Oneself and each other: πλένομαι, ο εαυτός μου
Reflexivity in Greek is expressed not by a separate word but by the verb form — the very one in -ομαι that you know: πλένομαι (I wash), ντύνομαι (I dress), ετοιμάζομαι (I get ready). Where English reaches for "-self", Greek bends the verb. For example: “Πλένω τα χέρια μου πριν το φαγητό” — I wash my hands before eating. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Reflexivity in Greek is expressed not by a separate word but by the verb form — the very one in -ομαι that you know: πλένομαι (I wash), ντύνομαι (I dress), ετοιμάζομαι (I get ready). Where English reaches for "-self", Greek bends the verb.
The same form in the plural gives reciprocity: αγκαλιάζονται — they embrace (each other), συναντιούνται — they meet, χαιρετιούνται — they greet each other. Only the number tells the reflexive from the mutual: ετοιμάζεται — he is getting ready, ετοιμάζονται — they are getting ready, or preparing each other; the neighboring phrase decides.
When "himself" needs emphasis, Greek takes ο εαυτός μου (o eaftós mu) — "my very self": Κοιτάζω τον εαυτό μου στον καθρέφτη (kitázo ton eaftó mu ston kathréfti), Πρόσεχε τον εαυτό σου (take care of yourself). The word is masculine, it declines, and its possessive changes by person: τον εαυτό σου (ton eaftó su), τον εαυτό της (ton eaftó tis).
The difference between the two ways is the one between "I wash" and "I wash myself": the -ομαι form describes the routine action, ο εαυτός μου insists that the object is you yourself and nobody else.
And third: μόνος μου (mónos mu) — "on my own, with no one's help". Το έκανα μόνος μου (to ékana mónos mu). It agrees in gender and number: μόνη μου (móni mu), μόνοι μας.
Table
| what we express | how | example |
|---|---|---|
| oneself, the routine action | a verb in -ομαι | πλένομαι — I wash |
| each other | the same form in the plural | αγκαλιάζονται — they embrace |
| oneself, with a push | ο εαυτός μου | κοιτάζω τον εαυτό μου |
| on one's own, without help | μόνος μου | το έκανα μόνος μου |
By example
- Πλένω τα χέρια μου πριν το φαγητόpléno ta khéria mu prin to fayitóI wash my hands before eating
- Πρόσεχε τον εαυτό σου, μην αρρωστήσειςprósekhe ton eaftó su, min arostísisTake care of yourself, don't fall ill
- Το έφτιαξα μόνος μου, χωρίς τεχνικόto éftiaksa mónos mu, khorís tekhnikóI fixed it myself, without a technician
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
Oneself and each other: how does it work in Greek?
Reflexivity in Greek is expressed not by a separate word but by the verb form — the very one in -ομαι that you know: πλένομαι (I wash), ντύνομαι (I dress), ετοιμάζομαι (I get ready). Where English reaches for "-self", Greek bends the verb.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Πλένω τα χέρια μου πριν το φαγητό” (pléno ta khéria mu prin to fayitó) — I wash my hands before eating. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.