They say that: λένε ότι, λέγεται ότι, θεωρείται
When the source is not named, Greek reaches for a turn with nobody in it. The most everyday one is λένε ότι — "they say that". Asking who says it makes no sense. For example: “Λένε ότι το νέο μουσείο θα ανοίξει τον Μάιο” — They say the new museum will open in May. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
When the source is not named, Greek reaches for a turn with nobody in it. The most everyday one is λένε ότι (léne óti) — "they say that". Asking who says it makes no sense.
Its bookish twin is λέγεται ότι (léyete óti), "it is said that". Newspapers and certificates use it; at a table it sounds official.
Φαίνεται ότι (fénete óti) is not hearsay but a conclusion drawn from signs — "it looks as if". Θεωρείται (theoríte) is "is considered", a settled verdict. Υποστηρίζεται ότι (ipostirízete óti) is "it is claimed that": somebody else's argument, which the speaker need not share.
All of them are ways of leaving the source out. When there is a source, Greek names it plainly: σύμφωνα με την αστυνομία (símfona me tin astinomía), όπως ανακοίνωσε το υπουργείο (ópos anakínose to ipuryío).
Table
| the turn | word for word | when it fits |
|---|---|---|
| λένε ότι | they say that | a rumor, common opinion |
| λέγεται ότι | it is said that | bookish, the source unnamed |
| φαίνεται ότι | it appears that | a conclusion from signs |
| θεωρείται | it is considered | a settled verdict |
| υποστηρίζεται ότι | it is claimed that | another's disputable claim |
| σύμφωνα με | according to | the source named straight out |
By example
- Λένε ότι το νέο μουσείο θα ανοίξει τον Μάιοléne óti to néo musío tha aníksi ton MáioThey say the new museum will open in May
- Θεωρείται ο καλύτερος σκηνοθέτης της γενιάς τουtheoríte o kalíteros skinothétis tis yeniás tuHe is considered the best director of his generation
- Υποστηρίζεται ότι η ανεργία μειώθηκε, αλλά τα στοιχεία λείπουνipostirízete óti i aneryía mióthike, alá ta stikhía lípunIt is claimed that unemployment fell, but there is no data
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
They say that: how does it work in Greek?
When the source is not named, Greek reaches for a turn with nobody in it. The most everyday one is λένε ότι — "they say that". Asking who says it makes no sense.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Λένε ότι το νέο μουσείο θα ανοίξει τον Μάιο” (léne óti to néo musío tha aníksi ton Máio) — They say the new museum will open in May. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.