Words 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 μου είναι μια μικρή πόλη” — 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 (i póli) → οι πόλεις (i pólis). Nearly everything in -ση and -ξη joins them: η θέση (i thési), η τάξη (i táksi). The "of" shape is της πόλης (tis pólis); in the plural the stress moves back, των πόλεων.
Neuter in -ος: το μέρος (to méros) → του μέρους, τα μέρη (ta méri). The trap is plain: -ος looks masculine, but the article gives the word away — το λάθος (to láthos), not ο λάθος (o láthos). Neuter words in -μα add a -τ- (-taf): το γράμμα (to gráma) → του γράμματος.
Masculine in -ας (-as) and -ης: ο πατέρας (o patéras) → του πατέρα (tu patéra); ο μαθητής (o mathitís) → του μαθητή, οι μαθητές. The rule throughout: look at the article, not at the ending.
Table
| the pattern | one | of what | many |
|---|---|---|---|
| feminine in -η | η πόλη | της πόλης | οι πόλεις |
| neuter in -ος | το μέρος | του μέρους | τα μέρη |
| neuter in -μα | το γράμμα | του γράμματος | τα γράμματα |
| masculine in -ας | ο πατέρας | του πατέρα | οι πατέρες |
| masculine in -ης | ο μαθητής | του μαθητή | οι μαθητές |
By example
- Η γενέτειρά μου είναι μια μικρή πόληi yenétirá mu íne mia mikrí póliMy hometown is a small town
- Θυμάμαι εκείνα τα μέρη από την παιδική μου ηλικίαthimáme ekína ta méri apó tin pedikí mu ilikíaI remember those places from childhood
- Το λάθος ήταν στην πρώτη πρότασηto láthos ítan stin próti prótasiThe mistake was in the first sentence
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 an example sentence Greek?
“Η γενέτειρά μου είναι μια μικρή πόλη” (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.