Roughly so much: καμιά δεκαριά, γύρω στα
Greek rarely names an exact number out loud. A rough one is the norm, and there are several ways to it. For example: “Ήρθαν καμιά δεκαριά άνθρωποι” — About ten people came. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Greek rarely names an exact number out loud. A rough one is the norm, and there are several ways to it.
καμιά (kamiá) and κανένα (kanéna) before a number mean "about": καμιά δεκαριά (about ten), κανένα δίωρο (a couple of hours). The same words without a number mean "none". And γύρω στα (yíro sta) is "in the region of": γύρω στα είκοσι κιλά (yíro sta íkosi kilá).
The endings -άρι and -αριά turn a number into a rough noun: δεκαριά (about ten), εικοσαριά (some twenty), πενηνταριά (fifty or so).
πάνω από (páno apó) and κάτω από (káto apó) are "more than" and "less than": πάνω από πέντε λίτρα (páno apó pénde lítra). And ίσα ίσα (ísa ísa) means "only just enough", always about a shortage.
Table
| the turn | what it means | example |
|---|---|---|
| καμιά δεκαριά | about ten | καμιά δεκαριά μέρες |
| γύρω στα | in the region of | γύρω στα τριάντα |
| -αριά | some so many | εικοσαριά κομμάτια |
| πάνω από | more than | πάνω από πέντε |
| ίσα ίσα | just barely enough | ίσα ίσα έφτασαν |
By example
- Ήρθαν καμιά δεκαριά άνθρωποιírthan kamiá dekariá ánthropiAbout ten people came
- Ζυγίζει γύρω στα είκοσι κιλάziyízi yíro sta íkosi kiláIt weighs some twenty kilos
- Τα χρήματα ήταν ίσα ίσα για το εισιτήριοta khrímata ítan ísa ísa ya to isitírioThere was just enough money for the ticket
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
Roughly so much: how does it work in Greek?
Greek rarely names an exact number out loud. A rough one is the norm, and there are several ways to it.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Ήρθαν καμιά δεκαριά άνθρωποι” (írthan kamiá dekariá ánthropi) — About ten people came. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.