δε

See also: δεν, δέ, -δε, and Appendix:Variations of "de"

Greek

Alternative forms

• δεν (den)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈðe/

Etymology 1

Pronunciation of δεν (den).

Particle

δε • (de) (negating particle)

1. Alternative form of δεν (den) used optionally without the ending ⟨ν⟩ before consonants ⟨ β δ θ φ χ λ ρ σ ζ γ μ ν ⟩ but not before ⟨γκ, μπ, ντ⟩

   — Θέλεις παγωτό; —Α μπα! Δε θέλω. Κάνω δίαιτα.

   — Théleis pagotó? —A ba! De thélo. Káno díaita.

   "Do you want ice cream?" "Bah! I don't want! I'm on a diet."

   Δε θέλω! Σου λέω, «δεν θέλω!» Μη μου το κάνεις αυτό!

   De thélo! Sou léo, «den thélo!» Mi mou to káneis aftó!

   I don't want! I'm telling you "I do not want!" Don't do this to me!
   Here the second δεν pronounced fully with emphasis.

Usage notes

• δεν (den) and δε are used with indicative verb forms, but μην (min) and μη (mi) are used with subjunctive verbs.

Related terms

• αμ δε! (am de!)
• ευχαριστώ, αλλά δε θα πάρω (efcharistó, allá de tha páro, “thanks, but no thanks”)

Etymology 2

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek δέ (dé, “and, but”).

Conjunction

δε • (de)

1. on the other hand used together with μεν (men)

   Ο μεν γαμπρός ήταν ευτυχισμένος, η δε νύφη έκλαιγε.

   O men gamprós ítan eftychisménos, i de nýfi éklaige.

   On the one hand, the groom was happy, on the other hand the bride was crying.

2. also, but also (introductin a new discussion subject)

   Θέλω δε να προσθέσω ότι …

   Thélo de na prosthéso óti …

   Also I wish to add that …

3. (emphatic, in transitional use) especially

   Πάντοτε ήταν επιθετικός. Τώρα δε, που άρχισε να πίνει, έχει γίνει επικίνδυνος.

   Pántote ítan epithetikós. Tóra de, pou árchise na pínei, échei gínei epikíndynos.

   He has always been aggressive. And/especially now, that he started drinking, he became dangerous.

Further reading

• δε, δεν, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
• δε, δεν - Charalambakis, Chistoforos et al. (2014) Χρηστικό λεξικό της νεοελληνικής γλώσσας (Christikó lexikó tis neoellenikís glóssas) [A Practical Dictionary of Modern Greek] (in Greek) Athens: Academy of Athens. (online since 2023 - abbreviations - symbols)