Three declension patterns: δρόμος, πόρτα, σπίτι
You already know the article — it shows gender and case. Now the word itself changes together with it, and there are only three patterns: masculine in -ος, feminine in -α/-η, neuter in -ι/-ο. For example: “Η πόρτα του δωματίου είναι κλειστή” — The door of the room is closed. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
You already know the article — it shows gender and case. Now the word itself changes together with it, and there are only three patterns: masculine in -ος, feminine in -α (-a)/-η (-i), neuter in -ι/-ο (-o).
The neuter is the simplest: its nominative and accusative are always identical. Το παράθυρο είναι ανοιχτό (to paráthiro íne anikhtó) and Άνοιξε το παράθυρο (ánikse to paráthiro) — one form, two jobs. Half of everyday words are neuter, so half of declension comes free.
The masculine drops its final -ς in the accusative: ο δρόμος (o drómos) → τον δρόμο (ton drómo). The same with masculines in -ας (-as) and -ης: ο άντρας (o ándras) → τον άντρα (ton ándra), ο πωλητής (o politís) → τον πωλητή (ton polití). This is the easiest thing to forget and instantly audible.
The feminine, in the genitive, on the contrary grows a -ς: η πόρτα (i pórta) → της πόρτας (tis pórtas), η τιμή (i timí) → της τιμής (tis timís).
The genitive in Greek is a workhorse: it is "whose", it is "of what", and it covers what English does with "of": Η πόρτα του δωματίου (i pórta tu domatíu) — the door of the room; ο λογαριασμός του ρεύματος (o logariazmós tu révmatos) — the electricity bill.
Table
| ο δρόμος | η πόρτα | το σπίτι | |
|---|---|---|---|
| who, what | ο δρόμος | η πόρτα | το σπίτι |
| whose, of what | του δρόμου | της πόρτας | του σπιτιού |
| whom, what | τον δρόμο | την πόρτα | το σπίτι |
| they (plural) | οι δρόμοι | οι πόρτες | τα σπίτια |
By example
- Η πόρτα του δωματίου είναι κλειστήi pórta tu domatíu íne klistíThe door of the room is closed
- Ρώτησα τον πωλητή για την τιμήrótisa ton polití ya tin timíI asked the seller about the price
- Τα κλειδιά του σπιτιού είναι στο τραπέζιta klidiá tu spitiú íne sto trapéziThe keys to the house are on the table
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
Three declension patterns: how does it work in Greek?
You already know the article — it shows gender and case. Now the word itself changes together with it, and there are only three patterns: masculine in -ος, feminine in -α/-η, neuter in -ι/-ο.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Η πόρτα του δωματίου είναι κλειστή” (i pórta tu domatíu íne klistí) — The door of the room is closed. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.