The hinges of speech: όμως, ωστόσο, δηλαδή, λοιπόν
Some words mean nothing on their own but hold a thought together. What matters is where they sit in the sentence, and here Greek has habits of its own. For example: “Ήθελα να πάω, αλλά ακύρωσαν την πτήση” — I wanted to go, but the flight was cancelled. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Some words mean nothing on their own but hold a thought together. What matters is where they sit in the sentence, and here Greek has habits of its own.
αλλά (alá) is "but", and it always opens the second half: Ήθελα να πάω (íthela na páo), αλλά ακύρωσαν την πτήση (alá akírosan tin ptísi). όμως (ómos) means the same, but it steps inside the clause or to its end: Ακύρωσαν όμως την πτήση (akírosan ómos tin ptísi).
δηλαδή (diladí) is "that is". People use it to check and to correct themselves: Έρχομαι αύριο (érkhome ávrio), δηλαδή την Τρίτη (diladí tin Tríti). In talk it is the commonest filler of all.
λοιπόν (lipón) is "so, well": it opens a conclusion or a new topic. Λοιπόν, τι κάνουμε (ti kánume); Beside it stands άρα (ára) — "therefore": Δεν απάντησε (den apándise), άρα δεν συμφωνεί (ára den simfoní).
Table
| the linker | what it does | where it stands |
|---|---|---|
| αλλά | but | at the start of the second clause |
| όμως | but, still | inside the sentence or at the end |
| ωστόσο | however | at the front, a written tone |
| δηλαδή | that is | before the clarification |
| λοιπόν | so, well | at the front, opens a conclusion |
| άρα | therefore | before the consequence |
By example
- Ήθελα να πάω, αλλά ακύρωσαν την πτήσηíthela na páo, alá akírosan tin ptísiI wanted to go, but the flight was cancelled
- Έρχομαι αύριο, δηλαδή την Τρίτηérkhome ávrio, diladí tin TrítiI'll come tomorrow, that is, on Tuesday
- Δεν απάντησε, άρα δεν συμφωνείden apándise, ára den simfoníHe didn't answer, which means he doesn't agree
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
The hinges of speech: how does it work in Greek?
Some words mean nothing on their own but hold a thought together. What matters is where they sit in the sentence, and here Greek has habits of its own.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Ήθελα να πάω, αλλά ακύρωσαν την πτήση” (íthela na páo, alá akírosan tin ptísi) — I wanted to go, but the flight was cancelled. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.