moyelika xatoyoyi hexihi

Negation in the Greek Language

"Δεν" – Negating Verbs in Indicative Mood

"Δεν" is used to negate verbs in the indicative mood, which is used for statements of fact or descriptions of reality. It is placed directly before the verb.

Examples:

• Εγώ διαβάζω (I read) → Δεν διαβάζω (I don’t read).
• Αυτός τρέχει (He runs) → Δεν τρέχει (He doesn’t run).

This form is very straightforward and applies to all tenses when the indicative mood is used.

"Μη(ν)" – Negating Verbs in Imperative and Subjunctive Moods

"Μη" or "Μην" is used for negating verbs in the imperative (commands) and subjunctive (suggestions, wishes) moods. "Μην" is used before verbs starting with a vowel or a "voiced consonant" sound, while "Μη" is used otherwise.

Examples:

• Διάβασε! (Read!) → Μην διαβάσεις! (Don’t read!).
• Να πάει (Let him go) → Να μη πάει (Let him not go).

This structure is commonly used when giving negative commands or prohibitions.

"Όχι" – Negating Adjectives, Adverbs, and Nouns

"Όχι" is used when negating adjectives, adverbs, or nouns. It translates as "not" or "no" in English and is placed before the word being negated.

• Είναι καλός (He is good) → Είναι όχι καλός (He is not good).
• Τρέχει γρήγορα (He runs fast) → Τρέχει όχι γρήγορα (He does not run fast).
• Αυτό είναι μήλο (This is an apple) → Αυτό είναι όχι μήλο (This is not an apple).

Though "όχι" is straightforward in use, it is less common in some contexts because Greek often prefers alternative negative constructions or structures.

Double Negatives

In Greek, double negatives do not cancel each other out as they do in English. Instead, they reinforce the negation. For example:

• Δεν θέλω τίποτα (I don’t want anything).

Other Forms of Negation: "Ούτε"

When negating lists of items, "ούτε" (neither/nor) is used to connect the negative elements. This structure allows speakers to deny multiple items or actions at once:

• Ούτε αυτό ούτε εκείνο (Neither this nor that).