Words that decline differently: η πόλη, το μέρος
The three patterns of the first wave cover most words, but not all. The remainder is small and very frequent, so it is 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
The three patterns of the first wave cover most words, but not all. The remainder is small and very frequent, so it is worth knowing by sight.
Feminines in -η (-i) with a plural in -εις: η πόλη (i póli) → οι πόλεις (i pólis), η δύναμη → οι δυνάμεις (i dinámis). Almost everything in -ση and -ξη belongs here too — that is, the verb-born nouns from the earlier note: η θέση (i thési), η πρόταση (i prótasi), η τάξη (i táksi). Their genitive is της πόλης (tis pólis), and in the plural the stress retreats: των πόλεων.
Neuters in -ος: το μέρος (to méros) → του μέρους, τα μέρη (ta méri), των μερών. The same shelf holds το λάθος (to láthos), το έθος, το κράτος (to krátos). The trap is obvious: -ος looks masculine while the word is neuter, and only the article gives it away — το λάθος, not "ο λάθος (o láthos)".
Neuters in -μα: το γράμμα (to gráma) → του γράμματος, τα γράμματα (ta grámata). All the verb-born -μα words go here, and in the genitive a -τ- (-taf) grows into them.
Masculines in -ας (-as) and -ης: ο πατέρας (o patéras) → του πατέρα (tu patéra), οι πατέρες; ο μαθητής (o mathitís) → του μαθητή, οι μαθητές.
One rule for all four: look not at the ending but at the article. It announces the gender before the word has time to deceive.
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?
The three patterns of the first wave cover most words, but not all. The remainder is small and very frequent, so it is 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.