This and that: αυτός, εκείνος, αυτό εδώ
Greek has two demonstratives: αυτός — this, the near one, and εκείνος — that, the far one. Both decline like ordinary adjectives: αυτός, αυτή, αυτό; εκείνος, εκείνη, εκείνο. For example: “Αυτό το σχήμα δεν χωράει στο κουτί” — This shape doesn't fit into the box. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Greek has two demonstratives: αυτός (aftós) — this, the near one, and εκείνος (ekínos) — that, the far one. Both decline like ordinary adjectives: αυτός, αυτή (aftí), αυτό (aftó); εκείνος, εκείνη (ekíni), εκείνο (ekíno).
And here is the one feature that breaks the habit: with a demonstrative the article is obligatory, and the demonstrative stands in front of it. αυτό το σχήμα (aftó to skhíma) — this shape, εκείνη η άκρη (ekíni i ákri) — that end. Saying "αυτό σχήμα (aftó skhíma)" without the article is impossible; to an English eye the article looks superfluous, while to Greek its absence sounds as wrong as "them books".
Without a noun the demonstrative works alone: Αυτό είναι σπασμένο (aftó íne spazméno), Εκείνα δεν χωράνε.
When the pointing must be exact, an adverb is added: αυτό εδώ (this here), εκείνο εκεί (that there). In a shop and at a counter this is said more often than a bare αυτό.
There is a third word — τούτος — but it is regional and bookish; in Athens you will almost never hear it, though you can meet it in an old text.
Be careful with αυτός in the role of "he": Αυτός ήρθε (aftós írthe) means both "he came" and "this one came", and the second is colder. About a person you respect, better give the name.
Table
| masculine | feminine | neuter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| this | αυτός ο | αυτή η | αυτό το |
| that | εκείνος ο | εκείνη η | εκείνο το |
| this here | αυτός εδώ | αυτή εδώ | αυτό εδώ |
| that there | εκείνος εκεί | εκείνη εκεί | εκείνο εκεί |
By example
- Αυτό το σχήμα δεν χωράει στο κουτίaftó to skhíma den khorái sto kutíThis shape doesn't fit into the box
- Δώστε μου εκείνο εκεί, το γυαλιστερόdóste mu ekíno ekí, to yalisteróGive me that one there, the shiny one
- Εκείνη την εποχή δεν υπήρχαν τέτοια υλικάekíni tin epokhí den ipírkhan tétia ilikáIn those times there were no such materials
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
This and that in Greek: αυτός or εκείνος?
Greek has two demonstratives: αυτός — this, the near one, and εκείνος — that, the far one. Both decline like ordinary adjectives: αυτός, αυτή, αυτό; εκείνος, εκείνη, εκείνο.
Αυτός vs εκείνος?
And here is the one feature that breaks the habit: with a demonstrative the article is obligatory, and the demonstrative stands in front of it. αυτό το σχήμα — this shape, εκείνη η άκρη — that end. Saying "αυτό σχήμα" without the article is impossible; to an English eye the article looks…
How to say this one here in Greek?
Without a noun the demonstrative works alone: Αυτό είναι σπασμένο, Εκείνα δεν χωράνε.
Is αυτός he or this?
When the pointing must be exact, an adverb is added: αυτό εδώ (this here), εκείνο εκεί (that there). In a shop and at a counter this is said more often than a bare αυτό.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Αυτό το σχήμα δεν χωράει στο κουτί” (aftó to skhíma den khorái sto kutí) — This shape doesn't fit into the box. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.