Roughly so much: καμιά δεκαριά, γύρω στα
Greek names an exact number rarely — in speech an approximation sounds almost always, and there are several ways to make one. For example: “Ήρθαν καμιά δεκαριά άνθρωποι” — About ten people came. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Greek names an exact number rarely — in speech an approximation sounds almost always, and there are several ways to make one.
καμιά (kamiá) and κανένα (kanéna) before a number mean "about": καμιά δεκαριά (a dozen or so), κανένα δίωρο (some two hours). Without a number the same words mean "none" — only the neighboring numeral tells them apart.
γύρω στα (yíro sta) — "around, in the region of": γύρω στα είκοσι κιλά (yíro sta íkosi kilá). The form στα (sta) is no accident: the number stands in the neuter plural.
The suffix -άρι and -αριά turns a number into a noun of approximation: δεκαριά (a ten), εικοσαριά (some twenty), πενηνταριά (about fifty).
πάνω από (páno apó) and κάτω από (káto apó) — more and less: πάνω από πέντε λίτρα (páno apó pénde lítra). And ίσα ίσα (ísa ísa) — "just barely, exactly as much as needed", and it is always said about a near-shortage.
There is also a gesture of speech with no English twin: κάτι (káti) before a number — κάτι είκοσι άτομα (káti íkosi átoma), "twenty-odd people". It always rounds up, unlike καμιά, which can round down.
Table
| the turn | what it means | example |
|---|---|---|
| καμιά δεκαριά | about ten | καμιά δεκαριά μέρες |
| γύρω στα | in the region of | γύρω στα τριάντα |
| -αριά | some so many | εικοσαριά κομμάτια |
| πάνω από | more than | πάνω από πέντε |
| ίσα ίσα | just barely enough | ίσα ίσα έφτασαν |
By example
- Ήρθαν καμιά δεκαριά άνθρωποιírthan kamiá dekariá ánthropiAbout ten people came
- Ζυγίζει γύρω στα είκοσι κιλάziyízi yíro sta íkosi kiláIt weighs some twenty kilos
- Τα χρήματα ήταν ίσα ίσα για το εισιτήριοta khrímata ítan ísa ísa ya to isitírioThere was just enough money for the ticket
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
Roughly so much: how does it work in Greek?
Greek names an exact number rarely — in speech an approximation sounds almost always, and there are several ways to make one.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Ήρθαν καμιά δεκαριά άνθρωποι” (írthan kamiá dekariá ánthropi) — About ten people came. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.