τίποτα

Greek

Alternative forms

• τίποτε (típote) (Strandard Modern Greek)
• τίποτις (típotis) — vernacular

Etymology

Inherited from Byzantine Greek τίποτα (típota), a commonly used variant form of τίποτε (típote). Both forms from the Ancient Greek τίποτε (típote, “what maybe?”), also as phrase τί ποτε (tí pote). Sense "something" is Hellenistic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈti.po.ta/
• Hyphenation: τί‧πο‧τα

Pronoun

τίποτα • (típota) (indeclinable)

1. (negative sense, in a negative clause or question) nothing

   Δε ζητάω τίποτα. ― De zitáo típota. ― I ask for nothing.

   Δεν κάνει τίποτα. ― Den kánei típota. ― It's nothing [you're welcome].

2. (positive sense or in question or at answers to a question) something, anything, any

   Θέλεις τίποτα; Θέλεις κάτι; ― Théleis típota; Théleis káti? ― Do you want^T-form anything/something?

   Όχι, δε θέλω τίποτα. ― Óchi, de thélo típota. ― No, I want nothing (see negative sense)

   Σου περισσεύουν τίποτα χρήματα;

   Sou perissévoun típota chrímata?

   Do you^T-form have any money left over? (in adjectival use)

Synonyms

• (something): κάτι (káti), καθόλου (kathólou)
• (nothing): καθόλου (kathólou)

Derived terms

• δεν κάνει τίποτα (den kánei típota)
• με τίποτα (me típota, “no way”)
• τιποτένιος (tipoténios, “petty, worthless, unimportant”)
• τιποτολογία f (tipotología)

Further reading

• “τίποτε, τίποτα”, “τίποτις”, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998
• τίποτα - Charalambakis, Chistoforos et al. (2014) Χρηστικό λεξικό της νεοελληνικής γλώσσας (Christiko lexiko tis Neoellhnikis Glossas) [A Practical dictionary of Modern Greek language] (in Greek) Athens: Academy of Athens. (online since 2023 - abbreviations - symbols)