How to Use Negation in Greek: Forms and Placement Explained

Understanding Negation in Greek

Negation is an essential part of any language, allowing speakers to express the opposite of an affirmative statement. In Greek, negation is expressed through specific words and their placement within a sentence. This article will guide English speakers through the main forms and placement rules of negation in Greek.

The Basic Negation Word: "Δεν" (Den)

The most common negation word in Greek is "δεν" (pronounced /ðen/). It is used to negate verbs in the present and future tenses. For example, "Μιλάω" means "I speak," while "Δεν μιλάω" means "I do not speak."

Placement: "Δεν" is placed directly before the verb it negates.

Negation in the Past Tense: "Δεν" and "Δεν... ποτέ"

In the past tense, negation also uses "δεν" before the verb. To express "never," Greek uses the phrase "δεν... ποτέ", where "ποτέ" means "ever" or "never" depending on context.

Example: "Δεν πήγα" means "I did not go," and "Δεν πήγα ποτέ" means "I never went."

Negation with the Word "Μη(ν)" (Mi(n))

Another negation word is "μη(ν)" (pronounced /mi/), which is used mainly with the imperative mood (commands) and subjunctive forms.

Example: "Μην τρέχεις!" means "Don't run!" Here, "μην" is placed before the verb.

Negation with Nouns and Adjectives: "Καθόλου" and "Ούτε"

To negate nouns or adjectives, Greek often uses words like "καθόλου" (meaning "at all") and "ούτε" (meaning "neither/nor").

Example: "Δεν έχω καθόλου χρήματα" means "I have no money at all." "Ούτε αυτός έρχεται" means "He is not coming either."

Summary of Negation Placement in Greek

• "Δεν" precedes the verb in present, future, and past tenses.
• "Μη(ν)" is used before verbs in the imperative and subjunctive moods.
• "Ποτέ" is used with "δεν" to express "never".
• "Καθόλου" and "ούτε" negate nouns and adjectives.
• Negation words generally come directly before the word or phrase they negate.

Common Greek Negation Phrases for Practice