Spelling and punctuation rules
Final -ν, diaeresis, accents on capitals, the Greek question mark and the raised dot.
Final -ν
The final -ν of τον, την, δεν, μην is kept before vowels and before κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ, and dropped before other consonants: τον πατέρα, την Άννα, δεν ξέρω / τη Μαρία, δε θέλω. The article τον (masculine) always keeps it in careful writing.
Diaeresis and accents
- The diaeresis (¨) shows that two vowels are pronounced separately: κοροϊδεύω (ko-ro-i-), Μαΐου, τρόλεϊ.
- Words in capitals lose their accent: ΑΘΗΝΑ, but an initial capital keeps it: Άννα.
- Some monosyllables are accented to distinguish them: ή (or), πού, πώς (question words).
Punctuation
| Mark | Greek | Name |
|---|---|---|
| question mark | ; | ερωτηματικό |
| semicolon | · (raised dot) | άνω τελεία |
| quotation marks | « » | εισαγωγικά |
| comma in «ό,τι» | ό,τι | υποδιαστολή |
- Πού πας; Δεν ξέρω ακόμα.Where are you going? I don't know yet.
- Θα κάνω ό,τι μπορώ.I'll do whatever I can.
Test yourself
-
Is the -ν kept in «τη(ν) πόρτα»?
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Yes, before π: την πόρτα -
Is the -ν kept in «δε(ν) θέλω»?
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No (it can be dropped): δε θέλω -
What is «·» in Greek?
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the raised dot = semicolon -
Why does «Μαΐου» have a diaeresis?
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to show α and ι are pronounced separately