How do I say ‘this’ and ‘that’ in Greek?

Understanding Demonstratives in Greek

In Greek, demonstratives are words used to indicate specific items, whether they are close to the speaker (this/these) or further away (that/those). Unlike English, Greek demonstratives change form depending on the gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and the number (singular, plural) of the noun they refer to.

How to Say “This” in Greek

The word “this” in Greek is expressed as follows, depending on the gender and number:

• Masculine Singular: αυτός (aftós)
• Feminine Singular: αυτή (aftí)
• Neuter Singular: αυτό (aftó)

For plural, use:

• Masculine Plural: αυτοί (aftí)
• Feminine Plural: αυτές (aftés)
• Neuter Plural: αυτά (aftá)

These forms can be used both as pronouns (“This is my friend”) and as adjectives (“This book”).

How to Say “That” in Greek

Similarly, the word “that” in Greek has different forms:

• Masculine Singular: εκείνος (ekínos)
• Feminine Singular: εκείνη (ekíni)
• Neuter Singular: εκείνο (ekíno)

For plural, use:

• Masculine Plural: εκείνοι (ekíni)
• Feminine Plural: εκείνες (ekínes)
• Neuter Plural: εκείνα (ekína)

These forms refer to people or things that are farther away from the speaker, either physically or in the context of the conversation.

Examples: Using “This” and “That” in Sentences

• Αυτός είναι ο φίλος μου. (Aftós íne o fílós mou.) – This is my friend. (masculine)
• Αυτή είναι η μητέρα μου. (Aftí íne i mitéra mou.) – This is my mother. (feminine)
• Αυτό είναι το βιβλίο. (Aftó íne to vivlío.) – This is the book. (neuter)
• Εκείνος είναι ο δάσκαλος. (Ekínos íne o dáskalos.) – That is the teacher. (masculine)
• Εκείνη είναι η αδελφή μου. (Ekíni íne i adelfí mou.) – That is my sister. (feminine)
• Εκείνο είναι το σπίτι μας. (Ekíno íne to spíti mas.) – That is our house. (neuter)

Tips for Using Demonstratives in Greek

• Always match the gender and number of the demonstrative with the noun it refers to.
• Use “αυτός/αυτή/αυτό” for things near you, and “εκείνος/εκείνη/εκείνο” for things farther away.
• Practice with real-life objects around you—point at items and say their Greek names with the appropriate demonstrative.

Practice Makes Perfect with Talkpal

Learning how to use “this” and “that” in Greek will greatly improve your ability to communicate clearly. With regular practice, these words will become second nature. For more tips, interactive exercises, and AI-powered language learning resources, check out Talkpal’s Greek language blog. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon be speaking Greek with confidence!