Are you confused by the small Greek words ο, η, and το? Don’t worry — you’re not alone! These are called Greek definite articles, and understanding how they work is essential to mastering Greek grammar.
In this post, we’ll explain what Greek articles are, how to use them, and give you simple examples so you can start using them with confidence.
🧠 Want to go deeper with Greek grammar? This topic — along with dozens of others — is covered in more detail in the Greek MasterCourse, our most complete and structured grammar course. Perfect for learners who want to build a solid foundation.
🧠 What Are Greek Articles?
In English, we use one word for “the.” In Greek, there are three definite articles:
-
ο (o) – masculine
-
η (i) – feminine
-
το (to) – neuter
These words appear before a noun, and they must match the gender of that noun.
📌 Examples of Greek Articles in Sentences:
-
ο άντρας (o antras) – the man
-
η γυναίκα (i gynaika) – the woman
-
το παιδί (to paidi) – the child
These are the nominative forms (used when the noun is the subject of the sentence).
📚 How Gender Works with Greek Articles
In Greek, every noun has a gender: masculine, feminine, or neuter. The article must match the noun’s gender.
| Gender | Definite Article | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | ο (o) | ο καθηγητής | the teacher (male) |
| Feminine | η (i) | η πόρτα | the door |
| Neuter | το (to) | το βιβλίο | the book |
📌 Tip: When learning Greek vocabulary, always memorize the article with the noun. It helps you speak correctly and naturally from the start.
🔄 How Greek Articles Change by Case
Greek uses a case system, meaning nouns and their articles change depending on their role in a sentence (subject vs. object).
| Gender | Nominative (Subject) | Accusative (Object) |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | ο | τον |
| Feminine | η | την |
| Neuter | το | το |
✅ Greek Article Examples in Sentences:
- Ο Γιάννης τρέχει. (Giannis is running.)
- Βλέπω τον Γιάννη. (I see Giannis.)
- Η Ελένη μαγειρεύει. (Eleni is cooking.)
- Βλέπω την Ελένη. (I see Eleni.)
- Το παιδί γελάει. (The child is laughing.)
- Βλέπω το παιδί. (I see the child.)
- 📌 All of this is explained step-by-step in the Greek MasterCourse, with practice examples, breakdowns, and quizzes to help you feel confident.
🔎 What’s the Best Way to Learn Greek Articles?
-
Learn the noun + article together (e.g. ο σκύλος = the dog)
-
Practice building simple sentences using each gender
-
Start noticing how articles change depending on their role in the sentence
🎯 Final Thoughts
Understanding how to use Greek definite articles — ο, η, το — is one of the first major steps in learning Greek correctly.
These small words might seem unimportant at first, but they play a big role in how Greek is spoken and understood.
If you want to go beyond just articles and unlock the full power of Greek grammar, check out the Greek MasterCourse, where we go deep into:
-
Cases
-
Gender patterns
-
Verb conjugations
-
Prepositions and structure
-
…and so much more!
✅ Ready to start speaking and understanding Greek better?
👉 Take a look at the Greek MasterCourse — your complete roadmap to Greek grammar and speaking fluency!
