δεν

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Greek

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Inherited from Byzantine Greek δέν (dén), from Ancient Greek οὐδέν (oudén, in no way).

Pronunciation

[edit]

Particle

[edit]

δεν (den) (negating particle)

  1. not
    Δεν ήρθα χθες στο γραφείο.Den írtha chthes sto grafeío.I didn't come to the office yesterday.
    Δεν έρχεσαι μαζί μας;Den érchesai mazí mas?Won't you come with us?
  2. not (with stress on the negative aspect of a statement)
    Πήρε δεν πήρε εκατό ευρώ.Píre den píre ekató evró.He didn't even get one hundred euros.

Usage notes

[edit]
  • This form is used when the following letter is a vowel or a plosive consonant (κ, τ, π, ξ, ψ, γκ, ντ, μπ). Elsewhere δε (de) may be used.
  • δεν (den) and δε (de) are used with indicative verb forms, but μην (min) and μη (mi) are used with subjunctive verbs and imperatives.

Synonyms

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]