Learn GreekB2 › τήν

τήν

the (feminine, direct object) /ˈtin/

otherB2#2050 most common

Also: her/it (as a clitic object pronoun, e.g. 'την είδα' = 'I saw her/it')

Example sentences

Βλέπω την τηλεόραση.
I watch the television.
Θέλω να αγοράσω την εφημερίδα.
I want to buy the newspaper.
Δεν ξέρω αν θα προλάβω την πτήση.
I don't know if I'll make the flight.
Η κυβέρνηση ανακοίνωσε ότι θα αυξήσει την τιμή του καυσίμου.
The government announced it will raise the price of fuel.
Παρά τις δυσκολίες, κατάφερε να ολοκληρώσει την έρευνά του εγκαίρως.
Despite the difficulties, he managed to finish his research on time.
Η επιτροπή επεξεργάζεται την πρόταση νόμου που θα αναδιαμορφώσει ριζικά την αγορά ενέργειας.
The committee is working on the bill that will radically reshape the energy market.

Word family

οthe (masculine nominative)
ηthe (feminine nominative)
τοthe (neuter)
τωνthe (genitive plural, all genders)
αυτήνher/that one (stressed object pronoun)

Etymology

Τήν is the accusative singular feminine of the Ancient Greek article ὁ, ἡ, τό, which began as a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that one' before it settled into the role of 'the'. Modern Greek kept the whole paradigm largely intact, so την still marks a feminine noun as the direct object of a verb. The stem traces back to a Proto-Indo-European demonstrative that also produced the English word 'the'.

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