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This lesson explores the Greek demonstrative pronoun αυτός (aftos), which has multiple important functions: "he/she/it" as a personal pronoun, "this" as a demonstrative, and "-self" for emphasis. This versatile word is essential for Greek communication and appears in countless everyday expressions. As an autodidact student, you'll master its various forms and uses through our systematic approach.
Course Index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does "αυτός" mean in Greek? The word "αυτός" (aftos) in Greek serves three primary functions: (1) as a third-person pronoun meaning "he," (2) as a demonstrative meaning "this" or "that same," and (3) as an emphatic pronoun meaning "-self" (himself, herself, itself). It changes form according to gender, number, and case, making it one of the most grammatically rich words in Greek.
In the following 15 examples, you'll see αυτός in its various forms and functions - as a personal pronoun ("he came"), as a demonstrative ("this book"), and for emphasis ("he himself said it"). This comprehensive exposure will help you understand this fundamental Greek word.
Key Takeaways: -
αυτός declines for gender (masculine/feminine/neuter), number, and case -
Functions as personal pronoun, demonstrative, and emphatic -
Position matters: before noun = "same," after noun = "self" -
Essential for everyday Greek communication
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The word αυτός and its forms use common Greek letters: -
α = a sound -
υ = ee sound (like "feet") in modern Greek -
τ = t sound -
ό = stressed o (as in "law") -
ς = final s (only at word end)
Note how stress marks shift in different forms, affecting pronunciation.
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19.1 Αυτός (aftos) he είναι (einai) is ο (o) the δάσκαλός (daskalos) teacher μου (mou) my
19.2 Είδα (eida) I-saw αυτόν (afton) him χθες (xthes) yesterday στην (stin) in-the αγορά (agora) market
19.3 Αυτή (afti) she η (i) the γυναίκα (gynaika) woman είναι (einai) is γιατρός (giatros) doctor
19.4 Διάβασα (diavasa) I-read αυτό (afto) this το (to) the βιβλίο (vivlio) book σε (se) in μία (mia) one μέρα (mera) day
19.5 Ο (o) the ίδιος (idios) same αυτός (aftos) he-himself μου (mou) to-me το (to) it είπε (eipe) said
19.6 Αυτοί (aftoi) they οι (oi) the άνθρωποι (anthropoi) people ζουν (zoun) live εδώ (edo) here
19.7 Μίλησα (milisa) I-spoke με (me) with αυτήν (aftin) her για (gia) about ώρες (ores) hours
19.8 Τα (ta) the παιδιά (paidia) children αυτά (afta) these παίζουν (paizoun) play κάθε (kathe) every απόγευμα (apogevma) afternoon
19.9 Αυτό (afto) this είναι (einai) is το (to) the σπίτι (spiti) house τους (tous) their
19.10 Της (tis) to-her έδωσα (edosa) I-gave αυτά (afta) these τα (ta) the λουλούδια (louloudia) flowers
19.11 Ο (o) the αυτός (aftos) same άνθρωπος (anthropos) person ήρθε (irthe) came πάλι (pali) again
19.12 Αυτές (aftes) these οι (oi) the μέρες (meres) days είναι (einai) are δύσκολες (dyskoles) difficult
19.13 Το (to) it έκανε (ekane) did αυτό (afto) this μόνος (monos) alone του (tou) his
19.14 Με (me) with αυτούς (aftous) them θα (tha) will πάμε (pame) we-go διακοπές (diakopes) vacation
19.15 Η (i) the αυτή (afti) same ιστορία (istoria) story επαναλαμβάνεται (epanalamvanete) repeats-itself
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19.1 Αυτός είναι ο δάσκαλός μου. "He is my teacher."
19.2 Είδα αυτόν χθες στην αγορά. "I saw him yesterday at the market."
19.3 Αυτή η γυναίκα είναι γιατρός. "This woman is a doctor."
19.4 Διάβασα αυτό το βιβλίο σε μία μέρα. "I read this book in one day."
19.5 Ο ίδιος αυτός μου το είπε. "He himself told me."
19.6 Αυτοί οι άνθρωποι ζουν εδώ. "These people live here."
19.7 Μίλησα με αυτήν για ώρες. "I spoke with her for hours."
19.8 Τα παιδιά αυτά παίζουν κάθε απόγευμα. "These children play every afternoon."
19.9 Αυτό είναι το σπίτι τους. "This is their house."
19.10 Της έδωσα αυτά τα λουλούδια. "I gave her these flowers."
19.11 Ο αυτός άνθρωπος ήρθε πάλι. "The same person came again."
19.12 Αυτές οι μέρες είναι δύσκολες. "These days are difficult."
19.13 Το έκανε αυτό μόνος του. "He did it himself."
19.14 Με αυτούς θα πάμε διακοπές. "We'll go on vacation with them."
19.15 Η αυτή ιστορία επαναλαμβάνεται. "The same story repeats itself."
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19.1 Αυτός είναι ο δάσκαλός μου.
19.2 Είδα αυτόν χθες στην αγορά.
19.3 Αυτή η γυναίκα είναι γιατρός.
19.4 Διάβασα αυτό το βιβλίο σε μία μέρα.
19.5 Ο ίδιος αυτός μου το είπε.
19.6 Αυτοί οι άνθρωποι ζουν εδώ.
19.7 Μίλησα με αυτήν για ώρες.
19.8 Τα παιδιά αυτά παίζουν κάθε απόγευμα.
19.9 Αυτό είναι το σπίτι τους.
19.10 Της έδωσα αυτά τα λουλούδια.
19.11 Ο αυτός άνθρωπος ήρθε πάλι.
19.12 Αυτές οι μέρες είναι δύσκολες.
19.13 Το έκανε αυτό μόνος του.
19.14 Με αυτούς θα πάμε διακοπές.
19.15 Η αυτή ιστορία επαναλαμβάνεται.
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These are the grammar rules for αυτός (he/this/self):
Three Main Functions: -
Personal Pronoun (he, she, it, they): -
αυτός (he), αυτή (she), αυτό (it) -
Used when not modifying a noun directly -
Demonstrative (this, these): -
αυτός ο άνθρωπος (this man) -
αυτό το βιβλίο (this book) -
Requires the article between αυτός and noun -
Emphatic/Reflexive (self, same): -
ο ίδιος αυτός (he himself) -
ο αυτός άνθρωπος (the same person)
Full Declension:
Masculine Singular: -
Nominative: αυτός (aftos) -
Genitive: αυτού (aftou) -
Accusative: αυτόν (afton)
Feminine Singular: -
Nominative: αυτή (afti) -
Genitive: αυτής (aftis) -
Accusative: αυτήν (aftin)
Neuter Singular: -
Nominative: αυτό (afto) -
Genitive: αυτού (aftou) -
Accusative: αυτό (afto)
Masculine Plural: -
Nominative: αυτοί (aftoi) -
Genitive: αυτών (afton) -
Accusative: αυτούς (aftous)
Feminine Plural: -
Nominative: αυτές (aftes) -
Genitive: αυτών (afton) -
Accusative: αυτές (aftes)
Neuter Plural: -
Nominative: αυτά (afta) -
Genitive: αυτών (afton) -
Accusative: αυτά (afta)
Common Mistakes: -
Forgetting the article when using as demonstrative -
Confusing αυτός (this/he) with εκείνος (that) -
Wrong gender agreement with the noun -
Misplacing in sentence (position affects meaning)
Grammatical Summary: Position determines meaning: article + αυτός + noun = "the same"; αυτός + article + noun = "this"; noun + αυτός = "himself/itself". The word agrees in gender, number, and case with what it refers to.
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The use of αυτός reflects important aspects of Greek communication style and social interaction. Greeks often use pronouns and demonstratives more explicitly than English speakers, creating clearer reference and emphasis in conversation.
Formal vs. Informal Usage: In formal contexts, αυτός/αυτή can be used as a polite third-person reference: -
Ο κύριος αυτός (this gentleman) -
Η κυρία αυτή (this lady)
Regional Variations: While αυτός is standard across all Greek-speaking regions, some dialects have variations: -
Cyprus: τούτος (toutos) is often used alongside αυτός -
Crete: ετούτος (etoutos) in traditional speech -
Northern Greece: αφτός (aftos) with different vowel quality
Common Idiomatic Expressions: -
αυτό είναι! (afto einai!) - "that's it!" -
αυτό ακριβώς (afto akrivos) - "exactly that" -
από μόνος του (apo monos tou) - "by himself/automatically" -
καθ' αυτό (kath' afto) - "in itself" -
αυτό το πράγμα (afto to pragma) - "this thing" (often dismissive)
Cultural Significance: The emphatic use of αυτός (ο ίδιος αυτός - he himself) is common in Greek to add weight to statements, reflecting the Greek cultural tendency toward expressive, emphatic communication. The phrase "αυτό είναι όλο" (that's all) is a common conversation ender.
Gender Awareness: Greek speakers must constantly be aware of grammatical gender when using αυτός, as it must agree with the noun it refers to, not necessarily the natural gender (e.g., το κορίτσι (neuter) requires αυτό, not αυτή).
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From "Το Διπλό Βιβλίο" (The Double Book) by Dimitris Hatzis (1976):
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Αυτός (aftos) he ο (o) the άνθρωπος (anthropos) man που (pou) who στεκόταν (stekotan) was-standing μπροστά (brosta) in-front μου (mou) of-me δεν (den) not ήταν (itan) was ο (o) the ίδιος (idios) same. Αυτό (afto) this το (to) the πρόσωπο (prosopo) face, αυτά (afta) these τα (ta) the μάτια (matia) eyes, αυτή (afti) this η (i) the φωνή (foni) voice - όλα (ola) all ήταν (itan) were διαφορετικά (diaforetika) different. Κι (ki) and όμως (omos) yet, αυτός (aftos) he ήταν (itan) was. Ο (o) the αυτός (aftos) same άνθρωπος (anthropos) person με (me) with άλλη (alli) other μορφή (morfi) form, σαν (san) as να (na) if είχε (eixe) had ζήσει (zisei) lived χίλιες (xilies) thousand ζωές (zoes) lives από (apo) since τότε (tote) then που (pou) that τον (ton) him είδα (eida) I-saw τελευταία (teleftaia) last φορά (fora) time.
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
Αυτός ο άνθρωπος που στεκόταν μπροστά μου δεν ήταν ο ίδιος. Αυτό το πρόσωπο, αυτά τα μάτια, αυτή η φωνή - όλα ήταν διαφορετικά. Κι όμως, αυτός ήταν. Ο αυτός άνθρωπος με άλλη μορφή, σαν να είχε ζήσει χίλιες ζωές από τότε που τον είδα τελευταία φορά.
"This man standing before me was not the same. This face, these eyes, this voice - everything was different. And yet, it was him. The same person in another form, as if he had lived a thousand lives since I last saw him."
F-C: Original Greek Text
Αυτός ο άνθρωπος που στεκόταν μπροστά μου δεν ήταν ο ίδιος. Αυτό το πρόσωπο, αυτά τα μάτια, αυτή η φωνή - όλα ήταν διαφορετικά. Κι όμως, αυτός ήταν. Ο αυτός άνθρωπος με άλλη μορφή, σαν να είχε ζήσει χίλιες ζωές από τότε που τον είδα τελευταία φορά.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
This passage masterfully demonstrates the various uses of αυτός: -
Demonstrative use: "αυτός ο άνθρωπος" (this man) -
Agreement with gender: αυτό (neuter-face), αυτά (neuter plural-eyes), αυτή (feminine-voice) -
Emphatic/identity: "ο αυτός άνθρωπος" (the same person) -
Simple pronoun: "αυτός ήταν" (it was him)
Note the imperfect tense "στεκόταν" (was standing) setting the scene, and the philosophical paradox of someone being the same yet different, emphasized through repetition of αυτός forms.
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Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
19.16 Αυτό (afto) this το (to) the πρωί (proi) morning ξύπνησα (xypnisa) I-woke νωρίς (noris) early
19.17 Κοίταξα (koitaxa) I-looked έξω (exo) outside και (kai) and είδα (eida) I-saw αυτόν (afton) him τον (ton) the παράξενο (paraxeno) strange άνθρωπο (anthropo) man
19.18 Αυτός (aftos) he στεκόταν (stekotan) was-standing ακίνητος (akinitos) motionless κάτω (kato) below από (apo) from το (to) the δέντρο (dentro) tree
19.19 Φορούσε (forouse) he-wore αυτό (afto) that το (to) the μαύρο (mavro) black παλτό (palto) coat που (pou) which είχα (eixa) I-had δει (dei) seen και (kai) and χθες (xthes) yesterday
19.20 Αυτή (afti) this τη (ti) the φορά (fora) time αποφάσισα (apofasisa) I-decided να (na) to του (tou) to-him μιλήσω (miliso) speak
19.21 Κατέβηκα (katevika) I-went-down και (kai) and πλησίασα (plisiasa) I-approached αυτόν (afton) him αργά (arga) slowly
19.22 «Αυτό (afto) this που (pou) that ψάχνεις (psaxneis) you-search δεν (den) not είναι (einai) is εδώ» (edo) here μου (mou) to-me είπε (eipe) he-said
19.23 Τα (ta) the λόγια (logia) words αυτά (afta) these με (me) me ξάφνιασαν (xafniasan) surprised πολύ (poly) much
19.24 Πώς (pos) how ήξερε (ixere) he-knew αυτός (aftos) he τι (ti) what έψαχνα; (epsaxna?) I-was-searching?
19.25 Αυτή (afti) she η (i) the γυναίκα (gynaika) woman που (pou) who εμφανίστηκε (emfanistike) appeared ξαφνικά (xafnika) suddenly ήταν (itan) was η (i) the αδερφή (aderfi) sister του (tou) his
19.26 Της (tis) to-her έδωσε (edose) he-gave αυτό (afto) this το (to) the μυστηριώδες (mystiriodes) mysterious κουτί (kouti) box
19.27 Αυτοί (aftoi) they οι (oi) the δύο (dyo) two έφυγαν (efygan) left μαζί (mazi) together χωρίς (xoris) without εξήγηση (exigisi) explanation
19.28 Έμεινα (emeina) I-remained μόνος (monos) alone με (me) with αυτές (aftes) these τις (tis) the σκέψεις (skepseis) thoughts μου (mou) my
19.29 Αυτό (afto) this το (to) the περιστατικό (peristatiko) incident το (to) it θυμάμαι (thymamai) I-remember ακόμα (akoma) still
19.30 Ποτέ (pote) never δεν (den) not έμαθα (ematha) I-learned τι (ti) what ήθελαν (ithelan) they-wanted αυτοί (aftoi) they οι (oi) the άνθρωποι (anthropoi) people
Part B: Natural Sentences
19.16 Αυτό το πρωί ξύπνησα νωρίς. "This morning I woke up early."
19.17 Κοίταξα έξω και είδα αυτόν τον παράξενο άνθρωπο. "I looked outside and saw this strange man."
19.18 Αυτός στεκόταν ακίνητος κάτω από το δέντρο. "He was standing motionless under the tree."
19.19 Φορούσε αυτό το μαύρο παλτό που είχα δει και χθες. "He was wearing that black coat I had seen yesterday too."
19.20 Αυτή τη φορά αποφάσισα να του μιλήσω. "This time I decided to speak to him."
19.21 Κατέβηκα και πλησίασα αυτόν αργά. "I went down and approached him slowly."
19.22 «Αυτό που ψάχνεις δεν είναι εδώ» μου είπε. "'What you're looking for isn't here,' he told me."
19.23 Τα λόγια αυτά με ξάφνιασαν πολύ. "These words surprised me greatly."
19.24 Πώς ήξερε αυτός τι έψαχνα; "How did he know what I was looking for?"
19.25 Αυτή η γυναίκα που εμφανίστηκε ξαφνικά ήταν η αδερφή του. "This woman who suddenly appeared was his sister."
19.26 Της έδωσε αυτό το μυστηριώδες κουτί. "He gave her this mysterious box."
19.27 Αυτοί οι δύο έφυγαν μαζί χωρίς εξήγηση. "These two left together without explanation."
19.28 Έμεινα μόνος με αυτές τις σκέψεις μου. "I remained alone with these thoughts of mine."
19.29 Αυτό το περιστατικό το θυμάμαι ακόμα. "I still remember this incident."
19.30 Ποτέ δεν έμαθα τι ήθελαν αυτοί οι άνθρωποι. "I never learned what these people wanted."
Part C: Target Language Only
19.16 Αυτό το πρωί ξύπνησα νωρίς.
19.17 Κοίταξα έξω και είδα αυτόν τον παράξενο άνθρωπο.
19.18 Αυτός στεκόταν ακίνητος κάτω από το δέντρο.
19.19 Φορούσε αυτό το μαύρο παλτό που είχα δει και χθες.
19.20 Αυτή τη φορά αποφάσισα να του μιλήσω.
19.21 Κατέβηκα και πλησίασα αυτόν αργά.
19.22 «Αυτό που ψάχνεις δεν είναι εδώ» μου είπε.
19.23 Τα λόγια αυτά με ξάφνιασαν πολύ.
19.24 Πώς ήξερε αυτός τι έψαχνα;
19.25 Αυτή η γυναίκα που εμφανίστηκε ξαφνικά ήταν η αδερφή του.
19.26 Της έδωσε αυτό το μυστηριώδες κουτί.
19.27 Αυτοί οι δύο έφυγαν μαζί χωρίς εξήγηση.
19.28 Έμεινα μόνος με αυτές τις σκέψεις μου.
19.29 Αυτό το περιστατικό το θυμάμαι ακόμα.
19.30 Ποτέ δεν έμαθα τι ήθελαν αυτοί οι άνθρωποι.
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This narrative demonstrates sophisticated uses of αυτός in storytelling: -
Time markers: "αυτό το πρωί" (this morning), "αυτή τη φορά" (this time) - demonstrative use for temporal reference -
Object tracking: The story tracks objects and people using αυτός forms: -
αυτόν τον παράξενο άνθρωπο (this strange man) -
αυτό το μαύρο παλτό (that black coat) -
αυτό το μυστηριώδες κουτί (this mysterious box) -
Post-position for emphasis: "τα λόγια αυτά" (these words) with αυτά after the noun for stylistic emphasis -
Pronoun reference: Simple αυτός/αυτή/αυτοί as he/she/they throughout -
Narrative cohesion: The repeated use of αυτός forms creates coherence, linking each sentence to previous elements
The past tenses (aorist: ξύπνησα, είδα, έφυγαν; imperfect: στεκόταν, φορούσε) work with αυτός to create a vivid narrative with clear temporal and referential structure.
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Key Forms and Pronunciation: -
αυτός [afˈtos] - masculine nominative -
αυτή [afˈti] - feminine nominative -
αυτό [afˈto] - neuter nominative -
αυτόν [afˈton] - masculine accusative -
αυτήν [afˈtin] - feminine accusative -
αυτού [afˈtu] - genitive (m/n) -
αυτής [afˈtis] - genitive (f) -
αυτοί [afˈti] - masculine plural -
αυτές [afˈtes] - feminine plural -
αυτά [afˈta] - neuter plural
Common pronunciation challenges: -
The υ is pronounced [f] before unvoiced consonants (τ, θ, κ, π, σ, φ, χ) -
Stress placement varies: always on the final syllable except neuter αυτό -
Don't confuse αυτοί [afˈti] with αυτή [afˈti] - context determines meaning
Connected speech patterns: -
αυτός ο → often sounds like [afˈtoso] -
αυτή η → often sounds like [afˈtii] -
με αυτόν → [meafˈton] in rapid speech
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