Greek movies and series.
• Step 5: Start reading children’s books in Greek. They include very simple sentences and they can really help novice learners.
• Step 6: Now that you have an understanding of the Greek language, familiarize yourself with syntax and word order. Study different cases, such as subordinate sentences, conditionals, and so on.

4. Useful Advice for Novice Greek-Learners

1. Don’t give up: With consistent studying, you can overcome the difficult parts. 

2. Do practice whenever you are given a chance: Visiting Greece? Or even a Greek restaurant abroad? Don’t be shy! Try ordering and chatting in Greek.

3. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes: It’s a learning experience. Perceive every mistake as an opportunity to learn. 

4. Do try to find Greek communities near you: There’s nothing better than practicing with native speakers. Plus, we bet that you’ll make some new friends!

5. Do plan a trip to Greece: Okay, practicing your Greek might not be your number-one reason to visit Greece, but approach this as a unique opportunity to enjoy crystal-clear beaches, taste delicious food and beverages, and blend in.

5. Why is GreekPod101.com Great for Learning Greek?

A famous Greek saying goes like this:

Greek: Αν δεν παινέψουμε το σπίτι μας, θα πέσει να μας πλακώσει.
Romanization: An den penépsume to spíti mas, tha pési na mas plakósi.
Translation: “If we don’t praise our home, it will collapse over our heads.”

You saw this coming, didn’t you?

“I bet they’ll promote their website at the end of this article!” you whispered.

However, we assure you: This is not a promotion; it’s encouragement to invest in yourself. 

You can create a free lifetime account on GreekPod101.com and enjoy tons of free video, audio, and PDF lessons, as well as many other benefits.

So, why is GreekPod101.com great for learning Greek?

• It gets you to speak Greek from day one.
• It focuses on practical examples, rather than strict grammar rules. 
• It includes an assessment test to assign you to the most appropriate level and learning path.
• It allows you to create your own vocabulary lists. 
• It lets you refresh your knowledge easily and quickly through flashcards.
• It offers you a wide range of totally free lessons focused on grammar, vocabulary, and listening, categorized by knowledge level.
• MyTeacher Service: You can create a premium account in order to get access to a personal teacher. This is a unique opportunity to get in touch with an experienced native speaker, who will help you through your learning process.

6. Conclusion

We’d love to hear from you! 

Feel free to share your experience with the Greek language so far in the comments below.

• Which aspects do you find intriguing?
• Which was the easiest part of learning Greek?
• What aspect troubles you the most?

Let us know in the comments!

Start learning Greek today in a consistent and organized manner by creating a free lifetime account on GreekPod101.com. Tons of free vocabulary lists, YouTube videos, and grammar tips are waiting for you.

We all make mistakes. That’s a fact. 

When it comes to learning a new language, it’s almost certain that you’ll make numerous mistakes. And mistakes on top of those mistakes. And a few more.

But you’ll learn. It’s all part of the learning process, right?

In this article, we’ll go over the most common mistakes Greek language-learners make. Learn everything you need to know early on, so that you can avoid these mistakes in Greek and sound more like a native speaker.

Table of Contents

1. Greek Pronunciation Mistakes
2. Greek Vocabulary Mistakes
3. Greek Grammar Mistakes
4. Other Greek Mistakes
5. The Biggest Mistake
6. Conclusion

1. Greek Pronunciation Mistakes

The most common mistake in Greek pronunciation is stressing words incorrectly. As a student, you should pay attention to the accent marks, because they’ll help you pronounce Greek words correctly.

At GreekPod101.com, we pay close attention to pronunciation. It’s the key to speaking and sounding like a Greek, after all. Therefore, alongside each and every Greek word in our learning material, we also offer its romanization, along with accent marks.

Another common pronunciation mistake Greek-learners make involves certain consonants. 

For example, English-speaking learners tend to pronounce the consonants τ and π strangely, whereas French-speaking learners struggle to pronounce the consonant ρ. Since our mother tongue determines our pronunciation capabilities, it makes sense that some difficulties may arise. There’s nothing you can’t overcome with practice, though!

Here’s another typical pronunciation mistake: The problem of digraphs. 

Sounds pretty serious, right? Well, it isn’t, as long as you pay attention to the following guidelines.

First and foremost, you’re most likely wondering: “What are digraphs?”

They’re a pair of vowels that are pronounced as one distinct sound. Here, we’ve gathered some of the most common Greek digraphs for you, including examples:

1.1 “Οι” / “οι”

Sounds like: “i” as in the word “info”
Often mistaken as: “o-i”

Example

Greek: Η οικονομία της Ελλάδας πέρασε κρίση.
Romanization: I ikonomía tis Eládas pérase krísi.
Translation: “The economy of Greece has gone through a crisis.”

1.2 “Ει” / “ει”

Sounds like: “i” as in the word “info”
Often mistaken as: “e-i”

Example

Greek: Η παγκόσμια ειρήνη είναι πολύ σημαντική.
Romanization: I pangózmia iríni íne polí simandikí.
Translation: “Worldwide peace is very important.”

1.3 “Αι” / “αι”

Sounds like: “e” as in the word “error”
Often mistaken as: “a-i”

Example

Greek: Οι άνθρωποι έχουν πέντε αισθήσεις.
Romanization:I ánthropi éhun pénde esthísis.
Translation: “Humans have five senses.”

1.4 “Ευ” / “ευ”

Sounds like: “ev” as in the word “everything” OR “ef” as in the word “effect”
Often mistaken as: “e-i”

Examples

Greek: Σε ευχαριστώ πολύ!
Romanization: Se efharistó polí.
Translation: “Thank you very much.”

Greek: Ο υπάλληλος ήταν πολύ ευγενικός.
Romanization: O ipálilos ítan polí evyenikós.
Translation: “The (male) employee was very polite.”

So, right now, you must be wondering: “How can I tell when this digraph should sound like ‘ev’ or ‘ef’?”

Luckily, there’s a certain rule: 

• It’s pronounced as “ev” when the next syllable begins with a vowel sound or a voiced consonant sound: β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ, τζ, μπ, ντ, γγ, and γκ.

• It’s pronounced as “ef” when the next syllable begins with the consonants ξ (x) and ψ (ps), an unvoiced consonant sound (κ, π, τ, χ, φ, θ, σ, and τσ) or when the combination is at the end of a word or by itself (ex. ευ αγωνίζεσθαι (ef agonízesthai), meaning “fair play”).

At first, you should think about this rule every time you encounter this digraph. However, with practice, you’ll be able to recognize how it should sound in each word.

1.5 “Αυ” / “αυ”

Sounds like: “av” as in the word “average” OR “af” as in the word “after”
Often mistaken as “a-i”

Examples

Greek: Αυτός είναι ο δάσκαλός μου.
Romanization: Aftós íne o dáskalós mu.
Translation: “This is my (male) teacher.”

Greek: Θέλεις να πάμε για καφέ αύριο;
Romanization: Thélis na páme ya kafé ávrio?
Translation: “Do you want to go for a coffee tomorrow?”

Similarly to the last digraph, there’s a rule for deciding whether it should sound like “af” or “av.”

• It’s pronounced as “av” when the next syllable begins with a vowel sound or a voiced consonant sound: β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ, τζ, μπ, ντ, γγ, and γκ.

• It’s pronounced as “af” when the next syllable begins with the consonants ξ (x) and ψ (ps), an unvoiced consonant sound (κ, π, τ, χ, φ, θ, σ, and τσ), or when the combination is at the end of a word (ex. ταυ, which is the letter “t” in Greek).

2. Greek Vocabulary Mistakes

We could say that the most common vocabulary mistake in Greek is the one demonstrated below.

Greek: Αυτός είναι Έλληνας. Romanization: Aftós íne Élinas. Translation: “He is Greek.”

Greek: Αυτή είναι Ελληνίδα. Romanization: Aftí íne Elinída. Translation: “She is Greek.”

Greek: Μου αρέσει το ελληνικό φαγητό. Romanization: Mu arési to elinikó fayitó. Translation: “I like Greek food.”

Greek: Εγώ μαθαίνω ελληνικά. Romanization: Egó mathéno eliniká. Translation: “I learn Greek (language).”

In English, there’s one word that describes the Greek nationality, language, and anything related to Greece. But in Greek, there are different words that need to be used depending on what exactly you’re talking about.

3. Greek Grammar Mistakes

3.1 The Most Common Mistakes Concerning Nouns & Adjectives

Mixing up genders

In Greek, each noun has its own gender (male-female-neuter). This affects not only nouns, but also the accompanying articles and adjectives. 

Male Noun	Female Noun	Neutral Noun
Greek: Ο πράσινος κήπος. Romanization: O prásinos kípos. Translation: “The green garden.”	Greek: Η πράσινη τσάντα. Romanization: I prásini tsánda. Translation: “The green bag.”	Greek: Το πράσινο χορτάρι. Romanization: To prásino hortári. Translation: “The green grass.”

Mixing up singular & plural

In Greek, each noun is either in the singular form or in the plural. This also affects the accompanying articles and adjectives. 

Singular	Plural
Greek: Το ωραίο νησί. Romanization: To oréo nisí. Translation: “The beautiful island.”	Greek: Τα ωραία νησιά. Romanization: Ta oréa nisiá. Translation: “The beautiful islands.”

Mixing up cases

Nouns in Greek get declined, so they might appear slightly different in each case. The most common source of confusion is between the nominative and accusative cases. A rule of thumb is that when the noun is the subject of the sentence, it should be in the nominative case; when it’s the object of the sentence, it should usually be in the accusative case.

Nominative	Accusative
Greek: Ο τοίχος είναι άσπρος. Romanization: O tíhos íne áspros. Translation: “The wall is white.”	Greek: Εγώ έβαψα τον τοίχο. Romanization: Egó évapsa ton tího. Translation: “I painted the wall.”

3.2 The Most Common Mistakes Concerning Verbs

Mixing up the tenses

Verbs conjugate according to the tense. There are also some irregular verbs, which you should learn by heart.

Here are some examples of the most common irregular Greek verbs in the present and past tenses.

Simple Present	Simple Past
βλέπω (vlépo) – “I see”	είδα (ída) – “I saw”
πηγαίνω (piyéno) – “I go”	πήγα (píga) – “I went”
βρίσκω (vrísko) – “I find”	βρήκα (vríka) – “I found”
λέω (léo) – “I tell”	είπα (ípa) – “I told”
τρώω (tróo) – “I eat”	έφαγα (éfaga) – “I ate”
πίνω (píno) – “I drink”	ήπια (ípia) – “I drank”

Luckily, the Greek tenses are quite similar to the English ones. Therefore, English-speakers won’t find it difficult to decide which tense to use in each situation.

Mixing up the grammatical mood

Greek verbs also conjugate according to the grammatical mood. Here’s a useful guide on how to select the proper mood for each verb:

Indicative mood: This mood indicates that the action or event is true or really happened (i.e. an objective fact).

Greek: Ο μαθητής πηγαίνει στο σχολείο.
Romanization: O mathitís piyéni sto sholío.
Translation: “The student goes to school.”

Subjunctive mood: This mood presents the action or event as something wanted or expected (but isn’t actually happening / didn’t happen). 

Greek: Ο μαθητής πρέπει να πηγαίνει στο σχολείο.
Romanization: O mathitís prépi na piyéni sto sholío.
Translation: “The student should go to school.”

Imperative mood: This mood may express a command (order), request, or desire.

Greek: Πήγαινε στο σχολείο!
Romanization: Píyene sto sholío!
Translation: “Go to school!”

The participle: This is the uninflected form that has an adverbial function, and it may indicate time, manner, cause, condition, etc.

Greek: Πηγαίνοντας στο σχολείο βρήκα ένα στιλό στον δρόμο.
Romanization: Piyénondas sto sholío vríka éna stiló ston drómo.
Translation: “While going to school, I found a pen on the street.”

The infinitive: This is an uninflected form. It’s used for the formation of the perfective tenses: present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect.

Greek: Αύριο ο μαθητής θα πάει στο σχολείο.
Romanization: Ávrio o mathitís tha pái sto scholío.
Translation: “Tomorrow, the student will go to school.”

Mixing up the voice

In Greek, there are two major voices: the active voice and the passive voice. A rule of thumb for determining whether a verb is in the active or passive voice is demonstrated below.

Verbs in the active voice typically end in -ω. Verbs in the passive voice most commonly end in -μαι in the first person. 

Active Voice	Passive Voice
Greek: Ο φούρνος ψήνει το παστίτσιο. Romanization: O fúrnos psíni to pastítsio. Translation: “The oven bakes the pastitsio.”	Greek: To παστίτσιο ψήνεται από τον φούρνο. Romanization: Τo pastítsio psínete apó ton fúrno. Translation: “The pastitsio is baked by the oven.”

Mixing up the persons

Verbs in Greek also conjugate according to the person they refer to, that is, the person(s) who performs the action. 

4. Other Greek Mistakes

In Greek, you use the second person plural—εσείς (esís), meaning “you”—to speak politely and formally with someone. This is usually a person who is superior to you or who you don’t know well. All components of the sentence should agree with the pronoun you use.

Informal Question	Formal Question
Greek: Τι κάνεις; Είσαι καλά; Romanization: Ti kánis? Íse kalá? Translation: “How are you? Are you well?”	Greek: Τι κάνετε; Είστε καλά; Romanization: Ti kánete? Íste kalá? Translation: “How are you? Are you well?”

5. The Biggest Mistake

Sit back and prepare yourself, because we’re about to reveal the biggest mistake a Greek-learner can make: 

Giving Up

Yes, there it is. 

The biggest mistake is simply giving up. 

Greek, especially its grammar, might seem pretty complicated through the eyes of a novice learner. Take a deep breath and just keep practicing!

Here are some tips to help you study Greek in a fun way:

• Watch some Greek movies.
• Start reading books in Greek.
• Get to know the culture through Greek-related Netflix shows.
• Join us on GreekPod101.com.

6. Conclusion

Now that you’ve browsed through the most common Greek language mistakes, what mistakes do you usually make when studying Greek?

Let us know in the comments!

Start learning Greek today in a consistent and organized manner by creating a free lifetime account on GreekPod101.com. Tons of free vocabulary lists, YouTube videos, and grammar tips await you.

“Oh, how can I say this in Greek?”

You’ve been there. We know.

That’s why we’ve created this blog post, featuring the top ten most popular questions and their answers in Greek. 

Whether you’ve just started learning Greek or you’re thinking about it, after reading this guide, you’ll be able to construct simple Greek questions and answers with accuracy. 

Table of Contents

1. What’s your name?
2. Where are you from?
3. Do you speak Greek?
4. How long have you been studying Greek?
5. Have you been to Greece?
6. What’s the weather like today?
7. Do you like Greek food?
8. What are you doing?
9. What’s wrong?
10. How much is it?
11. Conclusion

1. What’s your name?

So, what’s the first thing you want to ask when meeting someone new? Their name, of course. Here’s how to ask someone “What’s your name?” in Greek.

The Question

• Greek: Πώς σε λένε;
• Romanization: Pós se léne?
• Literal Translation: “How are you named?” / “How are you called?”
• Translation: “What’s your name?”

Unlike in English, which asks “What’s your name?” in Greek, we use the phrase Πώς σε λένε;, which better corresponds to “How are you named?” or “How are you called?” As far as Greek language questions go, this is the simplest and definitely the most popular. It can be useful when getting to know people in an informal setting. 

The Answer

• Greek: Ναταλία, κι εσένα;
• Romanization: Natalía, ki eséna?
• Translation: “Natalia, and you?”

This is the simplest answer you can give. Just state your name, followed by …κι εσένα;, which reverses the question to the individual who asked you. This is considered a decent and polite way to respond, since it shows that you’re interested in getting to know the other person. 

At this point, we should note that the word “and” is translated in Greek as και. However, when the next word begins with a vowel, when speaking, it usually becomes κι. This is very common in Greek, but even if you say και εσένα, nobody will notice.

Here are some other variations that answer the same question:

• Greek: Με λένε Μαρία. Εσένα;
• Romanization: Me léne María. Eséna?
• Literal Translation: “I am named Maria. You?”
• Translation: “My name is Maria. Yours?”

• Greek: Είμαι ο Γιώργος. Εσένα πώς σε λένε;
• Romanization: Íme o Yórgos. Eséna pós se léne?
• Translation: “I am George. What’s your name?”

To learn more about how to give a full self-introduction, check out our relevant blog post. 

2. Where are you from?

Here’s another popular question, which is a perfect conversation starter.

The Question

• Greek: Από πού είσαι;
• Romanization: Apó pu íse?
• Translation: “Where are you from?”

Generally, you can answer by saying:

 Είμαι από…. + definite article in the accusative case + place.

Here are some examples:

The Answer

• Greek: Είμαι από την Ελλάδα.
• Romanization: Íme apó tin Εláda.
• Translation: “I am from Greece.”

• Greek: Είμαι από την Αμερική.
• Romanization: Íme apó tin Amerikí.
• Translation: “I am from America.”

• Greek: Είμαι από τον Καναδά.
• Romanization: Íme apó ton Kanadá.
• Translation: “I am from Canada.”

As you might have noticed, we say Είμαι από την Αμερική and Είμαι από τον Καναδά. They’re both definite articles, but why are they different?

In Greek, nouns fall into three categories, according to their gender: feminine, masculine, and neutral. So, Αμερική is feminine and Καναδάς is masculine. Therefore, they’re accompanied by the appropriate definite article. 

If you want to learn more about definite articles and their use in Greek, we’ve got you covered. Watch our relevant video. 

3. Do you speak Greek?

Before starting a conversation with someone, it’s probably a good idea to ask them whether they speak Greek. Here are the Greek questions and answers you can use and expect. 

The Question

• Greek: Μιλάς ελληνικά;
• Romanization: Milás eliniká?
• Translation: “Do you speak Greek?”

The Answer

• Greek: Ναι, μιλάω λίγο ελληνικά.
• Romanization: Ne, miláo lígo eliniká.
• Translation: “Yes, I speak a little Greek.”

• Greek: Ναι, μιλάω πολύ καλά ελληνικά.
• Romanization: Ne, miláo polí kalá eliniká.
• Translation: “Yes, I speak Greek very well.”

• Greek: Όχι, δεν μιλάω ελληνικά.
• Romanization: Óhi, den miláo eliniká.
• Translation: “No, I don’t speak Greek.”

Of course, you can use the same phrase (Μιλάς + language;) to ask someone if they speak any other language.

4. How long have you been studying Greek?

This is one of the easy Greek questions that a foreigner may be asked during a conversation. Here’s how to ask and answer! 

The Question

• Greek: Πόσο καιρό μαθαίνεις ελληνικά;
• Romanization: Póso keró mathénis eliniká?
• Translation: “How long have you been learning Greek?”

The Answer

• Greek: Mαθαίνω ελληνικά εδώ και 1 χρόνο.
• Romanization: Mathéno eliniká edó ke énan hróno.
• Translation: “I have been learning Greek for a year now.”

5. Have you been to Greece?

Do you want to exchange some travel experience about Greece?

Then simply ask this question. 

The Question

• Greek: Έχεις επισκεφτεί την Ελλάδα;
• Romanization: Éhis episkeftí tin Elláda?
• Translation: “Have you visited Greece?”

The Answer

• Greek: Ναι, έχω πάει στην Ελλάδα δύο φορές.
• Romanization: Ne, ého pái stin Eláda dío forés.
• Translation: “Yes, I have been to Greece twice.”

• Greek: Δυστυχώς όχι, αλλά θα ήθελα.
• Romanization: Distihós óhi, alá tha íthela.
• Translation: “Unfortunately no, but I want to.”

If you’re planning to visit Greece soon, check out our Survival Greek Phrases Series.

6. What’s the weather like today?

Greece is blessed with mild weather and a Mediterranean climate. Summer is hot and sunny, whereas winter is not extremely cold. It’s a fact that many locals go swimming at the beach during the winter, as well. 

Here’s how you can ask for info about the weather in Greek. 

The Question

• Greek: Πώς είναι ο καιρός σήμερα;
• Romanization: Pós íne o kerós símera?
• Translation: “How is the weather today?”

• Greek: Τι καιρό κάνει σήμερα;
• Romanization: Ti keró káni símera?
• Translation: “What is the weather like today?”

The Answer

• Greek: Σήμερα έχει λιακάδα.
• Romanization: Símera éhi liakáda.
• Translation: “Today is sunny.”

• Greek: Σήμερα έχει συννεφιά.
• Romanization: Símera éhi sinefiá.
• Translation: “Today is cloudy.”

• Greek: Σήμερα βρέχει.
• Romanization: Símera vréhi.
• Translation: “Today it’s raining.”

Of course, these are just the most basic answers. Learn more about The Weather in Greece or enhance your vocabulary with the Top 15 Weather Conditions. 

7. Do you like Greek food?

Who doesn’t like Greek cuisine? If you haven’t tried it, it’s a must! 

Just visit a Greek restaurant, or ταβέρνα (tavérna), and try one of the following: pastitsio, mousakas, kleftiko, gemista, gyros, souvlaki, tzatziki, or an authentic Greek salad!

The Question

• Greek: Σου αρέσει το ελληνικό φαγητό;
• Romanization: Su arési to ellinikó fayitó?
• Translation: “Do you like Greek food?”

The Answer

• Greek: Ναι, μου αρέσει πάρα πολύ!
• Romanization: Ne, mu arési pára polí!
• Translation: “Yes, I like it very much!”

• Greek: Όχι, δεν μου αρέσει.
• Romanization: Óhi, den mu arési.
• Translation: “Νο, I don’t like it.”

If you need more information, you can Learn How to Order at a Greek Restaurant.

8. What are you doing?

In Greek culture, questions like this are a typical, informal way to check on someone. This question also corresponds to “How are you?”

The Question

• Greek: Τι κάνεις;
• Romanization: Ti kánis?
• Translation: “What are you doing?” / “How are you?”

The Answer

• Greek: Είμαι καλά, ευχαριστώ. Εσύ;
• Romanization: Íme kalá, efharistó. Esí?
• Translation: “I am fine, thank you. You?”

9. What’s wrong?

In Greece, it’s considered polite to ask someone if they’re okay. However, if you’re not close friends, the most likely answer would be “Everything is fine.”

The Question

• Greek: Τι έχεις;
• Romanization: Ti éhis?
• Translation: “What do you have?” / “What’s wrong?”

The Answer

• Greek: Τίποτα, είμαι μια χαρά.
• Romanization: Típota, íme mia hará.
• Translation: “Nothing, I am fine.”

• Greek: Δεν είμαι και πολύ καλά.
• Romanization: Den íme ke polí kalá.
• Translation: “I’m not doing very well.”

You can learn more about positive and negative emotions in our vocabulary lists. 

10. How much is it?

Last, but not least, you should know how to ask for an item’s price. Below, you can find how to do so in Greek. 

The Question

• Greek: Πόσο κοστίζει/κάνει αυτό;
• Romanization: Póso kostízi/káni aftó?
• Translation: “How much does this cost?”

The Answer

• Greek: Kοστίζει/Κάνει 10 ευρώ.
• Romanization: Κostízi/Káni déka evró.
• Translation: “It costs 10 euros.”

11. Conclusion

These were the most popular questions and their answers in Greek! We hope you’re now more confident about asking questions to your Greek friends or family.

GreekPod101.com offers you high-quality, practical lessons about the Greek language.  

At GreekPod101.com, we aim to provide you with everything you need to know about the Greek language in a fun and interesting way. Stay tuned for more articles like this one, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos, which are waiting for you to discover!

In the meantime, can you think of any more Greek questions and answers not included in this list? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll surely inform you about their Greek equivalents!

Okay, we should admit it. 

How about sentence patterns, though?

Yes, I mean versatile Greek sentence patterns, which can be adapted for anything you want to say. That’s exciting, right?

In this article, we’ll focus on practical examples, demonstrating all the basic sentence patterns in Greek. After reading this, you’ll be able to construct simple sentences in Greek, which will certainly be useful whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced learner.

Table of Contents

1. Linking Two Nouns: A is B
2. Using Adjectives to Describe a Noun: A is {Adjective}
3. Expressing Desire: I Want (to)…
4. Expressing Need: I Need (to)… / I Have to…
5. Saying What You Like: I Like (to)…
6. Politely Asking Someone to Do Something: Please…
7. Asking for Permission: May I…? / Can I…?
8. Asking for Information About Something: What is…?
9. Asking About How Something Is: How is…?
10. Asking About the Time: When is…?
11. Asking About Location or Position: Where is…?
12. Conclusion

1. Linking Two Nouns: A is B

Linking two nouns is pretty easy in Greek. Actually, this sentence pattern resembles its English equivalent. The only difference is the use of articles, which is a standard thing in Greek. 

The key concept here is the verb είμαι (íme), meaning “to be,“ which is used to link two nouns. In most cases, the second noun describes the first one. Be careful, though. All verbs in Greek get conjugated according to the person they refer to. 

Let’s have a look at some Greek sentence examples below: 

• Greek: Ο Γιάννης είναι κτηνίατρος.
• Romanization: O Yánis íne ktiníatros.
• Translation: “John is a veterinarian.”

• Greek: Η γυναίκα είναι δασκάλα.
• Romanization: I yinéka íne daskála.
• Translation: “The woman is a teacher.”

• Greek: Το ρολόι είναι δώρο.
• Romanization: To rolói íne dóro.
• Translation: “The watch is a gift.”

2. Using Adjectives to Describe a Noun: A is {Adjective}

Another alternative that might come in handy is trying to describe a noun with an adjective. This can also be done easily, by simply placing the adjective after the verb είμαι (íme).

Here are some examples:

• Greek: Το βιβλίο είναι ενδιαφέρον.
• Romanization: To vivlío íne endiaféron.
• Translation: “The book is interesting.”

• Greek: Το φαγητό είναι νόστιμο.
• Romanization: To fayitó íne nóstimo.
• Translation: “The food is delicious.”

• Greek: Η ταινία ήταν τρομακτική.
• Romanization: I tenía ítan tromaktikí.
• Translation: “The movie was scary.”

3. Expressing Desire: I Want (to)…

The verb θέλω (thélo), meaning “to want,” can be accompanied by a noun as it represents a desire. In addition,  it’s often accompanied by a verb in the subjunctive mood (i.e. by the conjunction να followed by a verb), in order to express the desire to do a certain action. Alternatively, it can be accompanied by a demonstrative pronoun. 

Let’s take a look at some examples of this Greek sentence structure:

• Greek: Θέλω κοτόπουλο.
• Romanization: Thélo kotópulo.
• Translation: “I want chicken.”

• Greek: Θέλω να κοιμηθώ.
• Romanization: Thélo na kimithó.
• Translation: “I want to sleep.”

• Greek: Θέλω να κάνω μια ερώτηση.
• Romanization: Thélo na káno mia erótisi.
• Translation: “I want to ask a question.”

• Greek: Θέλω αυτό.
• Romanization: Thélo aftó.
• Translation: “I want this.”

4. Expressing Need: I Need (to)… / I Have to…

Unlike in English, the phrase “need to” in Greek is not a synonym for “must.” Instead, it’s used as its literal translation, expressing a necessity. 

Again, in this case, these phrases are often accompanied by a noun or a verb in the subjunctive mood.

Here are some examples of Greek sentences expressing need: 

• Greek: Χρειάζομαι ένα στυλό.
• Romanization: Hriázome éna stiló.
• Translation: “I need a pen.”

• Greek: Πρέπει να φύγω.
• Romanization: Prépi na fígo.
• Translation: “I have to go.”

• Greek: Πρέπει να πάω στην τουαλέτα.
• Romanization: Prépi na páo stin tualéta.
• Translation: “I have to go to the bathroom.”

• Greek: Πρέπει να εξασκηθώ περισσότερο.
• Romanization: Prépi na exaskithó perisótero.
• Translation: “I have to practice more.”

5. Saying What You Like: I Like (to)…

Below, you can find some practical Greek sentences for beginners that you can use to describe something that you like. 

Again, when describing an action that you like, the second verb should be in the subjunctive mood.

• Greek: Μου αρέσεις.
• Romanization: Mu arésis.
• Translation: “I like you.”

• Greek: Μου αρέσει αυτό το βιβλίο.
• Romanization: Mu arési aftó to vivlío.
• Translation: “I like this book.”

• Greek: Μου αρέσει να μαγειρεύω.
• Romanization: Mu arési na mayirévo.
• Translation: “I like to cook.”

• Greek: Μου αρέσει να βλέπω το ηλιοβασίλεμα στην παραλία.
• Romanization: Mu arési na vlépo to iliovasílema stin paralía.
• Translation: “I like to watch the sunset at the beach.”

6. Politely Asking Someone to Do Something: Please…

Let’s take a look at some examples of how to form Greek sentences this way: 

• Greek: Παρακαλώ, καθίστε.
• Romanization: Parakaló,kathíste.
• Translation: “Please, sit down.”

• Greek: Παρακαλώ, περιμένετε στην ουρά.
• Romanization: Parakaló, periménete stin urá.
• Translation: “Please, wait in the line.”

• Greek: Σε παρακαλώ, άκουσέ με.
• Romanization: Se parakaló, ákusé me.
• Translation: “Please, listen to me / hear me out.” (informal)

7. Asking for Permission: May I…? / Can I…?

Knowing how to ask something politely will surely be useful, whether you’re visiting Greece or talking with your Greek friends. 

Below, you can find some of the most common polite questions. 

• Greek: Μπορώ να περάσω;
• Romanization: Boró na peráso?
• Translation: “May I come in?”

• Greek: Μπορώ να έχω λίγο νερό;
• Romanization: Boró na ého lígo neró?
• Translation: “Can I have some water?”

• Greek: Μπορώ να έχω τηλέφωνό σου;
• Romanization: Boró na ého to tiléfonó su?
• Translation: “Can I have your phone number?”

8. Asking for Information About Something: What is…?

Another important type of question is that used to ask for information about something. The protagonist here is the interrogative pronoun Τι….; (Ti…?), meaning “What…?”

• Greek: Τι είναι αυτό;
• Romanization: Ti íne aftó?
• Translation: “What is this?”

• Greek: Τι χρώμα είναι το παντελόνι που ήθελες;
• Romanization: Ti hróma íne to pandelóni pu ítheles?
• Translation: “What color are the trousers you wanted?”

9. Asking About How Something Is: How is…?

You might be wondering “How do I say this?” Wonder no more – here’s how to ask questions beginning with “How.”

• Greek: Πώς μπορώ να το πω αυτό;
• Romanization: Pós boró na to po aftó?
• Translation: “How can I say this?”

• Greek: Πώς σε λένε;
• Romanization: Pos se léne?
• Translation: “How do they call you?”
• Meaning: This is the most common way to ask someone for their name. It’s equivalent to “What’s your name?”

• Greek: Πώς μπορώ να πάω στο ξενοδοχείο;
• Romanization: Pós boró na páo sto xenodohío?
• Translation: “How can I get to the hotel?”

10. Asking About the Time: When is…?

Being on time is highly appreciated by Greeks. In addition, remembering someone’s birthday is considered a proof of friendship. 

In order to ask questions about when something is, you can follow a general rule: Πότε είναι (Póte íne) + article + noun.

Here are some of the most common relevant questions:

• Greek: Πότε είναι τα γενέθλιά σου;
• Romanization: Póte íne ta yenéthliá su?
• Translation: “When is your birthday?”

• Greek: Πότε είναι το ραντεβού;
• Romanization: Póte íne to randevú?
• Translation: “When is the appointment?”

• Greek: Πότε είναι η ώρα αναχώρησης της πτήσης μας;
• Romanization: Póte íne i óra anahórisi tis ptísis mas?
• Translation: “When is the departure time of our flight?”

• Greek: Πότε είναι η ώρα άφιξης της πτήσης μας;
• Romanization: Póte íne i óra áfixis tis ptísis mas?
• Translation: “When is the arrival time of our flight?”

11. Asking About Location or Position: Where is…?

Last but not least, another useful question is that used to ask where something is. If you’re visiting Greece for the first time, feel free to use the basic questions demonstrated below.

A general rule is: Πού είναι (Pu íne) + article + noun.

• Greek: Πού είναι η τουαλέτα;
• Romanization: Pu íne i tualéta?
• Translation: “Where is the restroom?”

• Greek: Πού είναι το ασανσέρ;
• Romanization: Pu íne to asansér?
• Translation: “Where is the elevator?”

12. Conclusion

Simple Greek language sentences, like those we demonstrated above, can be useful in a wide variety of situations. That’s our goal: To provide you with practical knowledge, which can be learned in an easy and fun way. 

Start learning Greek today in a consistent and organized manner by creating a free lifetime account on GreekPod101.com. Tons of free vocabulary lists, YouTube videos, and grammar tips are waiting to be discovered. 

In the meantime, is there a sentence structure that troubles you? Check out our Must-Know Greek Sentence Structures series. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments, and we’d be happy to help!

In the Greek language, an adverb is an uninflected part of speech, which normally modifies a verb. However, adverbs can also modify adjectives, nouns, and even entire phrases. 

The good news is that these Greek adverbs remain unchanged, regardless of the case, the number, the tense, or any other grammatical phenomenon. And in Greek, where most parts of speech get inflected, this is definitely an assurance.

The bad news—if any—is that there’s a wide variety of adverbs, and it’s nearly impossible for a novice Greek learner to study all of them.  

In this blog post, we’ll guide you through learning the top 100 most common Greek adverbs, along with useful examples of their use. 

First of all, Greek adverbs are divided into five distinct categories:

• Temporal adverbs. These denote time and frequency, and answer the question “When?”
• Locative adverbs. These denote place, and answer the question “Where?”
• Qualitative adverbs. These denote manner and answer the question “How?”
• Quantitative adverbs. These denote quantity, and answer the question “How much?”
• Modal adverbs. These denote how certain we are about something through confirmation, hesitation, or negation.

Now, let’s have a look at each of the aforementioned categories in detail. Without further ado, our Greek adverbs list!

Table of Contents

1. Temporal Adverbs
2. Locative Adverbs
3. Qualitative Adverbs
4. Quantitative Adverbs
5. Modal Adverbs
6. Conclusion

1. Temporal Adverbs

If you’re wondering “When?”, then the first answer that will probably pass through your mind is an adverb. 

In Greek, Πότε; (Pόte?), meaning “When?”, is a very common question in everyday life. From arranging a business appointment to asking for transportation information, temporal adverbs will surely come in handy.

1

Greek: σήμερα Romanization: símera Translation: “today”

Example: Greek: Σήμερα δεν κάνει τόσο κρύο. Romanization: Símera den káni tóso krío. Translation: “Today is not that cold.”

2

Greek: αύριο Romanization: ávrio Translation: “tomorrow”

Example: Greek: Θα πάμε για ψώνια αύριο. Romanization: Tha páme ya psónia ávrio. Translation: “We’ll go shopping tomorrow.”

3

Greek: μεθαύριο Romanization: methávrio Translation: “the day after tomorrow”

Example: Greek: Εάν δεν μπορείς αύριο, πάμε μεθαύριο. Romanization: Εán den borís ávrio, páme methávrio. Translation: “If you can’t tomorrow, let’s go on the day after tomorrow.”

4

Greek: χθες Romanization: hthes Translation: “yesterday”

Example: Greek: Χθες ήμουν άρρωστη, αλλά σήμερα είμαι καλύτερα. Romanization: Hthes ímun árrosti, alá símera íme kalítera. Translation: “Yesterday I was sick, but today I’m better.”

5

Greek: τώρα Romanization: tóra Translation: “now”

Example: Greek: Δεν γίνεται να μιλήσουμε τώρα, γιατί είμαι απασχολημένος. Romanization: Den yínete na milísume tóra, yiatí íme apasholiménos. Translation: “We can’t talk now because I am busy.”

6

Greek: αργότερα Romanization: argótera Translation: “later”

Example: Greek: Παρακαλώ, προσπαθήστε ξανά αργότερα. Romanization: Parakaló, prospathíste xaná argótera. Translation: “Please, try again later.”

7

Greek: σύντομα Romanization: síndoma Translation: “shortly” / “soon”

Example: Greek: Θα λάβετε μια απάντηση σύντομα. Romanization: Tha lávete mia apándisi síndoma. Translation: “You’ll receive an answer shortly.”

8

Greek: τότε Romanization: tóte Translation: “then”

Example: Greek: Έλα το απόγευμα. Τότε θα έχω χρόνο. Romanization: Éla to apóyevma. Tóte tha ého hróno. Translation: “Come in the afternoon. I’ll have time then.”

9

Greek: αργά Romanization: argá Translation: “late”

Example: Greek: Δεν μπορώ να έρθω, γιατί είναι πολύ αργά. Romanization: Den boró na értho, yiatí íne polí argá. Translation: “I can’t come because it’s too late.”

10

Greek: νωρίς Romanization: norís Translation: “early”

Example: Greek: Κάθε μέρα ξυπνάω νωρίς το πρωί. Romanization: Káthe méra xipnáo norís to proí. Translation: “Every day, I wake up early in the morning.”

11

Greek: φέτος Romanization: fétos Translation: “this year”

Example: Greek: Φέτος ξεκίνησα να μαθαίνω ελληνικά. Romanization: Fétos xekínisa na mathéno eliniká. Translation: “This year, I began learning Greek.”

12

Greek: πέρυσι Romanization: périsi Translation: “last year”

Example: Greek: Πέρυσι ήταν η καλύτερη χρονιά της ζωής μου!  Romanization: Périsi ítan i kalíteri hroniá tis zoís mu! Translation: “Last year was the best year of my life!”

13

Greek: μόλις Romanization: mólis Translation: “as soon as”

Example: Greek: Απάντησα στο μήνυμά σου μόλις το έλαβα.  Romanization: Apánisa sto mínimá su mólis to élava. Translation: “I answered your message as soon as I got it.”

14

Greek: μετά Romanization: metá Translation: “after”

Example: Greek: Μπορούμε να πάμε για φαγητό μετά τη δουλειά. Τι λες;  Romanization: Borúme na páme ya fayitó metá ti duliá. Ti les? Translation: “We can go for lunch after work. What do you say?”

15

Greek: πριν Romanization: prin Translation: “before”

Example: Greek: Θα σε πάρω τηλέφωνο πριν κοιμηθώ. Romanization: Tha se páro tiléfono prin kimithó. Translation: “I’ll call you before I go to sleep.”

16

Greek: απόψε Romanization: apópse Translation: “tonight”

Example: Greek: Απόψε είναι το πάρτι γενεθλίων μου. Romanization: Apópse íne to párti yenethlíon mu. Translation: “Tonight is my birthday party.

17

Greek: έγκαιρα / εγκαίρως Romanization: éngera / engéros Translation: “in time”

Example: Greek: Θα σε ειδοποιήσω εγκαίρως. Romanization: Tha se idopiíso engéros. Translation: “I’ll notify you in time.”

18

Greek: ξανά Romanization: xaná Translation: “again” This is often used as a verb prefix meaning “re-,” such as in “redo,” to denote an action being done again.

Example: Greek: Εάν δεν είναι σωστό, κάνε το ξανά (or ξανακάνε το). Romanization: Eán den íne sostó, káne to xaná (or xanakáne to). Translation: “If it’s not correct, do it again / redo it.” Useful expressions: Greek: Ξανά και ξανά. Romanization: Xaná ke xaná. Translation: “Over and over again.” Greek: Ποτέ ξανά! Romanization: Poté xaná! Translation: “Never again!”

19

Greek: πάλι Romanization: páli Translation: “again” It’s usually used when “again” implies the speaker’s frustration, but never as a verb prefix.

Example: Greek: Πάλι δεν έκανες τις ασκήσεις σου; Romanization: Páli den ékanes tis askísis su? Translation: “You haven’t done your homework again?” Useful expressions: Greek: Όχι πάλι! Romanization: Óhi páli! Translation: “Not again!” Greek: Άντε πάλι! Romanization: Áde páli! Translation: “There we go again!”

20

Greek: ήδη Romanization: ídi Translation: “already”

Example: Greek: Σε έχω συγχωρήσει ήδη πολλές φορές. Romanization: Se ého sinhorísi ídi polés forés. Translation: “I have already forgiven you many times.”

1.1 Adverbs of Frequency

Another common time-related question is Πόσο συχνά; (Póso sihná?), meaning “How often?” The answer, in this case, regularly includes some of the following adverbs in Greek.

21	22	23	24	25
Greek: ποτέ Romanization: poté Translation: “never”	Greek: σπάνια / σπανίως Romanization: spánia / spaníos Translation: “rarely”	Greek: συχνά Romanization: sihná Translation: “often”	Greek: συνήθως Romanization: siníthos Translation: “usually”	Greek: πάντα Romanization: páda Translation: “always”

You may encounter the above adverbs in questionnaires, so they are really useful. 

Another adverb of frequency is:

26

Greek: διαρκώς Romanization: diarkós Translation: “constantly”

Example: Greek: Σταμάτα! Με ενοχλείς διαρκώς. Romanization: Stamáta! Me enohís diarkós. Translation: “Stop it! You are constantly bothering me.”

When it comes to the cost of a service, the following adverbs are usually used to determine payment methods.

27	28	29	30	31	32
Greek: ωριαίως Romanization: oriéos Translation: “hourly”	Greek: ημερησίως Romanization: imerisíos Translation: “daily” / “on a daily basis”	Greek: καθημερινά / καθημερινώς Romanization: kathimeriná / kathimerinós Translation: “daily” / “every day”	Greek: εβδομαδιαίως Romanization: evdomadiéos Translation: “weekly”	Greek: μηνιαίως Romanization: miniéos Translation: “monthly”	Greek: ετησίως Romanization: etisíos Translation: “annually”

For example:

Greek: Για την υπηρεσία αυτή θα χρεωθείτε ωριαίως / ημερησίως / εβδομαδιαίως / μηνιαίως / ετησίως .

Romanization: Ya tin ipiresía aftí tha hreothíte oriéos / imerisíos / evdomadiéos /  miniéos / etisíos.

Translation: “For this service, you will be charged hourly / daily / weekly / monthly / annually.”

2. Locative Adverbs

In this category fall the adverbs answering the question Πού; (Pu?), or “Where?”

33

Greek: εδώ Romanization: edó Translation: “here”

Example: Greek: Έλα εδώ. Θέλω να σου πω κάτι. Romanization: Éla edó. Thélo na su po káti. Translation: “Come here. I want to tell you something.”

34

Greek: εκεί Romanization: ekí Translation: “there”

Example: Greek: Βλέπεις το μεγάλο βουνό εκεί; Ονομάζεται Όλυμπος. Romanization: Vlépis to megálo vunó ekí? Onomázete Ólimbos. Translation: “Do you see that big mountain over there? It’s called Olympus.”

35

Greek: παντού Romanization: pandú Translation: “everywhere”

Example: Greek: Στo νησί βλέπεις χαμογελαστούς ανθρώπους παντού. Romanization: Sto nisí vlépis hamoyelastús anthrópus pandú. Translation: “On the island, you can see smiling people everywhere.”

36

Greek: κάπου Romanization: kápu Translation: “somewhere”

Example: Greek: Έχασα το κινητό μου. Κάπου πρέπει να το ξέχασα. Romanization: Éhasa to kinitó mu. Kápu prépi na to xéhasa. Translation: “I have lost my mobile phone. I must have forgotten it somewhere.”

37

Greek: πουθενά Romanization: puthená Translation: “nowhere” / “somewhere” (in questions)

Examples: Greek: Δεν μπορώ να το βρω πουθενά. Romanization: Den boró na to vro puthená. Translation: “I can’t find it anywhere.” Greek: Είδες πουθενά τα κλειδιά μου; Romanization: Ídes puthená ta klidiá mu? Translation: “Did you see my keys somewhere?”

38	Greek: μέσα Romanization: mésa Translation: “inside” / “in” / “within”	Examples: Greek: Έψαξα μέσα και έξω από το σπίτι. Romanization: Épsaxa mésa ke éxo apó to spíti. Translation: “I searched inside and outside the house.” Greek: Το ασανσέρ χάλασε, γιατί πηγαίνει πάνω κάτω χωρίς σταματημό όλη μέρα. Romanization: To asansér hálase, yatí piyéni páno káto horís stamatimó óli méra. Translation: “The elevator broke down because it goes up and down without stopping all day long.” Greek: Όταν περνάω τον δρόμο, κοιτάω δεξιά και αριστερά. Romanization: Ótan pernáo ton drómo, kitáo dexiá ke aristerá. Translation: “When I cross the street, I look right and left.”
39	Greek: έξω Romanization: éxo Translation: “outside” / “out”
40	Greek: πάνω Romanization: páno Translation: “up” / “over” / “on”
41	Greek: κάτω Romanization: káto Translation: “down” / “under” / “beneath”
42	Greek: δεξιά Romanization: dexiá Translation: “right”
43	Greek: αριστερά Romanization: aristerá Translation: “left”

44

Greek: δίπλα Romanization: dípla Translation: “next to” / “nearby”

Examples: Greek: Το ξενοδοχείο είναι δίπλα στην τράπεζα. Romanization: To xenodohío íne dípla stin trápeza. Translation: “The hotel is next to the bank.” Greek: Το ξενοδοχείο είναι εδώ δίπλα. Romanization: To xenodohío íne edó dípla. Translation: “The hotel is nearby.” Greek: Ο Γιάννης είναι δίπλα μου. Romanization: O Yánis íne dípla mu. Translation: “John is next to me.”

45

Greek: μακριά Romanization: makriá Translation: “far”

Example: Greek: Το σπίτι μου δεν είναι μακριά από το κέντρο της πόλης. Romanization: To spíti mu den íne makriá apó to kédro tis pólis. Translation: “My home is not far from the city center.”

46

Greek: κοντά Romanization: kondá Translation: “near”

Example: Greek: Το σπίτι μου είναι κοντά στη θάλασσα. Romanization: To spíti mu íne kondá sti thálasa. Translation: “My home is near the sea.”

47

Greek: απέναντι Romanization: apénandi Translation: “across”

Example: Greek: Απέναντι από το ξενοδοχείο βρίσκεται ένα καλό εστιατόριο. Romanization: Apénandi apó to xenodohío vrískete éna kaló estiatório. Translation: “Across from the hotel, there’s a good restaurant.”

48

Greek: πίσω Romanization: píso Translation: “behind” / “back”

Example: Greek: Πίσω από το φαρμακείο βρίσκεται ένα ιδιωτικό πάρκινγκ. Romanization: Píso apó to farmakío vrískete éna idiotikó párking. Translation: “Behind the pharmacy, there’s private parking.”

49

Greek: μπροστά Romanization: brostá Translation: “in front of”

Example: Greek: Μπροστά από το σχολείο βρίσκεται ένα όμορφο πάρκο. Romanization: Brostá apó to scholío vrískete éna ómorfo párko. Translation: “In front of the school, there’s a beautiful park.”

50

Greek: ψηλά Romanization: psilá Translation: “(up) high”

Example: Greek: Κοίταξα ψηλά στον ουρανό και είδα ένα εξωτικό πουλί. Romanization: Κítaxa psilá ston uranó ke ída éna exotikó pulí. Translation: “I looked high up in the sky and I saw an exotic bird.”

51

Greek: χαμηλά Romanization: hamilá Translation: “(down) low”

Example: Greek: Κοίταξα χαμηλά και είδα ένα μικρό γατάκι στο πεζοδρόμιο. Romanization: Κítaxa hamilá ke ída éna gatáki sto pezodrómio. Translation: “I looked down low and I saw a kitty on the pavement.”

52

Greek: μεταξύ Romanization: metaxí Translation: “between” This is followed by a noun in genitive case, as demonstrated in the example.

Example: Greek: Μεταξύ των δύο σπιτιών υπήρχε ένας φράχτης. Romanization: Metaxí ton dío spitión ipírhe énas fráhtis. Translation: “Between the two houses, there was a fence.”

53

Greek: ανάμεσα Romanization: anámesa Translation: “between” This adverb is followed by the preposition σε, which is often integrated in the article, becoming στον (masculine) / στη(ν) (feminine) / στο (neutral).

Example: Greek: Ανάμεσα στα δύο σπίτια υπήρχε ένας φράχτης. Romanization: Anámesa sta dío spítia ipírhe énas fráhtis. Translation: “Between the houses, there was a fence.”

54

Greek: γύρω Romanization: yíro Translation: “around”

Example: Greek: Γύρω από το δέντρο υπήρχαν πολλές μέλισσες. Romanization: Υíro apó to déndro ipírhan polés mélises. Translation: “Around the tree, there were many bees.”

55

Greek: αλλού Romanization: alú Translation: “someplace else” / “somewhere else”

Example: Greek: Αυτό το εστιατόριο είναι γεμάτο. Πάμε αλλού. Romanization: Aftó to estiatório íne yemáto. Páme alú. Translation: “This restaurant is full. Let’s go someplace else.”

56	Greek: βόρεια Romanization: vória Translation: “north”	Example: Greek: Η Ελλάδα είναι ένα σταυροδρόμι πολιτισμών. Ανατολικά συνορεύει με την Τουρκία, δυτικά με την Ιταλία, βόρεια με τη Βουλγαρία, βορειοδυτικά με την Αλβανία και νότια με την Αφρική. Romanization: I Elláda íne éna stavrodrómi politizmón. Anatoliká sinorévi me tin Turkía, ditiká me tin Italía, vória me ti Vulgaría, vorioditiká me tin Alvanía ke nótia me tin Afrikí. Translation: “Greece is a crossroad of cultures. It borders Turkey to the east, Italy to the west, Bulgaria to the north, Albania to the northwest, and Africa to the south.”
57	Greek: νότια Romanization: nótia Translation: “south”
58	Greek: ανατολικά Romanization: anatoliká Translation: “east”
59	Greek: δυτικά Romanization: ditiká Translation: “west”
60	Greek: βορειοδυτικά Romanization: ditiká Translation: “southwest”

If you want to learn more phrases about giving directions in Greek, we highly recommend that you check out our relevant blog post.

3. Qualitative Adverbs

Similarly, the adverbs of this category answer the question Πώς; (Pos?), meaning “How?” 

61	Greek: αργά Romanization: argá Translation: “slowly”	Example: Greek: Οδηγάς πολύ γρήγορα. Πήγαινε πιο αργά. Romanization: Odigás polí grígora. Píyene pio argá. Translation: “You are driving very quickly. Go more slowly.”
62	Greek: γρήγορα Romanization: grígora Translation: “quickly”

63	Greek: προσεκτικά Romanization: prosektiká Translation: “carefully”	Example: Greek: Να μη διαβάζεις απρόσεκτα. Να διαβάζεις προσεκτικά, για να καταλαβαίνεις. Romanization: Na mi diavázis aprósekta. Na diavázis prosektiká, ya na katalavénis. Translation: “You shouldn’t study without paying attention. You should study carefully in order to understand.”
64	Greek: απρόσεκτα Romanization: aprósekta Translation: “carelessly” / “without paying attention”

65

Greek: ήσυχα Romanization: ísiha Translation: “quietly”

Example: Greek: Το βράδυ προσπαθώ να μπαίνω στο σπίτι ήσυχα, για να μη σε ξυπνήσω. Romanization: To vrádi prospathó na béno sto spíti ísiha, ya na mi se xipníso. Translation: “During the night, I try to enter the house quietly so I won’t wake you up.”

66	Greek: χαρούμενα Romanization: harúmena Translation: “happily”	Example: Greek: Ο σκύλος με κοιτά χαρούμενα όταν έρχομαι στο σπίτι και λυπημένα όταν φεύγω.  Romanization: O skílos me kitá harúmena ótan érhome sto spíti ke lipiména ótan févgo. Translation: “The dog looks at me happily when I come home and sadly when I leave.”
67	Greek: λυπημένα Romanization: lipiména Translation: “sadly”

68	Greek: εύκολα Romanization: éfkola Translation: “easily”	Example: Greek: Μπορείς να μπεις εύκολα σε έναν λαβύρινθο, όμως βγαίνεις δύσκολα.  Romanization: Borís na bis éfkola se énan lavírintho, ómos vyénis dískola. Translation: “You can enter a labyrinth easily, but you get out of it with difficulty.”
69	Greek: δύσκολα Romanization: dískola Translation: “with difficulty”

70	Greek: κυριολεκτικά Romanization: kiriolektiká Translation: “literally”	Example: Greek: Αυτό το είπα μεταφορικά. Δεν μιλούσα κυριολεκτικά. Romanization: Aftó to ípa metaforiká. Den milúsa kiriolektiká. Translation: “I said this metaphorically. I wasn’t talking literally.”
71	Greek: μεταφορικά Romanization: metaforiká Translation: “metaphorically”

72

Greek: έτσι Romanization: étsi Translation: “this/that way” “like this/that”

Example: Greek: ⁠—Πώς θέλετε να σας κόψω τα μαλλιά; —Έτσι. Romanization: —Pós thélete na sas kópso ta maliá? —Étsi.  Translation: “—How would you like me to cut your hair? —This way.”

73

Greek: κάπως Romanization: kápos Translation: “somehow”

Example: Greek: Κάπως πρέπει να συναντηθούμε. Romanization: Κápos prépi na sinadithúme.  Translation: “We have to meet somehow.”

74

Greek: καλά / καλώς Romanization: kalá / kalós Translation: “well” / “good”

Example: Greek: —Το ραντεβού σας είναι αύριο το απόγευμα. —Καλώς. Romanization: —To randevú sas íne ávrio to apóyevma. —Kalós. Translation: “Your appointment is for tomorrow afternoon. – Good.”

75

Greek: κακά / κακώς Romanization: kaká / kakós Translation: “badly” / “bad”

Example: Greek: Κακώς δεν του είπες ότι θα αργήσεις. Romanization: Kakós den tu ípes óti tha aryísis. Translation: “It was bad that you didn’t tell him you’ll be late.”

76

Greek: ξαφνικά Romanization: xafniká Translation: “suddenly”

Example: Greek: Ξαφνικά ο ουρανός σκοτείνιασε και άρχισε να βρέχει. Romanization: Χafniká o uranós skotíniase ke árhise na vréhi. Translation: “Suddenly, the sky darkened and it started raining.”

77	Greek: ωραία Romanization: oréa Translation: ” nicely” / “nice”	Example: Greek: Αυτή τη φορά πέρασα πολύ ωραία στην εκδρομή μας. Την προηγούμενη φορά ήμουν άρρωστος και πέρασα πολύ άσχημα.  Romanization: Aftí ti forá pérasa polí oréa stin ekdromí mas. Tin proigúmeni forá ímun árostos ke pérasa polí áshima. Translation: “This time, I had a nice time on our excursion. Last time, I was sick and I had a bad time.”
78	Greek: άσχημα Romanization: áshima Translation: “badly” / “bad”

79

Greek: μαζί Romanization: mazí Translation: “together”

Example: Greek: Πήγατε μαζί σινεμά; Romanization: Pígate mazí sinemá? Translation: “Did you go to the cinema together?”

80	Greek: ευτυχώς Romanization: eftihós Translation: “fortunately” / “luckily”	Example: Greek: Ευτυχώς η άσκηση ήταν εύκολη, όμως δεν πρόλαβα να την κάνω δυστυχώς. Romanization: Eftihós i áskisi ítan éfkoli, ómos den prólava na tin káno distihós. Translation: “Fortunately, the assignment was easy; but unfortunately, I didn’t get it done. “
81	Greek: δυστυχώς Romanization: distihós Translation: “unfortunately”

4. Quantitative Adverbs

As you might have guessed, adverbs of quantity answer the question Πόσο; (Póso), or “How much?”

Here are some of the most popular answers:

82	83	84	85	86	87	88
Greek: τόσο Romanization: tóso Translation: “that much“	Greek: λίγο Romanization: lígo Translation: “(a) little”	Greek: πολύ Romanization: polí Translation: “very” / “much” / “too”	Greek: αρκετά Romanization: arketá Translation: “enough”	Greek: λιγότερο Romanization: ligótero Translation: “less”	Greek: περισσότερο Romanization: perisótero Translation: “more”	Greek: καθόλου Romanization: kathólu Translation: “(not) at all”

Now, let’s have a look at some more adverbs of quantity, along with some examples.+

89

Greek: μόνο Romanization: móno Translation: “only” / “just” This adverb is usually accompanied by other relevant adverbs of quantity, such as τόσο (tóso) and λίγο (lígo).

Example: Greek: Έφαγα λίγο μόνο και δεν χόρτασα. Romanization: Éfaga lígo móno ke den hórtasa. Translation: “I ate just a little and I didn’t get full.”

90	Greek: περίπου Romanization: perípu Translation: “approximately” / “about” This adverb is usually accompanied by other relevant adverbs of quantity, such as τόσο (tóso).	Example: Greek: Έφαγα τόσο περίπου και δεν χόρτασα. Romanization: Éfaga tóso perípu ke den hórtasa. Translation: “I ate about that much and I didn’t get full.” (while demonstrating the quantity)
91	Greek: σχεδόν Romanization: shedón Translation: “almost” / “nearly” This adverb is usually accompanied by other relevant adverbs of quantity, such as τόσο (tóso).	Example: Greek: Έφαγε σχεδόν όλα τα μπισκότα. Romanization: Éfaye schedón óla ta biskóta. Translation: “He ate almost all the cookies.”

5. Modal Adverbs

Adverbs denoting confirmation, hesitation, or negation typically answer Yes/No questions, or they can be used to express agreement or disagreement in general.

5.1 Confirmation Adverbs

92	93	94	95
Greek: ναι Romanization: ne Translation: “yes”	Greek: σίγουρα Romanization: sígura Translation: “surely” / “for sure”	Greek: βέβαια / βεβαίως Romanization: vévea / vevéos Translation: “certainly”	Greek: μάλιστα Romanization: málista Translation: “indeed”

5.2 Hesitation Adverbs

96	97
Greek: ίσως Romanization: ísos Translation: “maybe”	Greek: πιθανόν Romanization: pithanón Translation: “perhaps” / “probably”

5.3 Negation Adverbs

98	99	100
Greek: όχι Romanization: óhi Translation: “no”	Greek: δεν Romanization: den Translation: “not” (with a verb in the indicative mood)	Greek: μη(ν) Romanization: min Translation: “not” (with a verb in the subjunctive mood)

6. Conclusion

Learning how to describe various actions is an integral part of your studies. In this article, we’ve tried to cover a wide range of modern Greek adverbs which will be useful in everyday life.

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Do you know why Greek is considered a hard language to learn?

(Yes, we know that you might be thinking of many different answers!)

Nevertheless, a perfectly acceptable answer here would be: Verb conjugation!

Greek verbs tend to change according to the person(s) they refer to, the number, the tense, the mood, the voice, and the conjugation group they belong to. Greek verb conjugation is difficult—we get it. However, it’s not a true mystery. There are several rules that can help you categorize regular verbs and conjugate them correctly, but at the same time, there are several irregular verbs you should probably learn by heart.

In this blog post, we’ll focus on the regular Greek verbs’ conjugations, presenting you with tips, tricks, and examples.

Table of Contents

1. What is Conjugation?
2. Verb Conjugation Groups
3. Conjugation Examples
4. It’s Quiz Time!
5. Conclusion

1. What is Conjugation?

Conjugation is a phenomenon describing various changes happening to a verb, commonly based on the person(s), the number, the tense, the mood, and the voice. These changes create different pattern sets called conjugation groups, and verbs are categorized according to those groups.

In Greek, adjectives, pronouns, nouns, and articles change as well. However, in this article, we’ll focus on the Greek verbs and their conjugation, which is one of the most complicated chapters of Greek grammar. 

1.1 The Person(s) and Numbers

Before we begin, take a look at this brief Greek conjugation chart:

	Greek	Romanization	Translation
1st Person Singular	εγώ	egó	“I”
2nd Person Singular	εσύ	esí	“you”
3rd Person Singular	αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	aftós / aftí / aftó	“he” / “she” / “it”
1st Person Plural	εμείς	emís	“we”
2nd Person Plural	εσείς	esís	“you”
3rd Person Plural	αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	aftí / aftés / aftá	“they” (male / female / neutral)

Our first stop on the journey of modern Greek verb conjugation is the person(s) and numbers. Greek verbs, just like English verbs, get conjugated according to the first, second, and third person in the singular and plural. To create all these different verb forms, the only thing you need to do is change its suffix (i.e. its ending). 

For example: 

• εγώ λύνω (egó líno) — “I solve”
• εσύ λύνεις (esí línis) —  “you solve”

As you might have noticed, this change can be very tricky for English-speakers, since the verb in English remains unchanged, regardless of the person. That’s surely one major difference between Greek and English grammar, so you’ll need time and a lot of practice to get used to this.

1.2 The Tenses

Lucky for you, the Greek tenses have many similarities with those in English. Let’s have a look at the table below.

Greek Tense	Romanization	Corresponding English Tense	Usage
Ενεστώτας	Enestótas	Simple Present &  Present Continuous	For an action that is happening in the present, either continuously or repeatedly, or just once.
Παρατατικός	Paratatikós	Past Continuous	For an action that was happening continuously or repeatedly in the past.
Αόριστος	Aóristos	Simple Past	For an action that happened in the past once or momentarily.
Στιγμιαίος Μέλλοντας	Stigmiéos Mélondas	Simple Future	For an action that will happen in the future just once or momentarily.
Εξακολουθητικός Μέλλοντας	Exakoluthitikós Mélondas	Future Continuous	For an action that will be happening in the future continuously or repeatedly.
Παρακείμενος	Parakímenos	Present Perfect	For an action that began in the past and has been completed by the present time.
Υπερσυντέλικος	Ipersidélikos	Past Perfect	For an action that began in the past and was completed before a specific moment (or other action) in the past.
Συντελεσμένος Μέλλοντας	Sindelezménos Mélondas	Future Perfect	For an action that will have been completed by a specific time in the future.

For example:

• εγώ προσπαθώ (egó prospathó) — “I try” / “I am trying” | ενεστώτας (enestótas, “present tense”)
• εγώ προσπάθησα (egó prospáthisa) — “I tried” | αόριστος (aóristos, “simple past tense” or “aorist tense”)

All future tenses (στιγμιαίος, εξακολουθητικός & συντελεσμένος μέλλοντας) make use of the particle θα (tha), meaning “will.“ Moreover, Συντελεσμένος Μέλλοντας & Παρακείμενος make use of the auxiliary verb έχω (ého), meaning “have,“ whereas Υπερσυντέλικος makes use of είχα (íha), meaning “had.“

1.3 The Moods

In Greek, there are five distinct verb moods, which have to do with how the verb’s action is presented in order to show the intention of the speaker. The Greek moods and their usage are demonstrated in the table below.

Greek Moods	Romanization	Translation	Usage
Οριστική e.g. Εγώ παίζω.	Oristikí e.g. Egó pézo.	Indicative E.g. “I play.”	Indicates that the action is something certain, real, a fact.
Υποτακτική e.g. Εσύ πρέπει να κοιμηθείς.	Ipotaktikí e.g. Esí prépi na kimithís.	Subjunctive e.g. “You must sleep.”	Indicates that the action is something wanted or expected, such as a wish, a desire, or an intention.
Προστακτική e.g. Πήγαινε τώρα!	Prostaktikí e.g. Píyene tóra!	Imperative E.g. “Go now!”	Indicates a command, an order, or a request.
Μετοχή A) e.g. Παίζοντας πέρασε γρήγορα η ώρα. B) e.g. Τα πιάτα είναι πλυμένα.	Metohí A) e.g. Pézondas pérase grígora i óra. B) e.g. Ta piáta íne pliména.	Participle A) e.g. “By playing, the time passed quickly.” B) e.g. “The dishes are washed.”	A) An uninflected verb form commonly used as an adverb to indicate time, manner, cause, condition, etc. B) An inflected verb form commonly used as an adjective, giving a noun, pronoun, or name a certain attribute.
Απαρέμφατο e.g. Έχω διαβάσει αυτό το βιβλίο.	Aparémfato e.g. Ého diavási aftó to vivlío.	Infinitive e.g. “I have read this book.”	An uninflected verb form used as a verb formation element in the present perfect, past perfect, and the future perfect tense.

Please, keep in mind that the mood υποτακτική (Ipotaktikí) usually makes use of the particle να, among other words, in order to be formed as shown in the relative example.

1.4 The Voices

As in English, there are two voices in Greek:

Greek Voices	Romanization	Corresponding English Voice
Ενεργητική φωνή	Eneryitikí foní	Active voice
Παθητική φωνή	Pathitikí foní	Passive voice

For example:

• Active Voice:
  Η αδερφή μου αγόρασε το μήλο. (I aderfí mu agórase to mílo.) — “My sister bought the apple.

• Passive Voice:
  Το μήλο αγοράστηκε από την αδερφή μου. (To mílo agorástike apó tin aderfí mu.) — “The apple was bought by my sister.”

2. Verb Conjugation Groups

Now, for conjugation in Greek, there are two major conjugation groups: Conjugation A and Conjugation B.

Conjugation A includes verbs ending in:

• -ω | Active Voice
• -ομαι | Passive Voice

For example: λύν-ω / λύν-ομαι (líno / línome) — “to solve” / “to be solved”

Conjugation Β includes verbs ending in:

• -ώ | Active Voice
• -ιέμαι [first class] / -ούμαι, -άμαι, or -ώμαι [second class] | Passive Voice

For example: 

• Conjugation B [first class]:
  αγαπ-ώ / αγαπ-ιέμαι (agapó / agapiéme) — “to love” / “to be loved”
  
• Conjugation B [second class]:
  θεωρ-ώ / θεωρ-ούμαι (theoró / theorúme) — “to think” / “to be thought”
  κοιμ-άμαι (kimáme) — “to sleep” (in the passive voice only)
  διερωτ-ώμαι (dierotóme) — “to ask myself” (in the passive voice only)

As you saw above, Conjugation B verbs are divided into two classes: those conjugating like αγαπώ [first class] and those like θεωρώ [second class].

Indeed, these two major conjugation groups act as a rule for the majority of regular verbs. When it comes to determining to which category each verb belongs, a rule of thumb is to notice whether the -ω at the end of the verb in the active voice is accentuated. If there’s no accent mark, then the verb follows the Conjugation A model. Otherwise, if the -ώ is accentuated, it follows the Conjugation B model.

Greek verb conjugation is not that easy. There are many irregular verbs and many verb forms, some of which were integrated into modern Greek from ancient Greek. Therefore, in practice, learning how to conjugate verbs according to the two conjugation groups only won’t cover all cases. It’s really necessary to study Greek verb conjugation rules for irregular verbs as well. 

3. Conjugation Examples

In the following sections, we’ll be looking at a few Greek conjugation tables to give you a good idea of what to expect.

3.1 Conjugation A

In this category, we find Greek verbs ending in -ω in the active voice, and -ομαι in the passive voice. Below, you can find the complete conjugation of the verb λύνω (líno), meaning “to solve.”

Other Conjugation A verbs that are conjugated in the same way are: 

• χάνω (háno) — “to lose”
• πληρώνω (pliróno) — “to pay”
• ντύνω (díno) — “to dress”

Active Voice

	Indicative
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	λύνω	έλυνα	έλυσα	θα λύσω	θα λύνω	θα έχω λύσει	έχω λύσει	είχα λύσει
εσύ	λύνεις	έλυνες	έλυσες	θα λύσεις	θα λύνεις	θα έχεις λύσει	έχεις λύσε	είχες λύσει
αυτή / αυτό	λύνει	έλυνε	έλυσε	θα λύσει	θα λύνει	θα έχει λύσει	έχει λύσει	είχε λύσει
εμείς	λύνουμε	λύναμε	λύσαμε	θα λύσουμε	θα λύνουμε	θα έχουμε λύσει	έχουμε λύσει	είχαμε λύσει
εσείς	λύνετε	λύνατε	λύσατε	θα λύσετε	θα λύνετε	θα έχετε λύσει	έχετε λύσει	είχατε λύσει
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	λύνουν(ε)	έλυναν or λύνανε	έλυσαν or λύσανε	θα λύσουν(ε)	θα λύνουν(ε)	θα έχουν(ε) λύσει	έχουν(ε) λύσει	είχαν(ε) λύσει

	Subjunctive
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	να λύνω	–	να λύσω	–	–	–	να έχω λύσει	–
εσύ	να λύνεις	–	να λύσεις	–	–	–	να έχεις λύσει	–
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	να λύνει	–	να λύσει	–	–	–	να έχει λύσει	–
εμείς	να λύνουμε	–	να λύσουμε	–	–	–	να έχουμε λύσει	–
εσείς	να λύνετε	–	να λύσετε	–	–	–	να έχετε λύσει	–
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	να λύνουν(ε)	–	να λύσουν(ε)	–	–	–	να έχουν(ε) λύσει	–

	Imperative		The participle	The infinitive
	Present	Simple Past	Present	Simple Past
εσύ	λύνε	λύσε	λύνοντας	λύσει
εσείς	λύνετε	λύστε

Passive Voice

	Indicative
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	λύνομαι	λυνόμουν(α)	λύθηκα	θα λυθώ	θα λύνομαι	θα έχω λυθεί	έχω λυθεί	είχα λυθεί
εγώ	λύνεσαι	λυνόσουν(α)	λύθηκες	θα λυθείς	θα λύνεσαι	θα έχεις λυθεί	έχεις λυθεί	είχες λυθεί
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	λύνεται	λυνόταν(ε)	λύθηκε	θα λυθεί	θα λύνεται	θα έχει λυθεί	έχει λυθεί	είχε λυθεί
εμείς	λυνόμαστε	λυνόμασταν	λυθήκαμε	θα λυθούμε	θα λυνόμαστε	θα έχουμε λυθεί	χουμε λυθεί	είχαμε λυθεί
εσείς	λύνεστε or λυνόσαστε	λυνόσασταν	λυθήκατε	θα λυθείτε	θα λύνεστε or θα λυνόσαστε	θα έχετε λυθεί	έχετε λυθεί	είχατε λυθεί
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	λύνονται	λύνονταν or λυνόντουσαν	λύθηκαν or λυθήκανε	θα λυθούν(ε)	θα λύνονται	θα έχουν(ε) λυθεί	έχουν(ε) λυθεί	είχαν(ε) λυθεί

	Subjunctive
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	να λύνομαι	–	να λυθώ	–	–	–	να έχω λυθεί	–
εσύ	να λύνεσαι	–	να λυθείς	–	–	–	να έχεις λυθεί	–
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	να λύνεται	–	να λυθεί	–	–	–	να έχει λυθεί	–
εμείς	να λυνόμαστε	–	να λυθούμε	–	–	–	να έχουμε λυθεί	–
εσείς	να λύνεστε or να λυνόσαστε	–	να λυθείτε	–	–	–	να έχετε λυθεί	–
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	να λύνονται	–	να λυθούν(ε)	–	–	–	να έχουν(ε) λυθεί	–

	Imperative		The participle	The infinitive
	Present	Simple Past	Present	Simple Past
εσύ	–	λύσου	λυμμένος / -η / -ο	λυθεί
εσείς	–	λυθείτε

3.2 Conjugation B

First Class

In this category are the Greek verbs ending in -ώ in the active voice, and -ιέμαι in the passive voice. Below, you can find the complete conjugation of the verb αγαπώ (agapó), meaning “to love.”

Other Conjugation Β [first class] verbs that are conjugated in the same way are:

• απαντώ (apandó) — “to answer”
• μιλώ (miló) — “to talk”
• ρωτώ (rotó) — “to ask”

Active Voice

	Indicative
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	θεωρώ	θεωρούσα	θεώρησα	θα θεωρήσω	θα θεωρώ	θα έχω θεωρήσει	έχω θεωρήσει	είχα θεωρήσει
εσύ	θεωρείς	θεωρούσες	θεώρησα	θα θεωρήσεις	θα θεωρείς	θα έχεις θεωρήσει	έχεις θεωρήσει	είχες θεωρήσει
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	θεωρεί	θεωρούσε	θεώρησε	θα θεωρήσει	θα θεωρεί	θα έχει θεωρήσει	έχει θεωρήσει	είχε θεωρήσει
εμείς	θεωρούμε	θεωρούσαμε	θεωρήσαμε	θα θεωρήσουμε	θα θεωρούμε	θα έχουμε θεωρήσει	έχουμε θεωρήσει	είχαμε θεωρήσει
εσείς	θεωρείτε	θεωρούσατε	θεωρήσατε	θα θεωρήσετε	θα θεωρείτε	θα έχετε θεωρήσει	έχετε θεωρήσει	είχατε θεωρήσει
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	θεωρούν(ε)	θεωρούσαν(ε)	θεώρησαν	θα θεωρήσουν(ε)	θα θεωρούν(ε)	θα έχουν(ε) θεωρήσει	έχουν(ε) θεωρήσει	είχαν(ε) θεωρήσει

	Subjunctive
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	να θεωρώ	–	να θεωρήσω	–	–	–	να έχω θεωρήσει	–
εσύ	να θεωρείς	–	να θεωρήσεις	–	–	–	να έχεις θεωρήσει	–
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	να θεωρεί	–	να θεωρήσει	–	–	–	να έχει θεωρήσει	–
εμείς	να θεωρούμε	–	να θεωρήσουμε	–	–	–	να έχουμε θεωρήσει	–
εσείς	να θεωρείτε	–	να θεωρήσετε	–	–	–	να έχετε θεωρήσει	–
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	να θεωρούν	–	να θεωρήσουν(ε)	–	–	–	να έχουν(ε) θεωρήσει	–

	Imperative		The participle	The infinitive
	Present	Simple Past	Present	Simple Past
εσύ	–	θεώρησε	θεωρώντας	θεωρήσει
εσείς	θεωρείτε	θεωρήστε

Passive Voice

	Indicative
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	αγαπιέμαι	αγαπιόμουν(α)	αγαπήθηκα	θα αγαπηθώ	θα αγαπιέμαι	θα έχω αγαπηθεί	έχω αγαπηθεί	είχα αγαπηθεί
εσύ	αγαπιέσαι	αγαπιόσουν(α)	αγαπήθηκες	θα αγαπηθείς	θα αγαπιέσαι	θα έχεις αγαπηθεί	έχεις αγαπηθεί	είχες αγαπηθεί
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	αγαπιέται	αγαπιόταν(ε)	αγαπήθηκε	θα αγαπηθεί	θα αγαπιέται	θα έχει αγαπηθεί	έχει αγαπηθεί	είχε αγαπηθεί
εμείς	αγαπιόμαστε	αγαπιόμασταν / αγαπιόμαστε	αγαπηθήκαμε	θα αγαπηθούμε	θα αγαπιόμαστε	θα έχουμε αγαπηθεί	έχουμε αγαπηθεί	είχαμε αγαπηθεί
εσείς	αγαπιέστε or αγαπιόσαστε	αγαπιόσασταν or αγαπιόσαστε	αγαπηθήκατε	θα αγαπηθείτε	θα αγαπιέστε or αγαπιόσαστε	θα έχετε αγαπηθεί	έχετε αγαπηθεί	είχατε αγαπηθεί
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	αγαπιέστε or αγαπιόσαστε	αγαπιούνταν(ε)	αγαπήθηκαν	θα αγαπηθούν(ε)	θα αγαπιούνται	θα έχουν(ε) αγαπηθεί	έχουν(ε) αγαπηθεί	είχαν(ε) αγαπηθεί

	Subjunctive
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Future Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	να αγαπιέμαι	–	να αγαπηθώ	–	–	–	να έχω αγαπηθεί	–
εσύ	να αγαπιέσαι	–	να αγαπηθείς	–	–	–	να έχεις αγαπηθεί	–
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	να αγαπιέται	–	να αγαπηθεί	–	–	–	να έχει αγαπηθεί	–
εμείς	να αγαπιόμαστε	–	να αγαπηθούμε	–	–	–	να έχουμε αγαπηθεί	–
εσείς	να αγαπιέστε or αγαπιόσαστε	–	να αγαπηθείτε	–	–	–	να έχετε αγαπηθεί	–
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	να αγαπιούνται	–	να αγαπηθούν(ε)	–	–	–	να έχουν(ε) αγαπηθεί	–

	Imperative		The participle	The infinitive
	Present	Simple Past	Present	Simple Past
εσύ	–	αγαπήσου	αγαπημένος /-η / -ο	αγαπηθεί
εσείς	αγαπιέστε	αγαπηθείτε

Second Class

Included in this category are the Greek verbs ending in -ώ in the active voice, and -ούμαι, -άμαι, or -ώμαι in the passive voice. Below, you can find the complete conjugation of the verb θεωρώ (theoró), meaning “to think” or “to consider.”

Other Conjugation Β [second class] verbs that are conjugated in the same way are:

• μπορώ (boró) — “can” / “to be able to”
• ζω (zo) — “to live”
• παρακαλώ (parakaló) — “to request” / “to beg”

Active Voice

	Indicative
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	θεωρούμαι	–	θεωρήθηκα	θα θεωρηθώ	θα θεωρούμαι	θα έχω θεωρηθεί	έχω θεωρηθεί	είχα θεωρηθεί
εσύ	θεωρείσαι	–	θεωρήθηκες	θα θεωρηθείς	θα θεωρείσαι	θα έχεις θεωρηθεί	έχεις θεωρηθεί	είχες θεωρηθεί
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	θεωρείται	θεωρούνταν(ε)	θεωρήθηκε	θα θεωρηθεί	θα θεωρηθεί	θα έχει θεωρηθεί	έχει θεωρηθεί	είχε θεωρηθεί
εμείς	θεωρούμαστε	–	θεωρηθήκαμε	θα θεωρηθούμε	θα θεωρηθούμε	θα έχουμε θεωρηθεί	έχουμε θεωρηθεί	είχαμε θεωρηθεί
εσείς	θεωρείστε	–	θεωρηθήκατε	θα θεωρηθείτε	θα θεωρηθείτε	θα έχετε θεωρηθεί	έχετε θεωρηθεί	είχατε θεωρηθεί
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	θεωρούνται	θεωρούνταν(ε)	θεωρήθηκαν(ε)	θα θεωρηθούν(ε)	θα θεωρηθούν(ε)	θα έχουν(ε) θεωρηθεί	έχουν(ε) θεωρηθεί	είχαν(ε) θεωρηθεί

	Subjunctive
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	να θεωρούμαι	–	να θεωρηθώ	–	–	–	να έχω θεωρηθεί	–
εσύ	να θεωρείσαι	–	να θεωρηθείς	–	–	–	να έχεις θεωρηθεί	–
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	να θεωρείται	–	να θεωρηθεί	–	–	–	να έχει θεωρηθεί	–
εμείς	να θεωρούμαστε	–	να θεωρηθούμε	–	–	–	να έχουμε θεωρηθεί	–
εσείς	να θεωρείστε	–	να θεωρηθείτε	–	–	–	να έχετε θεωρηθεί	–
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	να θεωρούνται	–	να θεωρηθούν(ε)	–	–	–	να έχουν(ε) θεωρηθεί	–

	Imperative		The participle	The infinitive
	Present	Simple Past	Present	Simple Past
εσύ	–	θεωρήσου	θεωρημένος /-η / -ο	θεωρηθεί
εσείς	–	θεωρηθείτε

Passive Voice

	Indicative
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	θεωρούμαι	–	θεωρήθηκα	θα θεωρηθώ	θα θεωρούμαι	θα έχω θεωρηθεί	έχω θεωρηθεί	είχα θεωρηθεί
εσύ	θεωρείσαι	–	θεωρήθηκες	θα θεωρηθείς	θα θεωρείσαι	θα έχεις θεωρηθεί	έχεις θεωρηθεί	είχες θεωρηθεί
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	θεωρείται	θεωρούνταν(ε)	θεωρήθηκε	θα θεωρηθεί	θα θεωρείται	θα έχει θεωρηθεί	έχει θεωρηθεί	είχε θεωρηθεί
εμείς	θεωρούμαστε	–	θεωρηθήκαμε	θα θεωρηθούμε	θα θεωρούμαστε	θα έχουμε θεωρηθεί	έχουμε θεωρηθεί	είχαμε θεωρηθεί
εσείς	θεωρείστε	–	θεωρηθήκατε	θα θεωρηθείτε	θα θεωρείστε	θα έχετε θεωρηθεί	έχετε θεωρηθεί	είχατε θεωρηθεί
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	θεωρούνται	θεωρούνταν(ε)	θεωρήθηκαν(ε)	θα θεωρηθούν(ε)	θα θεωρούνται	θα έχουν(ε) θεωρηθεί	έχουν(ε) θεωρηθεί	είχαν(ε) θεωρηθεί

	Subjunctive
	Present	Past Continuous	Simple Past	Simple Future	Future Continuous	Future Perfect	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
εγώ	να θεωρούμαι	–	να θεωρηθώ	–	–	–	να έχω θεωρηθεί	–
εσύ	να θεωρείσαι	–	να θεωρηθείς	–	–	–	να έχεις θεωρηθεί	–
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	να θεωρείται	–	να θεωρηθεί	–	–	–	να έχει θεωρηθεί	–
εμείς	να θεωρούμαστε	–	να θεωρηθούμε	–	–	–	να έχουμε θεωρηθεί	–
εσείς	να θεωρείστε	–	να θεωρηθείτε	–	–	–	να έχετε θεωρηθεί	–
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	να θεωρούνται	–	να θεωρηθούν(ε)	–	–	–	να έχουν(ε) θεωρηθεί	–

	Imperative		The participle	The infinitive
	Present	Simple Past	Present	Simple Past
εσύ	–	θεωρήσου	θεωρημένος /-η / -ο	θεωρηθεί
εσείς	–	θεωρηθείτε

Verbs ending in -ώμαι and -άμαι follow the traditional conjugation model of -ούμαι ending verbs, except for certain forms which we’ll see below. The participles may or may not vary from the traditional model.

Let’s see the forms in which the verb εγγυώμαι (engióme), meaning “to guarantee,” varies.

	Indicative			Subjunctive
	Present	Past Continuous	Future Continuous	Present
εγώ	εγγυ–ώμαι	εγγυ–όμουν	θα εγγυ–ώμαι	να εγγυ–ώμαι
εσύ	εγγυ–άσαι	εγγυ–όσουν	θα εγγυ–άσαι	να εγγυ–άσαι
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	εγγυ–άται	εγγυ–όταν	θα εγγυ–άται	να εγγυ–άται
εμείς	εγγυ–όμαστε or εγγυ–ώμεθα (archaic)	εγγυ–όμασταν	θα εγγυ–όμαστε or θα εγγυ–ώμεθα (archaic)	να εγγυ–όμαστε or να εγγυ–ώμεθα (archaic)
εσείς	εγγυ–άστε or εγγυ–άσθε (archaic)	εγγυ–όσασταν	θα εγγυ–άστε or θα εγγυ–άσθε (archaic)	να εγγυ–άστε or να εγγυ–άσθε (archaic)
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	εγγυ–ούνται or εγγυ–ώνται (archaic)	εγγυ–όνταν or εγγυ–ούνταν	θα εγγυ–ούνται or θα εγγυ–ώνται (archaic)	να εγγυ–ούνται or να εγγυ–ώνται (archaic)

And lastly, let’s see the forms in which the verb κοιμάμαι (kimáme), meaning “to sleep,” varies.

	Indicative			Subjunctive
	Present	Past Continuous	Future Continuous	Present
εγώ	κοιμ–άμαι or κοιμ–ούμαι	κοιμ–όμουν(α)	θα κοιμ–άμαι or θα κοιμ–ούμαι	να κοιμ–άμαι or να κοιμ–ούμαι
εσύ	κοιμ–άσαι	κοιμ–όσουν(α)	θα κοιμ–άσαι	να κοιμ–άσαι
αυτός / αυτή / αυτό	κοιμ–άται	κοιμ–όταν(ε)	θα κοιμ–άται	να κοιμ–άται
εμείς	κοιμ–όμαστε or κοιμ–ούμαστε	κοιμ–όμασταν	θα κοιμ–όμαστε or θα κοιμ–ούμαστε	να κοιμ–όμαστε or να κοιμ–ούμαστε
εσείς	κοιμ–άστε or κοιμ–όσαστε	κοιμ–όσασταν	θα κοιμ–άστε or θα κοιμ–όσαστε	να κοιμ–άστε or να κοιμ–όσαστε
αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά	κοιμ–ούνται	κοιμ-ούνταν or κοιμ–όντουσαν also κοιμ-όντανε (colloquial, rare)	θα κοιμ–ούνται	να κοιμ–ούνται

4. It’s Quiz Time!

How much do you remember about the conjugation of Greek verbs? If you feel like testing your knowledge, please go ahead and answer the following multiple choice questions. 

Θέλω να __________ (λύνω) αυτήν την άσκηση τώρα.
a. λύνω
b. λύσω
c. είχα λύσει
d. έχω λύσει

Εμείς _________ (μένω) στο ξενοδοχείο Athina Hotel.
a. μένουν
b. μένω
c. έμενα
d. μένουμε

Εγώ σε ________ (αγαπώ) πολύ.
a. αγάπη
a. αγάπη
a. αγάπη
a. αγάπη

Αυτός _______________ (ταξιδεύω) σε πολλές χώρες.
a. έχω ταξιδέψει
b. έχει ταξιδέψει
c. είχα ταξιδέψει
d. ταξιδέψαμε

Εσύ _________(πιστεύω) ότι πρέπει να πάμε πιο νωρίς στο σινεμά;
a. πιστεύεις
b. πίστευα
c. πιστεύετε
d. πιστέψαμε

Do you have any questions? Let us know in the comments!

5. Conclusion

Feeling overwhelmed? Just take one step at a time.

This article aimed to cover the conjugation of Greek regular verbs. We also gave you a short presentation of the verb properties, such as the person, number, tense, mood, voice, and conjugation group. All of these verb properties are at the core of this chapter of Greek grammar. For more information on verb conjugation, check out the Intermediate and Upper Intermediate series on GreekPod101.com.

Greek grammar is vast indeed, and we get that you might feel a little dizzy after reading all this new information. So, how would you feel if you had a personal teacher to guide you all the way through this grammar labyrinth? In addition to our great selection of free learning resources, we also offer a personalized premium service, MyTeacher, where you can enjoy a unique one-on-one learning experience!

When it comes to Greek verbs, many people focus only on the grammar aspect, neglecting to really expand their vocabulary. 

In this blog post, we aim to provide you with the top 100 most essential Greek verbs. In order to achieve this, we’ve divided the verbs into meaningful categories and have provided an example of how to use each one. 

This is your ultimate guide to the huge variety of Greek verbs! 

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction to Greek Verbs Usage
2. Greek Verbs of Motion
3. Sport-Related Verbs
4. Verbs of Communication
5. Study-Related Verbs
6. Verbs of the Mind
7. Verbs of Sentiments
8. Auxiliary Verbs
9. Linking (or Copular) Verbs
10. Conclusion

1. An Introduction to Greek Verbs Usage

From a grammar perspective, Greek verbs present two major conjugations: Conjugation A and Conjugation B. 

Conjugation A includes verbs ending in:

• -ω | Active Voice
• -ομαι | Passive Voice

e.g. λύν-ω / λύν-ομαι

Conjugation B includes verbs ending in: 

• -ώ | Active Voice
• -ιέμαι / – ούμαι | Passive Voice

e.g. αγαπ-ώ / αγαπ-ιέμαι | θεωρώ / θεωρ-ούμαι

In order to understand the Greek verb conjugation rules in depth, you can take a look at our relevant article.

From a syntax perspective, Greek verbs are placed similarly to how they are in English syntax, following the SVO (Subject – Verb – Object) rule. However, what intrigues most students is that the subject may be omitted, especially if it’s a personal pronoun. This phenomenon is very common in the Greek language since the suffix of the verb usually reveals the subject. 

In the examples demonstrated below, you’ll be able to familiarize yourself with Greek language verb conjugation, as well as the syntax of each sentence.

2. Greek Verbs of Motion

1

Greek: πηγαίνω Romanization: piyéno Translation: “to go”

Example: Greek: Κάθε μέρα πηγαίνω στη δουλειά. Romanization: Káthe méra piyéno sti duliá. Translation: “Every day, I go to work.”

2

Greek: παίρνω Romanization: pérno Translation: “to get” / “to take”

Example: Greek: Παίρνω παντού το κινητό μου μαζί μου. Romanization: Pérno padú to kinitó mu mazí mu. Translation: “I take my mobile phone everywhere with me.”

3

Greek: φτιάχνω Romanization: ftiáhno Translation: “to make”

Example: Greek: Η μητέρα μου φτιάχνει τυρόπιτα. Romanization: I mitéra mu ftiáhni tirópita. Translation: “My mother is making cheese pie.”

4

Greek: κάνω Romanization: káno Translation: “to do”

Example: Greek: Θα κάνω ό,τι μου πεις. Romanization: Tha káno ó,ti mu pis. Translation: “I will do whatever you tell me.”

5

Greek: δουλεύω Romanization: dulévo Translation: “to work”

Example: Greek: Συνήθως δουλεύω πέντε ημέρες την εβδομάδα. Romanization: Siníthos dulévo pénde iméres tin evdomáda. Translation: “Normally, I work five days per week.”

6

Greek: βάζω Romanization: vázo Translation: “to put”

Example: Greek: Βάλε το παγωτό στην κατάψυξη. Romanization: Vále to pagotó stin katápsixi. Translation: “Put the ice cream in the freezer.”

7

Greek: βοηθώ Romanization: voithó Translation: “to help”

Example: Greek: Μπορείς να με βοηθήσεις λίγο; Romanization: Borís na me voithísis lígo? Translation: “Could you help me a bit?”

8

Greek: μετακινώ Romanization: metakinó Translation: “to move something”

Example: Greek: Αν μετακινήσουμε λίγο το τραπέζι, θα υπάρχει περισσότερος χώρος. Romanization: An metakinísume lígo to trapézi, tha ipárhi perisóteros hóros. Translation: “If we move the table a bit, there will be more space.”

9

Greek: ακολουθώ Romanization: akoluthó Translation: “to follow”

Example: Greek: Παρακαλώ ακολουθήστε με, για να σας δείξω το δωμάτιό σας. Romanization: Parakaló akoluthíste me, ya na sas díxo to domátió sas. Translation: “Please follow me so I can show you your room.”

10

Greek: αλλάζω Romanization: alázo Translation: “to change”

Example: Greek: Ο καιρός άλλαξε πολύ γρήγορα. Romanization: O kerós álaxe polí grígora. Translation: “The weather changed very quickly.”

11

Greek: ψάχνω Romanization: psáhno Translation: “to search” / “to look for”

Example: Greek: Αυτό που ψάχνω είναι καλά κρυμμένο. Romanization: Aftó pu psáhno íne kalá kriméno. Translation: “What I am looking for is well-hidden.”

12

Greek: οργανώνω Romanization: organóno Translation: “to organize”

Example: Greek: Οργάνωσα τα ρούχα στην ντουλάπα μου. Romanization: Orgánosa ta rúha stin dulápa mu. Translation: “I organized the clothes in my wardrobe.”

13

Greek: πιάνω Romanization: piáno Translation: “to catch” / “to grip”

Example: Greek: Πιάσε με, αν μπορείς! Romanization: Piáse me, an borís! Translation: “Catch me if you can!”

14

Greek: ακουμπάω / ακουμπώ Romanization: akumbáo / akumbó Translation: “to touch”

Example: Greek: Δεν μου αρέσει να με ακουμπάνε. Romanization: Den mu arési na me akumbáne. Translation: “I don’t like to be touched.”

15

Greek: κάθομαι Romanization: káthome Translation: “to sit”

Example: Greek: Στον κινηματογράφο μου αρέσει να κάθομαι στην τελευταία σειρά. Romanization: Ston kinimatográfo mu arési na káthome stin teleftéa sirá. Translation: “At the cinema, I like to sit in the last row.”

16

Greek: σηκώνομαι Romanization: sikónome Translation: “to get/stand up”

Example: Greek: Τώρα θα σηκωθώ, για να πάω για τρέξιμο. Romanization: Τóra tha sikothó, ya na páo ya tréximo. Translation: “Now I will get up in order to go running.”

17

Greek: ανοίγω Romanization: anígo Translation: “to open”

Example: Greek: Μπορείς να ανοίξεις το παράθυρο, σε παρακαλώ; Romanization: Borís na aníxis to paráthiro, se parakaló? Translation: “Can you open the window, please?”

18

Greek: κλείνω Romanization: klíno Translation: “to close”

Example: Greek: Μπορείς να κλείσεις την πόρτα, σε παρακαλώ; Romanization: Borís na klísis tin pórta, se parakaló? Translation: “Can you close the door, please?”

19

Greek: κόβω Romanization: kóvo Translation: “to cut”

Example: Greek: Όταν μαγειρεύω, κόβω τα λαχανικά σε μικρά κομμάτια. Romanization: Ótan mayirévo, kóvo ta lahaniká se mikrá komátia. Translation: “When I cook, I cut the vegetables into small pieces.”

20

Greek: κουβαλάω / κουβαλώ Romanization: kuvaláo / kuvaló Translation: “to carry”

Example: Greek: Αυτό είναι πολύ βαρύ. Θα με βοηθήσεις να το κουβαλήσουμε; Romanization: Aftó íne polí varí. Tha me voithísis na to kuvalísume? Translation: “This is too heavy. Will you help me carry it?”

21

Greek: κρατώ Romanization: krató Translation: “to hold” / “to keep”

Example: Greek: Το παιδί κρατούσε σφιχτά το χέρι της μητέρας του. Romanization: To pedí kratúse sfihtá to héri tis mitéras tu. Translation: “The kid was holding tight to his mother’s hand.”

22

Greek: πατάω / πατώ Romanization: patáo / pató Translation: “to press”

Example: Greek: Πατήστε οποιοδήποτε κουμπί, για να συνεχίσετε. Romanization: Patíste opiodípote kubí, ya na sinehísete. Translation: “Press any button to continue.”

23

Greek: πέφτω Romanization: péfto Translation: “to fall”

Example: Greek: Αν πέσεις από εκεί, θα τραυματιστείς. Romanization: An pésis apó ekí, tha travmatistís. Translation: “If you fall from there, you’ll get injured.”

24

Greek: τρώω Romanization: tróo Translation: “to eat”

Example: Greek: Από κρέας τρώω μόνο κοτόπουλο. Romanization: Apó kréas tróo móno kotópulo. Translation: “As for meat, I only eat chicken.”

25

Greek: πίνω Romanization: píno Translation: “to drink”

Example: Greek: Δεν πίνω αλκοόλ. Romanization: Den píno alkoól. Translation: “I don’t drink alcohol.”

3. Sport-Related Verbs

26

Greek: περπατάω / περπατώ Romanization: perpatáo / perpató Translation: “to walk”

Example: Greek: Στόχος μου είναι να περπατώ για τουλάχιστον δύο χιλιόμετρα κάθε μέρα. Romanization: Stóhos mu íne na perpató ya tuláhiston dío hiliómetra káthe méra. Translation: “My goal is to walk for at least two kilometers every day.”

27

Greek: τρέχω Romanization: trého Translation: “to run”

Example: Greek: Μου αρέσει να τρέχω στην εξοχή. Romanization: Mu arési na trého stin exohí. Translation: “I like running in the countryside.”

28

Greek: πηδάω / πηδώ Romanization: pidáo / pidó Translation: “to jump”

Example: Greek: Ο αθλητής πηδούσε τα εμπόδια με ευκολία. Romanization: O athlitís pidúse ta embódia me efkolía. Translation: “The athlete was jumping over the obstacles with ease.”

29

Greek: παίζω Romanization: pézo Translation: “to play”

Example: Greek: Ο γιος μου μπορεί να παίζει ποδόσφαιρο όλη μέρα. Romanization: O yos mu borí na pézi podósfero óli méra. Translation: “My son could play football all day long.”

30

Greek: σκαρφαλώνω Romanization: skarfalóno Translation: “to climb”

Example: Greek: Όταν ήμουν μικρός, μου άρεσε να σκαρφαλώνω σε δέντρα. Romanization: Ótan ímun mikrós, mu árese na skarfalóno se dédra. Translation: “When I was young, I used to like climbing on trees.”

31

Greek: κολυμπάω / κολυμπώ Romanization: kolimbáo / kolimbó Translation: “to swim”

Example: Greek: Το καλοκαίρι κολυμπάω στη θάλασσα κάθε μέρα. Romanization: To kalokéri kolimbáo sti thálasa káthe méra. Translation: “During the summer, I swim in the sea every day.”

32

Greek: αθλούμαι Romanization: athlúme Translation: “to exercise”

Example: Greek: Αθλούμαι καθημερινά, για να διατηρούμαι σε φόρμα. Romanization: Athlúme kathimeriná, ya na diatirúme se fórma. Translation: “I exercise everyday in order to stay fit.”

33

Greek: κερδίζω Romanization: kerdízo Translation: “to win”

Example: Greek: Η ομάδα που θα κερδίσει θα περάσει στον τελικό. Romanization: I omáda pu tha kerdísi tha perási ston telikó. Translation: “The team that wins will proceed to the finals.”

34

Greek: χάνω Romanization: háno Translation: “to lose”

Example: Greek: Η ομάδα που θα χάσει θα αποκλειστεί. Romanization: I omáda pu tha hási tha apoklistí. Translation: “The team that loses will be eliminated.”

4. Verbs of Communication

35

Greek: επικοινωνώ Romanization: epikinonó Translation: “to communicate”

Example: Greek: Η δουλειά μου είναι να επικοινωνώ καθημερινά με πελάτες. Romanization: I duliá mu íne na epikinonó kathimeriná me pelátes. Translation: “My job is to communicate with customers daily.”

36

Greek: λέω Romanization: léo Translation: “to tell”

Example: Greek: Πάντα λέω αυτό που σκέφτομαι. Romanization: Pánda léo aftó pu skéftome. Translation: “I always say what I am thinking.”

37

Greek: μιλάω / μιλώ Romanization: miláo / miló Translation: “to talk”

Example: Greek: Πρέπει να μιλήσουμε. Romanization: Prépi na milísume. Translation: “We need to talk.”

38

Greek: ρωτάω / ρωτώ Romanization: rotáo / rotó Translation: “to ask”

Example: Greek: Αν δεν καταλαβαίνεις κάτι, απλώς ρώτα με. Romanization: An den katalavénis káti, aplós róta me. Translation: “If you don’t understand something, just ask me.”

39

Greek: συζητάω / συζητώ Romanization: sizitáo / sizitó Translation: “to discuss”

Example: Greek: Θα πρέπει να συζητάμε όλα τα προβλήματα και να βρίσκουμε λύσεις. Romanization: Tha prépi na sizitáme óla ta provlímata ke na vrískume lísis. Translation: “We will have to discuss all problems and find solutions.”

40

Greek: φωνάζω Romanization: fonázo Translation: “to yell”

Example: Greek: Δεν χρειάζεται να φωνάζεις. Το κατάλαβα. Romanization: Den hriázete na fonázis. To katálava. Translation: “There’s no need to yell. I got it.”

41

Greek: ανακοινώνω Romanization: anakinóno Translation: “to announce”

Example: Greek: Θα θέλαμε να σας ανακοινώσουμε ότι παντρευόμαστε. Romanization: Tha thélame na sas anakinósume óti pandrevómaste. Translation: “We would like to announce that we’re getting married.”

42

Greek: απαντάω / απαντώ Romanization: apandáo / apandó Translation: “to reply” / “to answer”

Example: Greek: Θα σας απαντήσω το συντομότερο δυνατόν. Romanization: Tha sas apandíso to sindomótero dinatón. Translation: “I will answer you as soon as possible.”

43

Greek: παρουσιάζω Romanization: parusiázo Translation: “to present”

Example: Greek: Σας παρουσιάζω τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνάς μου. Romanization: Sas parusiázo ta apotelézmata tis érevnás mu. Translation: “I am presenting you with the results of my research.”

44

Greek: ενημερώνω Romanization: enimeróno Translation: “to inform”

Example: Greek: Θα ήθελα να σας ενημερώσω ότι θα είμαι σε επαγγελματικό ταξίδι την επόμενη εβδομάδα. Romanization: Tha íthela na sas enimeróso óti tha íme se epangelmatikó taxídi tin epómeni evdomáda. Translation: “I would like to inform you that I will be on a business trip next week.”

45

Greek: καλώ Romanization: kaló Translation: “to call”

Example: Greek: Εάν έχετε οποιαδήποτε απορία, καλέστε μας στο +30 2101234567. Romanization: Eán éhete opiadípote aporía, kaléste mas sto +30 2101234567. Translation: “If you have any questions, call us at +30 2101234567.”

5. Study-Related Verbs

46

Greek: διαβάζω Romanization: diavázo Translation: “to read”

Example: Greek: Διαβάστε το κείμενο πολλές φορές πριν απαντήσετε τις ερωτήσεις. Romanization: Diaváste to kímeno polés forés prin apandísete tis erotísis. Translation: “Read the text many times before you answer the questions.”

47

Greek: διδάσκω Romanization: didásko Translation: “to teach”

Example: Greek: Η κυρία Άννα διδάσκει ελληνικά. Romanization: I kiría Ánna didáski eliniká. Translation: “Mrs. Anna teaches Greek.”

48

Greek: μαθαίνω Romanization: mathéno Translation: “to learn”

Example: Greek: Μου αρέσει να μαθαίνω ξένες γλώσσες. Romanization: Mu arési na mathéno xénes glóses. Translation: “I like learning foreign languages.”

49

Greek: μελετάω / μελετώ Romanization: meletáo / meletó Translation: “to study”

Example: Greek: Μελετάω τουλάχιστον δύο ώρες κάθε μέρα. Romanization: Meletáo tuláhiston dío óres káthe méra. Translation: “I study at least two hours per day.”

50

Greek: γράφω Romanization: gráfo Translation: “to write”

Example: Greek: Αυτήν τη φορά γράφω ένα μυθιστόρημα. Romanization: Aftín ti forá gráfo éna mithistórima. Translation: “This time I am writing a novel.”

51

Greek: σβήνω Romanization: zvíno Translation: “to erase” / “to delete”

Example: Greek: Έσβησα όλη την άσκηση, γιατί δεν ήταν σωστή. Romanization: Ézvisa óli tin áskisi, yatí den ítan sostí. Translation: “I erased the whole exercise because it was not correct.”

52

Greek: διορθώνω Romanization: diorthóno Translation: “to correct”

Example: Greek: Πρέπει να διορθώσεις τα λάθη σου. Romanization: Prépi na diorthósis ta láthi su. Translation: “You must correct your mistakes.”

53

Greek: λύνω Romanization: líno Translation: “to solve” / “to untie”

Example: Greek: Πρέπει να λύσεις όλες τις ασκήσεις σου. Romanization: Prépi na lísis óles tis askísis su. Translation: “You should solve all your exercises.”

54

Greek: αποστηθίζω Romanization: apostithízo Translation: “to learn by heart” / “memorize”

Example: Greek: Πρέπει να αποστηθίσεις τα πιο σημαντικά κομμάτια. Romanization: Prépi na apostithísis ta pio simandiká komátia . Translation: “You should memorize the most important parts.”

55

Greek: βελτιώνω / βελτιώνομαι Romanization: veltióno / veltiónome Translation: “to improve” / “to be improved”

Example: Greek: Χαίρομαι που βελτιώνεσαι μέρα με τη μέρα. Romanization: Hérome pu veltiónese méra me ti méra. Translation: “I am glad you are improving day by day.”

56

Greek: εκτυπώνω Romanization: ektipóno Translation: “to print”

Example: Greek: Θα ήθελα να εκτυπώσω αυτές τις δύο σελίδες. Romanization: Tha íthela na ektipóso aftés tis dío selídes. Translation: “I would like to print these two pages.”

57

Greek: αξιολογώ / αξιολογούμαι Romanization: axiologó / axiologúme Translation: “to assess” / “to be assessed”

Example: Greek: Θα αξιολογηθείτε μέχρι το τέλος του μαθήματος. Romanization: Tha axioloyithíte méhri to télos tu mathímatos. Translation: “You will be assessed by the end of the lesson.”

6. Verbs of the Mind

58

Greek: σκέφτομαι Romanization: skéftome Translation: “to think” / “to consider”

Example: Greek: Σκέφτομαι να τα παρατήσω. Romanization: Skéftome na ta paratíso. Translation: “I am thinking about quitting.”

59

Greek: νομίζω Romanization: nomízo Translation: “to think”

Example: Greek: Νομίζω πως έχεις δίκιο. Romanization: Nomízo pos éhis díkio. Translation: “I think you are right.”

60

Greek: πιστεύω Romanization: pistévo Translation: “to believe”

Example: Greek: Πιστεύω στον Θεό. Romanization: Pistévo ston Theó. Translation: “I believe in God.”

61

Greek: αισθάνομαι Romanization: esthánome Translation: “to feel”

Example: Greek: Αισθάνομαι λίγο ζαλισμένος. Romanization: Esthánome lígo zalizménos. Translation: “I feel a bit dizzy.”

62

Greek: ξέρω / γνωρίζω Romanization: xéro / gnorízo Translation: “to know”

Example: Greek: Το ξέρω ότι είσαι κουρασμένος. Romanization: To xéro óti íse kurazménos. Translation: “I know you are tired.”

63

Greek: θέλω Romanization: thélo Translation: “to want”

Example: Greek: Θέλω να πάμε διακοπές στην Ελλάδα. Romanization: Thélo na páme diakopés stin Eláda.  Translation: “I want us to go for vacation in Greece.”

64

Greek: αμφισβητώ Romanization: amfizvitó Translation: “to doubt”

Example: Greek: Το ξέρω ότι έχεις δίκιο. Δεν το αμφισβητώ. Romanization: To xélo óti éhis díkio. Den to amfizvitó.  Translation: “I know you are right. I don’t doubt this.”

65

Greek: καταλαβαίνω Romanization: katalavéno Translation: “to understand”

Example: Greek: Σε παρακαλώ, μίλα αργά, για να σε καταλαβαίνω. Romanization: Se parakaló, míla argá, ya na se katalavéno.  Translation: “Please, talk slowly so I can understand you.”

66

Greek: θυμάμαι Romanization: thimáme Translation: “to remember”

Example: Greek: Θυμάσαι εκείνο το ξενοδοχείο στη Μύκονο; Romanization: Thimáse ekíno to xenodohío sti Míkono?  Translation: “Do you remember that hotel in Mykonos?”

67

Greek: ξεχνάω / ξεχνώ Romanization: xehnáo / xehnó Translation: “to forget”

Example: Greek: Ξέχασα να κάνω εκείνη την άσκηση.  Romanization: Xéhasa na káno ekíni tin áskisi.  Translation: “I forgot to do that exercise.”

7. Verbs of Sentiments

68

Greek: αγαπάω / αγαπώ Romanization: agapáo / agapó Translation: “to love”

Example: Greek: Σε αγαπώ πολύ. Romanization: Se agapó polí.  Translation: “I love you very much.”

69

Greek: λατρεύω Romanization: latrévo Translation: “to adore”

Example: Greek: Σε λατρεύω. Romanization: Se latrévo.  Translation: “I adore you.”

70

Greek: θαυμάζω Romanization: thavmázo Translation: “to admire”

Example: Greek: Θαυμάζω τον δάσκαλό μου για την υπομονή του. Romanization: Thavmázo ton dáskaló mu ya tin ipomoní tu.  Translation: “I admire my teacher for his patience.”

71

Greek: φοβάμαι Romanization: fováme Translation: “to be afraid”

Example: Greek: Φοβάμαι μην σε χάσω. Romanization: Fováme min se háso.  Translation: “I am afraid to lose you.”

72

Greek: μισώ Romanization: misó Translation: “to hate”

Example: Greek: Μισώ όλα όσα τον θυμίζουν. Romanization: Misó óla ósa ton thimízun. Translation: “I hate everything that reminds me of him.”

73

Greek: λυπάμαι Romanization: lipáme Translation: “to be sorry”

Example: Greek: Λυπάμαι γι’ αυτό που σου συνέβη. Romanization: Lipáme yi’ aftó pu su sinévi.  Translation: “I am sorry for what happened to you.”

74

Greek: δακρύζω Romanization: dakrízo Translation: “to tear up”

Example: Greek: Αυτή η ταινία με έκανε να δακρύσω λίγο. Romanization: Aftí i tenía me ékane na dakríso lígo. Translation: “This movie made me tear up a bit.”

75

Greek: κλαίω Romanization: kléo Translation: “to cry”

Example: Greek: Όσο μεγαλώνουμε, κλαίμε όλο και πιο σπάνια. Romanization: Óso megalónume, kléme ólo ke pio spánia. Translation: “As we grow up, we cry less and less.”

76

Greek: στεναχωριέμαι Romanization: stenahoriéme Translation: “to be sad”

Example: Greek: Μην στεναχωριέσαι. Όλα θα πάνε καλά. Romanization: Min stenahoriése. Óla tha páne kalá. Translation: “Don’t be sad. Everything’s going to be alright.”

77

Greek: χαίρομαι Romanization: hérome Translation: “to be happy”

Example: Greek: Χάρηκα πολύ που πήρες προαγωγή. Romanization: Hárika polí pu píres proagoyí. Translation: “I am very happy that you got promoted.”

78

Greek: απολαμβάνω Romanization: apolamváno Translation: “to enjoy”

Example: Greek: Το καλοκαίρι απολαμβάνω τη θάλασσα. Romanization: To kalokéri apolamváno ti thálasa. Translation: “During the summer, I enjoy the sea.”

79

Greek: γοητεύω Romanization: goitévo  Translation: “to charm” / “to fascinate”

Example: Greek: Αυτή η γυναίκα με γοήτευσε. Romanization: Aftí i yinéka me goítefse. Translation: “This woman fascinated me.”

80

Greek: απογοητεύω / απογοητεύομαι Romanization: apogoitévo / apogoitévome Translation: “to disappoint” / “to be disappointed”

Example: Greek: Μην απογοητεύεσαι. Μπορείς πάντα να ξαναπροσπαθήσεις. Romanization: Min apogoitévese. Borís pánda na xanaprospathísis, Translation: “Don’t be disappointed. You can always try again.”

81

Greek: γελάω / γελώ Romanization: yeláo / yeló Translation: “to laugh”

Example: Greek: Γέλασα πολύ με αυτήν την κωμωδία. Romanization: Yélasa polí me aftín tin komodía. Translation: “I laughed a lot with this comedy.”

82

Greek: χαμογελάω / χαμογελώ Romanization: hamoyeláo / hamoyeló Translation: “to smile”

Example: Greek: Χαμογελάω πάντα το πρωί στον καθρέφτη και γεμίζω με θετική ενέργεια. Romanization: Hamoyeláo pánda to proí ston kathréfti ke yemízo me thetikí enéryia. Translation: “I always smile at the mirror in the morning and I get charged with positive energy.”

83

Greek: θυμώνω Romanization: thimóno Translation: “to get angry”

Example: Greek: Ο πατέρας μου θυμώνει πολύ εύκολα. Romanization: O patéras mu thimóni polí éfkola. Translation: “My father gets angry very easily.”

8. Auxiliary Verbs

There are only two Greek auxiliary verbs: έχω (ého), meaning “to have,” and είμαι (íme), meaning “to be.” They’re called “auxiliary” because apart from their individual use, they can help (hence the term “auxiliary”) form various Greek verb forms. More specifically, the verb έχω (ého) can also be used as a formation element of verbs in the perfect tenses, while είμαι (íme) can also be used before a passive voice participle to form various verb forms.

84

Greek: έχω Romanization: ého Translation: “to have”

Example: Greek: Θα έχω τελειώσει τα μαθήματά μου μέχρι τότε. Romanization: Tha ého teliósi ta mathímatá mu méhri tóte. Translation: “I will have finished my homework by then.”

85

Greek: είμαι Romanization: íme Translation: “to be”

Example: Greek: Είμαι ικανοποιημένος με το αποτέλεσμα. Romanization: Íme ikanopiiménos me to apotélezma. Translation: “I am satisfied with the result.”

9. Linking (or Copular) Verbs

A linking verb connects the subject or the object with a word or phrase that gives more information

about it. The verb είμαι (íme), meaning “to be,” that we saw above as an auxiliary verb, is also a linking verb.

Greek: είμαι Romanization: íme Translation: “to be”

Example: Greek: Είναι πολύ όμορφος. Romanization: Íne polí ómorfos. Translation: “He is very handsome.”

Some groups of linking verbs are:

9.1 Verbs of Existence

86

Greek: γίνομαι Romanization: yínome Translation: “to become”

Example: Greek: Γίνομαι όλο και πιο οργανωμένος όσο περνά ο καιρός. Romanization: Yínome ólo ke pio organoménos óso perná o kerós. Translation: “I am becoming more and more organized as time passes by.”

87

Greek: γεννιέμαι Romanization: yeniéme Translation: “to be born”

Example: Greek: Γεννήθηκα έτοιμος γι’ αυτό. Romanization: Yeníthika étimos yi’ aftó. Translation: “I was born ready for this.”

88

Greek: υπάρχω Romanization: ipárho Translation: “to exist” / “(to happen) to be”

Example: Greek: Υπήρξα απρόσεκτος στο παρελθόν. Romanization: Ipírxa aprósektos sto parelthón. Translation: “I happened to be/was careless in the past.”

89

Greek: στέκομαι Romanization: stékome Translation: “to stand up” (literally) / “(to happen) to be” (secondary meaning, usually in the past tense)

Example: Greek: Στάθηκα τυχερός κατά το παρελθόν. Romanization: Státhika tiherós katá to parelthón. Translation: “I happened to be/was lucky in the past.”

9.2 Verbs of Reckoning

90

Greek: φαίνομαι Romanization: fénome Translation: “to look” / “to seem

Example: Greek: Φαίνεται έξυπνος, αλλά μερικές φορές κάνει τον χαζό. Romanization: Fénete éxipnos, alá merikés forés káni ton hazó. Translation: “He seems to be smart, but sometimes he acts dumb.”

91

Greek: θεωρούμαι Romanization: theorúme Translation: “to be considered (as)”

Example: Greek: Θεωρείται έξυπνος, αλλά στην ουσία δεν είναι. Romanization: Theoríte éxipnos, allá stin usía den íne. Translation: “Ηe is considered to be smart, but in reality he is not.”

9.3 Verbs of Reference

92

Greek: βρίσκομαι Romanization: vrískome Translation: “to be located” / “to be”

Example: Greek: Βρίσκομαι στο αεροδρόμιο αυτήν τη στιγμή. Romanization: Vrískome sto aerodrómio aftín ti stigmí. Translation: “I am at the airport right now.”

93

Greek: μοιάζω Romanization: miázo Translation: “to look like” / “to seem to be”

Example: Greek: Μοιάζεις πολύ με τον μπαμπά σου. Romanization: Miázis polí me ton babá su. Translation: “You look a lot like your father.”

94

Greek: αποδεικνύομαι Romanization: apodikníome Translation: “to prove to be”

Example: Greek: Η άσκηση που έλυσα αποδείχθηκε λάθος. Romanization: I áskisi pu élisa apodíhthike láthos. Translation: “The exercise I solved was proven to be wrong.”

9.4 Vocative Verbs

95

Greek: λέγομαι Romanization: légome Translation: “to be said/called”

Example: Greek: Πώς λέγεσαι; Romanization: Pós léyese? Translation: “What’s your name?” (lit. “How are you called?”)

96

Greek: ονομάζω / ονομάζομαι Romanization: onomázo / onomázome Translation: “to name” / “to be named” (= “my name is”)

Example: Greek: Ονομάζομαι Γιώργος. Εσένα πώς σε λένε; Romanization: Onomázome Yórgos. Eséna pós se léne? Translation: “My name is George. What’s your name?”

97

Greek: καλώ / καλούμαι Romanization: kaló / kalúme Translation: “to call” / “to be called”

Example: Greek: Aν συνεχίσετε τη φασαρία, θα καλέσω την αστυνομία! Romanization: An sinehísete ti fasaría, tha kaléso tin astinomía! Translation: “If you continue this racket, I’m going to call the police!”

9.5 Verbs of Election

98

Greek: διορίζω / διορίζομαι Romanization: diorízo / diorízome Translation: “to appoint” / “to be appointed”

Example: Greek: Διορίστηκε δάσκαλος σε ένα μικρό ελληνικό νησί.  Romanization: Diorístike dáskalos se éna mikró elinikó nisí. Translation: “He was appointed teacher on a small Greek island.”

99

Greek: εκλέγω / εκλέγομαι Romanization: eklégo / eklégome Translation: “to elect” / “to be elected”

Example: Greek: Εκλέχθηκε δήμαρχος της πόλης.  Romanization: Ekléhthike dímarhos tis pólis. Translation: “He was elected mayor of the city.”

100

Greek: κρίνομαι Romanization: krínome Translation: “to be deemed”

Example: Greek: Το κτίριο κρίθηκε μη ασφαλές μετά τον σεισμό.  Romanization: To ktírio kríthike mi asfalés metá ton sizmó. Translation: “The building was deemed unsafe after the earthquake.”

10. Conclusion

This was just the beginning: A comprehensive guide for the top 100 most essential Greek verbs. 

There’s still a lot to learn after you memorize this Greek verbs list. If you feel ready to dig into Greek verbs a little bit more, check out our article about how to conjugate Greek verbs that we linked to earlier. Otherwise, we encourage you to read our Top 100 Nouns and Top 100 Adjectives articles, which will be quite useful in expanding your vocabulary. 

In the meantime, is there a verb that troubles you or a Greek verb we didn’t mention? 

Let us know in the comments section below!

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