Learning a new language opens up an entire world of culture, history, and communication. Greek, one of the oldest languages in the world, offers a rich tapestry of words and expressions that can be fascinating to explore. Today, we will delve into two fundamental adjectives that describe size: Μεγάλος (Megálos) and Μικρός (Mikrós), or “big” and “small.”

Understanding these words’ nuances and their usage in different contexts can greatly enhance your command of the Greek language. We will also look at related vocabulary to give you a broader understanding of how size and magnitude are expressed in Greek.

Μεγάλος (Megálos) – Big

Μεγάλος is an adjective in Greek that means “big” or “large.” It is used to describe anything that has considerable size, extent, or importance.

Ο σκύλος μου είναι πολύ μεγάλος.

My dog is very big.

Forms of Μεγάλος

Greek adjectives change according to gender, number, and case. Here are the forms of μεγάλος:

Μεγάλος (Megálos) – Masculine, singular, nominative

Ο μεγάλος δρόμος είναι γεμάτος αυτοκίνητα.

The big road is full of cars.

Μεγάλη (Megáli) – Feminine, singular, nominative

Η μεγάλη πόρτα είναι ανοιχτή.

The big door is open.

Μεγάλο (Megálo) – Neuter, singular, nominative

Το μεγάλο σπίτι είναι δίπλα στο πάρκο.

The big house is next to the park.

Μεγάλοι (Megáli) – Masculine, plural, nominative

Οι μεγάλοι άντρες είναι δυνατοί.

The big men are strong.

Μεγάλες (Megáles) – Feminine, plural, nominative

Οι μεγάλες πόλεις έχουν πολύ κόσμο.

The big cities have a lot of people.

Μεγάλα (Megála) – Neuter, plural, nominative

Τα μεγάλα παράθυρα αφήνουν πολύ φως.

The big windows let in a lot of light.

Μικρός (Mikrós) – Small

Μικρός is an adjective in Greek that means “small” or “little.” It is used to describe anything that has a limited size, extent, or significance.

Το παιδί είναι πολύ μικρό.

The child is very small.

Forms of Μικρός

Here are the forms of μικρός:

Μικρός (Mikrós) – Masculine, singular, nominative

Ο μικρός σκύλος τρέχει γρήγορα.

The small dog runs fast.

Μικρή (Mikrí) – Feminine, singular, nominative

Η μικρή γάτα κοιμάται.

The small cat is sleeping.

Μικρό (Mikrό) – Neuter, singular, nominative

Το μικρό παιδί παίζει.

The small child is playing.

Μικροί (Mikroí) – Masculine, plural, nominative

Οι μικροί μαθητές μαθαίνουν γρήγορα.

The small students learn quickly.

Μικρές (Mikrés) – Feminine, plural, nominative

Οι μικρές καρέκλες είναι άνετες.

The small chairs are comfortable.

Μικρά (Mikrá) – Neuter, plural, nominative

Τα μικρά κουτάβια είναι χαριτωμένα.

The small puppies are cute.

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Understanding the comparative and superlative forms of these adjectives is crucial for expressing varying degrees of size.

Μεγαλύτερος (Megalýteros) – Bigger

Μεγαλύτερος is the comparative form of μεγάλος, meaning “bigger.”

Ο αδελφός μου είναι μεγαλύτερος από εμένα.

My brother is bigger than me.

Μεγαλύτερη (Megalýteri) – Bigger (Feminine)

Μεγαλύτερη is the feminine form of the comparative adjective.

Η αδελφή μου είναι μεγαλύτερη από εμένα.

My sister is bigger than me.

Μεγαλύτερο (Megalýtero) – Bigger (Neuter)

Μεγαλύτερο is the neuter form of the comparative adjective.

Το σπίτι του είναι μεγαλύτερο από το δικό μου.

His house is bigger than mine.

Μικρότερος (Mikrόteros) – Smaller

Μικρότερος is the comparative form of μικρός, meaning “smaller.”

Ο αδελφός μου είναι μικρότερος από εμένα.

My brother is smaller than me.

Μικρότερη (Mikrόteri) – Smaller (Feminine)

Μικρότερη is the feminine form of the comparative adjective.

Η αδελφή μου είναι μικρότερη από εμένα.

My sister is smaller than me.

Μικρότερο (Mikrόtero) – Smaller (Neuter)

Μικρότερο is the neuter form of the comparative adjective.

Το σπίτι του είναι μικρότερο από το δικό μου.

His house is smaller than mine.

Other Related Vocabulary

To further enhance your understanding, let’s explore some additional Greek words related to size and magnitude.

Τεράστιος (Terástios) – Huge

Τεράστιος is an adjective that means “huge” or “enormous.”

Ο ελέφαντας είναι τεράστιος.

The elephant is huge.

Μίνι (Míni) – Mini

Μίνι is a loanword from English, meaning “mini” or “tiny.”

Αγόρασα ένα μίνι ψυγείο.

I bought a mini fridge.

Απέραντος (Apérantos) – Vast

Απέραντος is an adjective that means “vast” or “endless.”

Η θάλασσα είναι απέραντη.

The sea is vast.

Λιλιπούτειος (Lilipúteios) – Tiny

Λιλιπούτειος is an adjective that means “tiny,” often used in a whimsical or literary context.

Το λιλιπούτειο σπιτάκι ήταν πανέμορφο.

The tiny little house was beautiful.

Γιγάντιος (Gigántios) – Gigantic

Γιγάντιος is an adjective that means “gigantic.”

Το άγαλμα είναι γιγάντιο.

The statue is gigantic.

Λίγος (Lígos) – Few

Λίγος is an adjective that means “few” or “a little.”

Έχω λίγο χρόνο.

I have little time.

Πολύς (Polýs) – Much

Πολύς is an adjective that means “much” or “a lot.”

Έχει πολύ νερό στη λίμνη.

There is much water in the lake.

Using Μεγάλος and Μικρός in Context

Now that we have covered the basic forms and related vocabulary, let’s see how μεγάλος and μικρός are used in various contexts.

Describing Physical Size

To describe the physical size of objects, animals, or people, use μεγάλος and μικρός.

Το μεγάλο δέντρο είναι στην αυλή.

The big tree is in the yard.

Το μικρό τραπέζι είναι στην κουζίνα.

The small table is in the kitchen.

Describing Age

In Greek, μεγάλος and μικρός can also describe age, especially when referring to children or siblings.

Ο μεγάλος αδελφός μου είναι 18 χρονών.

My older brother is 18 years old.

Η μικρή αδελφή μου είναι 5 χρονών.

My younger sister is 5 years old.

Describing Importance

These adjectives can also describe the importance or significance of something.

Αυτό είναι ένα μεγάλο πρόβλημα.

This is a big problem.

Αυτό είναι ένα μικρό θέμα.

This is a small issue.

Describing Quantities

While not as common, μεγάλος and μικρός can sometimes describe quantities, especially in a figurative sense.

Έχει μεγάλη σημασία για μένα.

It has great significance for me.

Έχει μικρή αξία.

It has little value.

Common Phrases and Expressions

To further enrich your vocabulary, here are some common Greek phrases and expressions using μεγάλος and μικρός.

Μεγάλος Καημός (Megálos Kaïmós) – Great Sorrow

Μεγάλος καημός means “great sorrow” or “deep grief.”

Έχει μεγάλο καημό για την απώλεια του.

He has great sorrow for his loss.

Μικρή Χαρά (Mikrí Chará) – Little Joy

Μικρή χαρά means “little joy.”

Η μικρή χαρά της ημέρας ήταν το παγωτό.

The little joy of the day was the ice cream.

Μεγάλη Καρδιά (Megáli Kardiá) – Big Heart

Μεγάλη καρδιά means “big heart,” often used to describe someone who is very kind or generous.

Έχει μεγάλη καρδιά και πάντα βοηθάει τους άλλους.

She has a big heart and always helps others.

Μικρό Παιδί (Mikrό Paidí) – Little Child

Μικρό παιδί means “little child,” often used affectionately.

Το μικρό παιδί έπαιζε στον κήπο.

The little child was playing in the garden.

Practice Makes Perfect

To master these adjectives and their various forms, consistent practice is essential. Try using μεγάλος and μικρός in sentences that describe your surroundings, family members, or even abstract concepts like importance and significance. The more you practice, the more natural these words will become in your vocabulary.

Greek is a language rich in history and nuance, and understanding the subtleties of words like μεγάλος and μικρός will bring you one step closer to fluency. Happy learning!