The Article

There are two kinds of articles in Greek : the definite and the indefinite (just like in most European languages).

The article is inflected for number, gender and case. In Modern Greek there are two numbers

ενικός *enikOs* singular
πληθυντικός *plithindikOs* plural

three genders

αρσενικό *arsenikO* masculine
θυλικό *thilikO* feminine
ουδέτερο *udhEtero* neuter

and four cases

ονομαστική *onomastik'I* nominative
γενική *gh'enik'I* genitive
αιτιατική *etiatik'I* accusative
κλητική *klitik'I* vocative
The article agrees in number, gender and case with the noun it refers to, which it precedes. Vocative takes no article.

Declension of the definite article

Singular
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative ο (*o*) η (*i*) το (*to*)
Genitive του (*tu*) της (*tis*) του (*tu*)
Accusative τον (*ton*) την (*tin*) το (*to*)
Plural
Nominative οι (*i*) οι (*i*) τα (*ta*)
Genitive των (*ton*) των (*ton*) των (*ton*)
Accusative τους (*tus*) τις (*tis*) τα (*ta*)

The definite article is used much more often in Greek than in other languages. The most important of its special uses are

The definite article is not stressed (accentuated).

The indefinite article is the same as the numeral "one" in Greek, but translated as "a" in English.

Declension of the indefinite article

Singular
Masculine Feminine Alt. Feminine Neuter
Nominative ένας (*Enas*) μία (*mIa*) μια (*mn'A*) ένα (*Ena*)
Genitive ενός (*enOs*) μίας (*mIas*) μιας (*mn'As*) ενός (*enOs*)
Accusative ένα(ν) (*Ena(n)*) μία (*mIa*) μια (*mn'A*) ένα (*Ena*)

The final ν of the accusative form is used before a vowel and consonants κ,π and τ. In the latter case it is assimilated with the following consonant and is pronounced *mb*, *nd* and *ng* respectively.

The indefinite article is not used in Greek as often as in English. It is ommitted


Main Page