τι δέον γενέσθαι

Greek

Etymology

Learned stereotype interrogative expression from Katharevousa, from Ancient Greek:

Interrogative pronoun τί (tí) + neuter present participle δέον (déon) (of δέω (déō, “to need”)) + middle aorist infinitive γενέσθαι (genésthai) of γίγνομαι (gígnomai, “to become”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈti ˈðeon ʝeˈnesθe/

Phrase

τι δέον γενέσθαι; • (ti déon genésthai?) (Polytonic spelling: τί δέον γενέσθαι;)

1. what is to be done?

   Η οικονομική κρίση μαίνεται· τι δέον γενέσθαι;

   I oikonomikí krísi maínetai; ti déon genésthai?

   The economic crisis is at its peak; what is to be done?

Related terms

• το δέον γενέσθαι (to déon genésthai, “that which must be done”)