Appendix:Greek nouns

Category:Greek nouns

see: Wiktionary:Greek noun inflection-table templates for a detailed list.

In Greek nouns are inflected, they decline changing their form depending upon their case and number. A few nouns, usually loanwords recently borrowed from foreign languages, are indeclinable - all case forms are the same; in general (and correctly) the plural form will also be the same, although some, like φιλμ (film), may occasionally follow the originating language giving φιλμς (films).

Proper nouns

In Greek, proper nouns are given names, surnames, placenames, demonyms, names of feasts, names of days and months, titles of works and synonyms of the Christian sense "God" and similar religious terms.
All proper nouns begin with an uppercase letter (capital).
Uppercase first letters are often used for emphasis or according to the preferences of the writer, on common nouns too.
See #Number for proper nouns.

Gender

Nouns may be classified into three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. It is important to remember that grammatical gender is not the same as biological gender. Although in many cases these may be the same: άντρας (ántras, “man”) is masculine and γυναίκα (gynaíka, “woman”) is feminine, in others they are not: the words αγόρι (agóri, “boy”) and κορίτσι (korítsi, “girl”) are both neuter. In addition inanimate objects may be masculine or feminine although many are neuter; most loanwords are neuter. A fourth grammatical gender common, indicated in Wiktionary by "m, f ", is largely made up of nouns referring to occupations done by both men and women. Common nouns have a masculine endings but any articles or adjectives must agree with the gender of the person, thus for γιατρός m or f (giatrós, “doctor”): ο νέος γιατρός οr η νέα γιατρός. It should also be noted that γιατρός also exists in much less common feminine forms, a woman doctor may also be γιατρίνα (giatrína) or γιάτρισσα (giátrissa).

Number

Most nouns have both singular and plural number.

• One of the two grammatical numbers may have a special meaning, different from the other number.
• Terms for sciences and abstract ideas may form grammatical plurals, even if they are rarely used.

There are few exceptions

• The singularia tantum (“always in the singular”) like ηχώ f sg (ichó, “echo”), ειρήνη f sg (eiríni, “peace”).
• The pluralia tantum (“always in the plural”) like εγκαίνια n (egkaínia, “inauguration”), μάγια n (mágia, “spells”).

Language names are common nouns, either feminine singular αγγλική (anglikí, “English”) by ellipsis of the feminine γλώσσα (glóssa, “language”), or neuter plural like αγγλικά n pl (angliká, “English”). In several Greek dictionaries they are found with uppercase first letter.

Numbers of proper nouns

Given names, placenames, surnames also form both numbers:

• They may belong to more than one person or place,
• a plural may be used as an honorary intensifier,
• or ironically.

For these, there are also exceptions:

• Singularia tantum, like Μεξικό n sg (Mexikó, “Mexico”),
• and pluralia tantum like Βρυξέλλες f pl (Vryxélles, “Brussels”).

Sources

• Triantafyllidis, Manolis et al. (2018) Νεοελληνική Γραμματική (της δημοτικής) [Neo-Hellenic Grammar (of demotic)] (in Greek, polytonic script), reprint of 1st edition of 1941 with corrections.
  Available pdfs @ins.web.auth.gr - Triantafyllidis Works at Institute of Modern Greek Studies (Manolis Triandaphyllidis Foundation), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
• Holton, David, Mackridge, Peter, Philippaki-Warburton, Irene (1997) Greek: A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Language, London: Routledge
• @publications.europa.eu house rules for Publications in Greek (in Greek). Interinstitutional Style Guide. European Union.
• Grammar textbooks taught in Greek schools (as in 2024).
  • in primary school 'Dimotiko' by Irene Philippaki-Warburton et al.
  • in secondary grade 'Gymnasio' by Chatzisavvides & Chatzisavvidou.