LingoflyWords that decline differently: η πόλη, το μέρος
Three patterns cover most nouns, but not all of them. What is left is a small and very frequent set, worth knowing by sight. For example: “Η γενέτειρά (yenétirá) μου (mu) είναι (íne) μια (mia) μικρή (mikrí) πόλη” (póli) — My hometown is a small town. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Three patterns cover most nouns, but not all of them. What is left is a small and very frequent set, worth knowing by sight.
Feminine in -η (-i), plural in -εις: η πόλη (póli) (i póli) → οι (i) πόλεις (i pólis). Nearly everything in -ση and -ξη joins them: η θέση (thési) (i thési), η τάξη (i táksi). The "of" shape is της (tis) πόλης (pólis) (tis pólis); in the plural, των (ton) πόλεων, the stress stays on the first syllable though the word grows longer.
Neuter in -ος: το μέρος (to méros) → του (tu) μέρους, τα (ta) μέρη (ta méri). The trap is plain: -ος looks masculine, but the article gives the word away — το λάθος (to láthos), not ο λάθος (láthos) (o láthos). Neuter words in -μα add a -τ- (-taf): το γράμμα (to gráma) → του (tu) γράμματος.
Masculine in -ας (-as) and -ης: ο πατέρας (patéras) (o patéras) → του (tu) πατέρα (tu patéra); ο μαθητής (o mathitís) → του (tu) μαθητή, οι (i) μαθητές. The rule throughout: look at the article, not at the ending.
Table
| the pattern | one | of what | many |
|---|---|---|---|
| feminine in -η | η πόλη (póli) | της (tis) πόλης (pólis) | οι (i) πόλεις |
| neuter in -ος | το μέρος (to méros) | του (tu) μέρους | τα (ta) μέρη |
| neuter in -μα | το γράμμα (to gráma) | του (tu) γράμματος | τα (ta) γράμματα (grámata) |
| masculine in -ας | ο πατέρας (patéras) | του (tu) πατέρα | οι (i) πατέρες |
| masculine in -ης | ο μαθητής (o mathitís) | του (tu) μαθητή | οι (i) μαθητές |
By example
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
Words that decline differently: how does it work in Greek?
Three patterns cover most nouns, but not all of them. What is left is a small and very frequent set, worth knowing by sight.
What does it look like in a Greek example sentence?
“Η γενέτειρά (yenétirá) μου (mu) είναι (íne) μια (mia) μικρή (mikrí) πόλη” (póli) (i yenétirá mu íne mia mikrí póli) — My hometown is a small town. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.