Wiktionary:About Greek/Glossary

A glossary of terms used with Modern Greek entries in this dictionary.
 * See also Appendix:Glossary for generally applied terms.

A

 * absolute superlative — (cf relative superlative,   and see  degrees of comparison )
 * The form of an adjective which expresses an exceptional quality of something without comparing it with anything else.
 * eg  Αυτή η σαλάτα ήταν νοστιμότατη. — "That salad was most tasty."

C

 * comparative   (see also  degrees of comparison)
 * The form of an adjective allowing comparison between one thing and another. As in English forms can be produced in two ways: most commonly by periphrasis and often by suffixation.
 * by periphrasis:   →      (eg  Κωνσταντίνος είναι πιο τολμηρός από τον Γιώργο  — "Konstantinos is more bold than Georgios.")
 * by suffixation:   →      (eg  Γιώργος είναι νεότερος από το Κωνσταντίνο — "Georgios is younger than Konstantinos.")

D

 * degree of comparison —
 * The forms of an adjective (or adverb) allowing the comparison of nouns described. For further detail see:
 * positive,  comparative,   relative superlative,   &   absolute superlative.


 * dependent —
 * The dependent form (also known as the perfective non-past or  subjunctive) of a verb expresses an action completed within a moment (e.g. "I wrote"), not continuously. It is never used on its own. It follows particles and other words such as:, , , , the negative   or the  . It may be active, or passive:
 * It forms the subjunctive when used with various particles:
 * Θέλω να γράψω στη μητέρα μου απόψε. — "I should write to my mother tonight."
 * It forms the future simple tense when used in with the particle :
 * Θα γράψει στη μητέρα του. — "He will write to his mother."
 * And it forms the various perfect tenses when used in conjunction with the auxiliary verb :
 * Έχει γράψει στη μητέρα του. — "He has written to his mother [already]."

F

 * feminine —
 * The grammatical (not biological) gender of a noun; thus while is feminine,  is neuter. Other genders are masculine and neuter.

G

 * gender

I

 * imparisyllabic —
 * Of a noun whose plural forms have an extra syllable when compared with the singular (eg → ). Compare with.


 * imperfect tense
 * The imperfective or progressive past tense of a verb, indicating an action which was continuous, habitual, repeated or lasting a long time. It may be compared with the perfective or simple past.
 * Περπατούσαμε όλο το πρωί. — "We walked all morning."
 * Έτρεχα κάθε πρωί. — "I ran every morning."

M

 * masculine —
 * The grammatical (not biological) gender of a noun; thus while is masculine,  is neuter. Other genders are feminine and neuter.

N

 * neuter —
 * The grammatical gender of a noun. This is not the biological gender, for example is neuter. Other genders are masculine and feminine.

P

 * parisyllabic —
 * Of a noun whose plural forms have the same number of syllables as the singular (eg → ). Compare with.


 * passive voice
 * a verb in the passive voice has a subject which is not the person or thing doing the action, they are usually having the action done to them.
 * διδάσκομαι — I am taught
 * It should be compared with the active voice where the subject is usually the person doing the action — . Note that deponent verbs conjugate passively but have an active meaning —.


 * past — see:


 * perfect passive participle (Category:Greek declinable participles)
 * A nonfinite verb form used as an adjective. They always end in, -η, -ο, declining in gender, number and case:
 * (feminine singular) η λυμένη ζώνη — "the unbuckled belt"
 * (neuter plural) τα λυμένα μαλλιά — "the loosened hair"
 * They are used, normally only with transitive verbs, in the formation of perfect tenses in both their active and passive voices:
 * (active) Ο Γιάννης είχε λυμένη τη ζώνη του. — "Yanni had unbuckled his belt."
 * (passive) Τα μαλλιά της Ελένης ήταν λυμένα. — "Eleni's hair had been loosened."


 * positive —      (see also  degrees of comparison)
 * The normal basic form of an adjective (or adverb) from which the comparatives and various superlatives are formed.

R

 * relative superlative   ( cf absolute superlative,  and see  degrees of comparison)
 * Equivalent to the English superlative it expresses the highest degree and is produced by using the definite article with one of the comparative forms:
 * from the periphrastic:   →      (eg  Γιώργος είναι ο πιο νέος. — "Georgios is the youngest.")
 * from the suffixed:   →      (eg  Γιώργος είναι ο νεότερος. — "Georgios is the youngest.")

S

 * simple past tense
 * The simple or perfective past indicates an action completed at some point in the past. It is also known as the past indefinite, preterite - or, in Greek, as the aorist. It may be compared with the imperfect or imperfective past.
 * Περπατήσαμε στο κατάστημα. — "We walked to the shop."
 * Έτρεξα για το λεωφορείο. — "I ran for the bus."


 * superlative
 * Greek has two superlative forms: relative superlative, absolute superlative.

T

 * T-V distinction
 * The T-V distinction (from the Latin and ) is found in many languages. When using the second-person to someone in Greek a choice must be made between using the singular or plural form of the verb. The choice made depends upon the relationship between the speaker and the person spoken to.
 * The singular form is familiar and informal, used with family, friends, children and younger people:
 * Γεια σου — "Hi", "hello"
 * Τι κάνεις; — "Ηow are you?"
 * The plural is polite and formal, and used with strangers and to give respect:
 * Γεια σας — "Hello"
 * Τι κάνετε; — "How are you?"

Α

 * ανισοσύλλαβος — imparisyllabic
 * αρσενικό — masculine

Ε

 * εξαρτημένος — dependent

Θ

 * θηλυκό — feminine

Ι

 * ισοσύλλαβος — parisyllabic

Ο

 * οξύτον-ος, -η, -ος
 * describes words accented on the final syllable oxytone


 * ουδέτερ-ος, -η, -ο,  ουδ.
 * the neuter gender


 * ουσιαστικό,  ουσ.
 * noun (part of speech)