εγώ

See also: ἐγώ

Greek

Alternative forms

• (contraction) ’γώ (’gó)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐγώ (egṓ), from Proto-Hellenic *egṓ, from Proto-Indo-European *eǵóH.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /eˈɣo/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ε‧γώ

Pronoun

εγώ • (egó)  strong personal pronoun

1. I

   Εγώ πάλεψα με αίμα, δάκρυα και ιδρώτα …

   Egó pálepsa me aíma, dákrya kai idróta …

   I fought with blood, sweat and tears …

Usage notes

• May become the colloquial ’γώ (’gó) when following a vowel.

  Ξέρω ’γώ;

  Xéro ’gó;

  How should I know?

  (literally, “Do I know?”)

Related terms

Greek personal and possessive pronouns

		singular					plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person			1st person	2nd person	3rd person
				m	f	n			m	f	n
nominative	strong1	εγώ3	εσύ3	αυτός	αυτή	αυτό	εμείς3	εσείς3	αυτοί	αυτές	αυτά
	weak2	—	—	τος	τη	το	—	—	τοι	τες	τα
genitive	strong	εμένα / εμού	εσένα	αυτού	αυτής	αυτού	εμάς	εσάς	αυτών	αυτών	αυτών
	weak†	μου	σου	του	της	του	μας	σας	τους	τους	τους
accusative	strong	εμένα4	εσένα4	αυτόν5	αυτήν5	αυτό	εμάς4	εσάς4	αυτούς	αυτές	αυτά
	weak	με	σε	τον	την	το	μας	σας	τους	τις / τες6	τα
vocative	strong	—	εσύ	—	—	—	—	εσείς	—	—	—

† These terms double as possessive pronouns.
1. Strong or emphatic personal pronouns are used to emphasise and are pronounced with greater stress. They can be used independently of a verb or other word.
2. Weak or clitic personal pronouns are monosyllabic. They will be dependent upon another word.
3. In colloquial speech nominative forms may lose their initial ε, the use of an apostrophe in the written form is optional.   e.g. ήρθα 'γώ (I came)
4. Accusative forms lose their initial ε when following από or για, no apostrophe is used. The plural forms become monosyllabic and therefore lose the accent.   e.g. για μας (for us)
5. The final ν is optional, often being used before a following vowel.
6. τις is used before a verb, τες after a verb.   e.g. Αν τις δεις, χαιρέτα τες. (If you see them, greet them.)

Noun

εγώ • (egó) n (indeclinable)

1. (psychology) ego

   Έχει ένα μεγάλο εγώ.

   Échei éna megálo egó.

   He has a big ego.

2. selfishness

Pontic Greek

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐγώ (egṓ), from Proto-Hellenic *egṓ, from Proto-Indo-European *eǵóH. Cognate with Modern Greek εγώ (egó).

Noun

εγώ (egó)

1. I