Learn Greek › B2 › παρα
παρα
than (after a comparative); to / minus (in telling time) /paˈra/
adverbB2#2358 most common
Also: but, except, only (after a negation), almost (in παρά λίγο), despite, contrary to
Example sentences
Είναι πέντε παρά τέταρτο.
It's a quarter to five.
Καλύτερα αργά παρά ποτέ.
Better late than never.
Η ώρα είναι οκτώ παρά είκοσι.
It's twenty to eight.
Παρά λίγο να χάσω το λεωφορείο.
I almost missed the bus.
Δεν έχω άλλη επιλογή παρά να φύγω.
I have no choice but to leave.
Προτιμώ να αποτύχω προσπαθώντας παρά να μην προσπαθήσω καθόλου.
I prefer to fail trying than not to try at all.
Word family
παρα-beside, alongside; mis-, over-
παράλληλοςparallel
παράδοξοςparadoxical, odd
παράκαμψηbypass, detour
Etymology
παρά is inherited unchanged from Ancient Greek παρά ('beside, alongside, from the side of'), which goes back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'forward, beyond, beside'. As an independent word in Modern Greek it specialized into adverbial and comparative roles: 'minus/to' when telling time, 'than' after comparatives, and 'but/except/only' after a negation. The same element survives productively as the prefix παρα-.
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