This and that: αυτός, εκείνος, αυτό εδώ
There are two pointing words: αυτός — this one, close by, and εκείνος — that one, further off. Both change like ordinary adjectives: αυτός, αυτή, αυτό; εκείνος, εκείνη, εκείνο. For example: “Αυτό το σχήμα δεν χωράει στο κουτί” — This shape doesn't fit into the box. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
There are two pointing words: αυτός (aftós) — this one, close by, and εκείνος (ekínos) — that one, further off. Both change like ordinary adjectives: αυτός, αυτή (aftí), αυτό (aftó); εκείνος, εκείνη (ekíni), εκείνο (ekíno).
One feature breaks the English habit. The article is obligatory, and the pointing word stands before it. αυτό το σχήμα (aftó to skhíma) — this shape. εκείνη η άκρη (ekíni i ákri) — that edge. "αυτό σχήμα (aftó skhíma)" without the article is not Greek.
With no noun the word works alone: Αυτό είναι σπασμένο (aftó íne spazméno). Εκείνα δεν χωράνε. To point at something precisely, add an adverb: αυτό εδώ (this one here), εκείνο εκεί (that one there).
Careful with αυτός for "he". Αυτός ήρθε (aftós írthe) means "he came" and also "that one came", and the second sounds cold. About someone you respect, use the name.
Table
| masculine | feminine | neuter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| this | αυτός ο | αυτή η | αυτό το |
| that | εκείνος ο | εκείνη η | εκείνο το |
| this here | αυτός εδώ | αυτή εδώ | αυτό εδώ |
| that there | εκείνος εκεί | εκείνη εκεί | εκείνο εκεί |
By example
- Αυτό το σχήμα δεν χωράει στο κουτίaftó to skhíma den khorái sto kutíThis shape doesn't fit into the box
- Δώστε μου εκείνο εκεί, το γυαλιστερόdóste mu ekíno ekí, to yalisteróGive me that one there, the shiny one
- Εκείνη την εποχή δεν υπήρχαν τέτοια υλικάekíni tin epokhí den ipírkhan tétia ilikáIn those times there were no such materials
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
This and that in Greek: αυτός or εκείνος?
There are two pointing words: αυτός — this one, close by, and εκείνος — that one, further off. Both change like ordinary adjectives: αυτός, αυτή, αυτό; εκείνος, εκείνη, εκείνο.
Αυτός vs εκείνος?
One feature breaks the English habit. The article is obligatory, and the pointing word stands before it. αυτό το σχήμα — this shape. εκείνη η άκρη — that edge. "αυτό σχήμα" without the article is not Greek.
How to say this one here in Greek?
With no noun the word works alone: Αυτό είναι σπασμένο. Εκείνα δεν χωράνε. To point at something precisely, add an adverb: αυτό εδώ (this one here), εκείνο εκεί (that one there).
Is αυτός he or this?
Careful with αυτός for "he". Αυτός ήρθε means "he came" and also "that one came", and the second sounds cold. About someone you respect, use the name.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Αυτό το σχήμα δεν χωράει στο κουτί” (aftó to skhíma den khorái sto kutí) — This shape doesn't fit into the box. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.