The Greek possessive pronouns corresponding to English “his,” “her,” and “its” are expressed through the genitive case of the third-person personal pronouns. Modern Greek uses του (tu) for masculine “his/its,” της (tis) for feminine “her/its,” and του (tu) for neuter “its.” Unlike English, these forms follow the noun they modify and agree with the gender of the possessor, not the possessed item.
This lesson explores one of the fundamental differences between English and Greek possession systems. While English uses possessive adjectives that precede the noun (”his book,” “her house”), Greek places the genitive pronoun after the noun and uses the definite article before it: το βιβλίο του (to vivlio tu - literally “the book of-him”). This post-nominal position is a characteristic feature of Greek syntax that learners must master for natural-sounding speech.
Through the 30 examples in this lesson, you’ll see how Greek possession works with family members, body parts, possessions, abstract concepts, and in various grammatical constructions. Understanding this system is essential for describing relationships, ownership, and attribution in Greek.
Link to course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: How do you say “his,” “her,” and “its” in Greek?
Greek uses genitive forms of personal pronouns placed after the noun: -
του (tu) - “his” or “its” (for masculine/neuter possessors) -
της (tis) - “her” or “its” (for feminine possessors)
The noun takes the definite article: ο πατέρας του (o pateras tu) - “his father” (literally: “the father of-him”).
Key Takeaways:
✦ Greek possessive pronouns follow the noun (post-nominal position) ✦ The possessed noun takes the definite article ✦ Του is used for masculine and neuter possessors ✦ Της is used for feminine possessors ✦ These forms are invariable - they don’t change regardless of the possessed noun’s gender ✦ The system differs fundamentally from English pre-nominal possessives
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The genitive pronouns use common Greek letters: -
τ (tau) - [t] sound -
ο (omicron) - [o] sound as in “got” -
υ (upsilon) - [i] sound as in “see” -
η (eta) - [i] sound as in “see” -
ς (final sigma) - [s] sound (used at word-end)
Key pronunciation points: -
του is pronounced [tu], rhyming with English “too” -
της is pronounced [tis], rhyming with English “tease” -
Both are typically unstressed in the sentence flow
Common learner mistakes: -
Placing the possessive before the noun (English influence) -
Forgetting the definite article on the possessed noun -
Confusing του (possessive “his”) with το (neuter article “the”) -
Trying to make the possessive agree with the possessed noun’s gender
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28.1 Το (to) the σπίτι (spiti) house του (tu) his είναι (ine) is μεγάλο. (meghalo) big
28.2 Η (i) the αδελφή (adhelfi) sister της (tis) her ζει (zi) lives στην (stin) in-the Αθήνα. (athina) Athens
28.3 Ο (o) the πατέρας (pateras) father του (tu) his δουλεύει (dhulevi) works στο (sto) in-the νοσοκομείο. (nosokomio) hospital
28.4 Το (to) the όνομά (onoma) name της (tis) her είναι (ine) is Μαρία. (maria) Maria
28.5 Τα (ta) the παιδιά (pedhia) children του (tu) his παίζουν (pezun) play στον (ston) in-the κήπο. (kipo) garden
28.6 Η (i) the μητέρα (mitera) mother της (tis) her μαγειρεύει (maghirevi) cooks πολύ (poli) very καλά. (kala) well
28.7 Το (to) the αυτοκίνητό (aftokinito) car του (tu) his είναι (ine) is καινούργιο. (kenuryo) new
28.8 Οι (i) the φίλοι (fili) friends της (tis) her είναι (ine) are πολύ (poli) very καλοί. (kali) good
28.9 Το (to) the δωμάτιό (dhomatio) room του (tu) his είναι (ine) is μικρό (mikro) small αλλά (ala) but άνετο. (aneto) comfortable
28.10 Η (i) the δουλειά (dhulia) work της (tis) her είναι (ine) is ενδιαφέρουσα. (endiaferusa) interesting
28.11 Ο (o) the αδελφός (adhelfos) brother του (tu) his σπουδάζει (spudhazi) studies ιατρική. (iatriki) medicine
28.12 Το (to) the βιβλίο (vivlio) book της (tis) her είναι (ine) is στο (sto) on-the τραπέζι. (trapezi) table
28.13 Οι (i) the γονείς (ghonis) parents του (tu) his είναι (ine) are από (apo) from τη (ti) the Θεσσαλονίκη. (thesaloniki) Thessaloniki
28.14 Η (i) the γάτα (ghata) cat της (tis) her κοιμάται (kimate) sleeps όλη (oli) all την (tin) the ημέρα. (imera) day
28.15 Το (to) the χόμπι (khobi) hobby του (tu) his είναι (ine) is η (i) the φωτογραφία. (fotoghrafia) photography
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28.1 Το σπίτι του είναι μεγάλο. (to spiti tu ine meghalo) “His house is big.”
28.2 Η αδελφή της ζει στην Αθήνα. (i adhelfi tis zi stin athina) “Her sister lives in Athens.”
28.3 Ο πατέρας του δουλεύει στο νοσοκομείο. (o pateras tu dhulevi sto nosokomio) “His father works in the hospital.”
28.4 Το όνομά της είναι Μαρία. (to onoma tis ine maria) “Her name is Maria.”
28.5 Τα παιδιά του παίζουν στον κήπο. (ta pedhia tu pezun ston kipo) “His children are playing in the garden.”
28.6 Η μητέρα της μαγειρεύει πολύ καλά. (i mitera tis maghirevi poli kala) “Her mother cooks very well.”
28.7 Το αυτοκίνητό του είναι καινούργιο. (to aftokinito tu ine kenuryo) “His car is new.”
28.8 Οι φίλοι της είναι πολύ καλοί. (i fili tis ine poli kali) “Her friends are very good.”
28.9 Το δωμάτιό του είναι μικρό αλλά άνετο. (to dhomatio tu ine mikro ala aneto) “His room is small but comfortable.”
28.10 Η δουλειά της είναι ενδιαφέρουσα. (i dhulia tis ine endiaferusa) “Her work is interesting.”
28.11 Ο αδελφός του σπουδάζει ιατρική. (o adhelfos tu spudhazi iatriki) “His brother is studying medicine.”
28.12 Το βιβλίο της είναι στο τραπέζι. (to vivlio tis ine sto trapezi) “Her book is on the table.”
28.13 Οι γονείς του είναι από τη Θεσσαλονίκη. (i ghonis tu ine apo ti thesaloniki) “His parents are from Thessaloniki.”
28.14 Η γάτα της κοιμάται όλη την ημέρα. (i ghata tis kimate oli tin imera) “Her cat sleeps all day.”
28.15 Το χόμπι του είναι η φωτογραφία. (to khobi tu ine i fotoghrafia) “His hobby is photography.”
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28.1 Το σπίτι του είναι μεγάλο. (to spiti tu ine meghalo)
28.2 Η αδελφή της ζει στην Αθήνα. (i adhelfi tis zi stin athina)
28.3 Ο πατέρας του δουλεύει στο νοσοκομείο. (o pateras tu dhulevi sto nosokomio)
28.4 Το όνομά της είναι Μαρία. (to onoma tis ine maria)
28.5 Τα παιδιά του παίζουν στον κήπο. (ta pedhia tu pezun ston kipo)
28.6 Η μητέρα της μαγειρεύει πολύ καλά. (i mitera tis maghirevi poli kala)
28.7 Το αυτοκίνητό του είναι καινούργιο. (to aftokinito tu ine kenuryo)
28.8 Οι φίλοι της είναι πολύ καλοί. (i fili tis ine poli kali)
28.9 Το δωμάτιό του είναι μικρό αλλά άνετο. (to dhomatio tu ine mikro ala aneto)
28.10 Η δουλειά της είναι ενδιαφέρουσα. (i dhulia tis ine endiaferusa)
28.11 Ο αδελφός του σπουδάζει ιατρική. (o adhelfos tu spudhazi iatriki)
28.12 Το βιβλίο της είναι στο τραπέζι. (to vivlio tis ine sto trapezi)
28.13 Οι γονείς του είναι από τη Θεσσαλονίκη. (i ghonis tu ine apo ti thesaloniki)
28.14 Η γάτα της κοιμάται όλη την ημέρα. (i ghata tis kimate oli tin imera)
28.15 Το χόμπι του είναι η φωτογραφία. (to khobi tu ine i fotoghrafia)
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The Greek possessive system differs fundamentally from English in both form and position. Understanding these differences is crucial for producing natural Greek.
Formation: Genitive Case of Personal Pronouns
Greek possessive pronouns are actually the genitive case forms of third-person personal pronouns: -
αυτός (aftos, “he”) → genitive του (tu, “his/of him”) -
αυτή (afti, “she”) → genitive της (tis, “her/of her”) -
αυτό (afto, “it”) → genitive του (tu, “its/of it”)
Note that masculine and neuter share the same genitive form του.
Post-Nominal Position: The Critical Difference
Unlike English possessives which precede the noun (”his book”), Greek possessives follow the noun they modify: -
English: his book -
Greek: το βιβλίο του (to vivlio tu) - literally “the book of-him”
This post-nominal position is obligatory. Placing the possessive before the noun sounds extremely unnatural and marks you immediately as a non-native speaker.
The Definite Article Requirement
The possessed noun must take the definite article in Greek. This is non-negotiable: -
Correct: το σπίτι του (to spiti tu) - “his house” -
Incorrect: σπίτι του (spiti tu)
Even when English uses no article, Greek requires it with possessives: -
English: “His mother is a teacher” -
Greek: Η μητέρα του είναι δασκάλα (i mitera tu ine dhaskala) - literally “The mother of-him is teacher”
Invariability of the Possessive Forms
The forms του and της never change regardless of the gender, number, or case of the possessed noun. They refer to the gender of the possessor, not the possessed: -
ο πατέρας του (o pateras tu) - “his father” (masculine possessed noun) -
η μητέρα του (i mitera tu) - “his mother” (feminine possessed noun) -
το σπίτι του (to spiti tu) - “his house” (neuter possessed noun) -
τα παιδιά του (ta pedhia tu) - “his children” (plural possessed noun)
In all cases, του remains unchanged because the possessor is masculine.
Agreement with Possessor, Not Possessed
This is a key conceptual difference from some languages: -
το βιβλίο του (to vivlio tu) - “his book” (masculine possessor, neuter possessed) -
το βιβλίο της (to vivlio tis) - “her book” (feminine possessor, neuter possessed)
The possessive form indicates the gender of the person who owns, not what is owned.
With Names and Proper Nouns
When the possessor is explicitly named, the same structure applies: -
το σπίτι του Γιάννη (to spiti tu yani) - “Yannis’s house” (literally: “the house of-the Yannis”) -
η αδελφή της Μαρίας (i adhelfi tis marias) - “Maria’s sister”
The possessive pronoun is often omitted when the possessor is explicitly stated, but the genitive case remains.
Special Cases: Inalienable Possession
With body parts and close family members, Greek often omits possessives where English requires them: -
Πονάει το χέρι μου (ponai to kheri mu) - “My hand hurts” (but uses first person μου) -
Ο αδελφός (o adhelfos) - “the brother” (context makes it clear whose brother)
However, when using third-person possessives, the forms του/της are generally included.
Emphasis and Stress
The possessive pronouns του/της are typically unstressed in flowing speech. Stress falls on the noun or verb: -
Το ΣΠΙτι του - stress on “house” -
Not: Το σπίτι ΤΟΥ (unless contrastive: “HIS house, not hers”)
Prepositional Phrases with Possession
Greek can express possession through prepositional phrases as well: -
το σπίτι του (to spiti tu) - “his house” -
το σπίτι του Γιάννη (to spiti tu yani) - “Yannis’s house”
Both use the genitive construction, showing the close relationship between possessive pronouns and genitive case.
Historical Note
Ancient Greek had a separate set of possessive adjectives (ἐμός/ἐμή/ἐμόν for “my,” σός/σή/σόν for “your,” etc.) that agreed with the possessed noun in gender, number, and case. Modern Greek has completely replaced this system with genitive personal pronouns, representing a major simplification of the language.
Mistake 1: Pre-nominal position (English influence) -
Incorrect: του σπίτι (tu spiti) -
Correct: το σπίτι του (to spiti tu) -
The possessive must follow, not precede
Mistake 2: Omitting the definite article -
Incorrect: σπίτι του (spiti tu) -
Correct: το σπίτι του (to spiti tu) -
The article is mandatory with possessives
Mistake 3: Trying to make the possessive agree with the possessed noun -
Incorrect: Thinking της should be used because “mother” is feminine -
Correct: η μητέρα του (i mitera tu) - “his mother” - του because possessor is masculine -
Agreement is with the possessor’s gender, not the possessed noun’s gender
Mistake 4: Confusing του (possessive) with το (article) -
το (to) = neuter definite article “the” -
του (tu) = possessive “his/its” or genitive masculine/neuter article “of the” -
Similar sounds but completely different functions
Mistake 5: Using possessives where Greek doesn’t -
English: “I wash my hands” -
Awkward Greek: Πλένω τα χέρια μου (pleno ta kheria mu) -
More natural Greek: Πλένω τα χέρια (pleno ta kheria) -
Greek often omits possessives that are obvious from context
Mistake 6: Stress placement -
Incorrect: Stressing the possessive του heavily -
Correct: Light, unstressed pronunciation in normal speech -
Stress falls on the possessed noun or main verb
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The examples in this lesson reflect the centrality of family in Greek culture. Greeks frequently talk about η μητέρα του (i mitera tu, “his mother”), ο πατέρας της (o pateras tis, “her father”), and τα παιδιά του (ta pedhia tu, “his children”). Family relationships are primary social identifiers, and Greeks often describe people through their family connections.
Example 28.4, Το όνομά της είναι Μαρία (to onoma tis ine maria, “Her name is Maria”), shows the standard Greek way of asking and stating names. Greeks take names seriously - many are named after grandparents following strict traditions, and name days (celebrating the saint you’re named after) are often more important than birthdays.
When Greeks say το σπίτι του (to spiti tu, “his house”), they often mean the family home, which carries emotional weight. Many Greeks maintain strong connections to an ancestral πατρίδα (patrida, “homeland/hometown”) where το σπίτι represents family heritage, not just property.
Example 28.10’s η δουλειά της (i dhulia tis, “her work”) reflects how Greeks discuss employment. While modern Greece has high unemployment, work remains a common topic of conversation. The phrase Τι δουλειά κάνεις; (ti dhulia kanis? - “What work do you do?”) is a standard getting-to-know-you question.
Example 28.14 mentions η γάτα της (i ghata tis, “her cat”). Greeks traditionally kept animals for practical purposes (guard dogs, mousers), but urban Greeks increasingly keep pets as companions. Stray cats are ubiquitous in Greek cities, and many people feed and care for community cats without formally “owning” them.
Example 28.13’s reference to Θεσσαλονίκη (Thessaloniki) reflects the importance of regional identity in Greece. Where someone’s γονείς (parents) are from matters culturally. The distinction between Αθηναίοι (Athenians) and Θεσσαλονικείς (Thessalonians) involves friendly rivalry, different accents, and cultural pride.
Example 28.11, Ο αδελφός του σπουδάζει ιατρική (o adhelfos tu spudhazi iatriki, “His brother is studying medicine”), reflects Greek reverence for education. Medicine, law, and engineering are particularly prestigious fields, and families take pride in children who σπουδάζουν (study) at university.
The obligatory use of the definite article with possessives reflects Greek linguistic formality. Greek maintains distinctions that English has lost, including a complete system of grammatical gender and case. This formality extends to social interactions - Greeks use titles and surnames in formal contexts more than Americans do.
Words like αυτοκίνητο (aftokinito, “car”), φωτογραφία (fotoghrafia, “photography”), and χόμπι (khobi, “hobby”) show Greek’s adaptability. Αυτοκίνητο is a Greek compound (”self-moving”), φωτογραφία uses Greek roots (”light-writing”), while χόμπι is an obvious English borrowing, showing how Greek absorbs foreign words while also creating native terms.
The distinction between του and της grammatically marks gender in ways English doesn’t. This grammatical gender marking reflects and reinforces social consciousness of gender roles, though modern Greece has been evolving toward greater gender equality while maintaining grammatical gender in language.
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From Γιώργος Σεφέρης (Giorgos Seferis), Nobel Prize-winning poet, from Μυθιστόρημα (Mythistorema / “Novel”), 1935:
Θυμήθηκα (thimitika) remembered-I-PAST το (to) the όνομά (onoma) name του (tu) his μία (mia) one πρωία (proia) morning που (pu) when ξύπνησα (ksipnisa) woke-I-PAST με (me) with τους (tus) the μαρμάρινους (marmarinus) marble κεφαλές, (kefales) heads που (pu) that κολυμπούσαν (kolibusane) were-swimming στο (sto) in-the γαλάζιο (ghalazio) blue φως. (fos) light Οι (i) the φίλοι (fili) friends του (tu) his είχαν (ikhan) had φύγει, (fighi) left τα (ta) the πρόσωπά (prosopa) faces τους (tus) their μένουν (menune) remain στη (sti) in-the θάλασσα. (thalasa) sea
Θυμήθηκα το όνομά του μία πρωία που ξύπνησα με τους μαρμάρινους κεφαλές, που κολυμπούσαν στο γαλάζιο φως. Οι φίλοι του είχαν φύγει, τα πρόσωπά τους μένουν στη θάλασσα.
(Thimitika to onoma tu mia proia pu ksipnisa me tus marmarinus kefales, pu kolibusane sto ghalazio fos. I fili tu ikhan fighi, ta prosopa tus menune sti thalasa.)
“I remembered his name one morning when I woke with the marble heads that were swimming in the blue light. His friends had left, their faces remain in the sea.”
Θυμήθηκα το όνομά του μία πρωία που ξύπνησα με τους μαρμάρινους κεφαλές, που κολυμπούσαν στο γαλάζιο φως. Οι φίλοι του είχαν φύγει, τα πρόσωπά τους μένουν στη θάλασσα.
(Thimitika to onoma tu mia proia pu ksipnisa me tus marmarinus kefales, pu kolibusane sto ghalazio fos. I fili tu ikhan fighi, ta prosopa tus menune sti thalasa.)
This passage demonstrates possessive pronouns in literary Greek. Notice:
Το όνομά του (to onoma tu) - “his name” - perfect example of the post-nominal possessive with the required definite article
Οι φίλοι του (i fili tu) - “his friends” - showing the same pattern with a plural possessed noun
Τα πρόσωπά τους (ta prosopa tus) - “their faces” - using the third-person plural genitive τους (tus, “their”)
Key vocabulary: -
θυμήθηκα (thimitika) - “I remembered” (aorist tense of θυμάμαι) -
μαρμάρινους (marmarinus) - “marble” (accusative plural adjective) -
κεφαλές (kefales) - “heads” (feminine plural) -
κολυμπούσαν (kolibusane) - “were swimming” (imperfect tense) -
φύγει (fighi) - “left/departed” (perfect infinitive) -
πρόσωπα (prosopa) - “faces” (neuter plural) -
θάλασσα (thalasa) - “sea”
Grammatical notes:
The passage uses both του (his) and τους (their), showing the genitive pronouns for singular and plural. The phrase με τους μαρμάρινους κεφαλές (with the marble heads) uses the accusative case after the preposition με (with).
The verb μένουν (menune, “remain”) is in the present tense, contrasting with the past tense είχαν φύγει (had left), creating a poetic effect where the faces eternally remain even though the friends have departed.
Seferis (1900-1971) won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1963, the first Greek to receive this honor. His poetry deeply engages with Greek history, mythology, and landscape, particularly the Aegean Sea and its islands. This passage from Mythistorema exemplifies his characteristic themes: memory, loss, the sea, and the weight of Greek antiquity.
The “marble heads” evoke both ancient Greek sculpture and the fragmentary nature of memory and history. The image of them “swimming in the blue light” creates a surreal, dreamlike quality typical of Seferis’s modernist technique. The possessive του (his) connects an unnamed figure to both his name (which the speaker remembers) and his friends (who have departed).
The final line, τα πρόσωπά τους μένουν στη θάλασσα (”their faces remain in the sea”), carries profound meaning in Greek culture. The sea is both giver and taker of life, and the image suggests the eternal presence of the lost in the Aegean waters that define Greek geography and identity.
Seferis’s use of simple, direct language with profound imagery influenced generations of Greek poets. His work bridges the ancient and modern Greek experience, much as the grammar of possessive pronouns bridges ancient and modern Greek syntax.
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28.16 Ο (o) the Νίκος (nikos) Nikos και (ke) and η (i) the οικογένειά (ikoyenia) family του (tu) his ζουν (zun) live σε (se) in ένα (ena) a χωριό (khorio) village στην (stin) in-the Πελοπόννησο. (peloponniso) Peloponnese
28.17 Το (to) the σπίτι (spiti) house του (tu) his είναι (ine) is παλιό, (palio) old αλλά (ala) but το (to) it αγαπάει (aghapai) loves-he πολύ. (poli) much
28.18 Η (i) the γιαγιά (yaya) grandmother του (tu) his ζει (zi) lives μαζί (mazi) together τους (tus) them και (ke) and της (tis) to-her αρέσει (aresi) pleases να (na) to διηγείται (dhiyiete) tell-she-PRES ιστορίες. (istories) stories
28.19 Οι (i) the ιστορίες (istories) stories της (tis) her είναι (ine) are για (ya) about την (tin) the νιότη (nioti) youth της (tis) her και (ke) and τη (ti) the ζωή (zoi) life της (tis) her στο (sto) in-the χωριό. (khorio) village
28.20 Ο (o) the παππούς (papus) grandfather της, (tis) her που (pu) who ήταν (itan) was ο (o) the άντρας (andras) husband της, (tis) her πέθανε (pethane) died πριν (prin) before δέκα (dheka) ten χρόνια. (khronia) years
28.21 Τα (ta) the χέρια (kheria) hands της (tis) her τρέμουν (tremune) tremble λίγο (ligho) a-little τώρα, (tora) now αλλά (ala) but η (i) the μνήμη (mnimi) memory της (tis) her είναι (ine) is καθαρή. (kathari) clear
28.22 Κάθε (kathe) every απόγευμα, (apoghevma) afternoon ο (o) the Νίκος (nikos) Nikos κάθεται (kathete) sits δίπλα (dhipla) next της (tis) her και (ke) and ακούει (akui) listens τις (tis) the αναμνήσεις (anamn isis) recollections της. (tis) her
28.23 Η (i) the αδελφή (adhelfi) sister του (tu) his Νίκου, (niku) Nikos-GEN η (i) the Ελένη, (eleni) Eleni έφυγε (efighe) left από (apo) from το (to) the χωριό. (khorio) village
28.24 Το (to) the διαμέρισμά (dhiamerisma) apartment της (tis) her είναι (ine) is στην (stin) in-the Αθήνα, (athina) Athens κοντά (konda) near στο (sto) to-the πανεπιστήμιο. (panepistimio) university
28.25 Η (i) the δουλειά (dhulia) work της (tis) her είναι (ine) is δύσκολη, (dhiskoli) difficult αλλά (ala) but της (tis) to-her αρέσει. (aresi) pleases
28.26 Κάθε (kathe) every Σαββατοκύριακο (savatokiriako) weekend επιστρέφει (epistreki) returns-she στο (sto) to-the χωριό (khorio) village να (na) to δει (dhi) see-she-SUBJ την (tin) the οικογένειά (ikoyenia) family της. (tis) her
28.27 Ο (o) the πατέρας (pateras) father τους (tus) their δουλεύει (dhulevi) works στα (sta) in-the χωράφια. (khorafia) fields
28.28 Τα (ta) the χέρια (kheria) hands του (tu) his είναι (ine) are σκληρά (sklira) hard από (apo) from την (tin) the δουλειά, (dhulia) work αλλά (ala) but η (i) the καρδιά (kardhia) heart του (tu) his είναι (ine) is τρυφερή. (triferi) tender
28.29 Η (i) the μητέρα (mitera) mother τους (tus) their φροντίζει (frondizi) takes-care όλους. (olus) everyone Η (i) the αγάπη (aghapi) love της (tis) her φαίνεται (fenete) shows σε (se) in κάθε (kathe) every γεύμα (ghevma) meal που (pu) that μαγειρεύει. (maghirevi) cooks-she
28.30 Αυτή (afti) this είναι (ine) is η (i) the οικογένειά (ikoyenia) family τους, (tus) their με (me) with τις (tis) the ιστορίες (istories) stories της, (tis) her τις (tis) the αναμνήσεις (anamnisis) memories τους, (tus) their και (ke) and την (tin) the αγάπη (aghapi) love τους. (tus) their
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28.16 Ο Νίκος και η οικογένειά του ζουν σε ένα χωριό στην Πελοπόννησο. (o nikos ke i ikoyenia tu zun se ena khorio stin peloponniso) “Nikos and his family live in a village in the Peloponnese.”
28.17 Το σπίτι του είναι παλιό, αλλά το αγαπάει πολύ. (to spiti tu ine palio, ala to aghapai poli) “His house is old, but he loves it very much.”
28.18 Η γιαγιά του ζει μαζί τους και της αρέσει να διηγείται ιστορίες. (i yaya tu zi mazi tus ke tis aresi na dhiyiete istories) “His grandmother lives with them and she likes to tell stories.”
28.19 Οι ιστορίες της είναι για την νιότη της και τη ζωή της στο χωριό. (i istories tis ine ya tin nioti tis ke ti zoi tis sto khorio) “Her stories are about her youth and her life in the village.”
28.20 Ο παππούς της, που ήταν ο άντρας της, πέθανε πριν δέκα χρόνια. (o papus tis, pu itan o andras tis, pethane prin dheka khronia) “Her grandfather, who was her husband, died ten years ago.”
28.21 Τα χέρια της τρέμουν λίγο τώρα, αλλά η μνήμη της είναι καθαρή. (ta kheria tis tremune ligho tora, ala i mnimi tis ine kathari) “Her hands tremble a little now, but her memory is clear.”
28.22 Κάθε απόγευμα, ο Νίκος κάθεται δίπλα της και ακούει τις αναμνήσεις της. (kathe apoghevma, o nikos kathete dhipla tis ke akui tis anamnisis tis) “Every afternoon, Nikos sits next to her and listens to her recollections.”
28.23 Η αδελφή του Νίκου, η Ελένη, έφυγε από το χωριό. (i adhelfi tu niku, i eleni, efighe apo to khorio) “Nikos’s sister, Eleni, left the village.”
28.24 Το διαμέρισμά της είναι στην Αθήνα, κοντά στο πανεπιστήμιο. (to dhiamerisma tis ine stin athina, konda sto panepistimio) “Her apartment is in Athens, near the university.”
28.25 Η δουλειά της είναι δύσκολη, αλλά της αρέσει. (i dhulia tis ine dhiskoli, ala tis aresi) “Her work is difficult, but she likes it.”
28.26 Κάθε Σαββατοκύριακο επιστρέφει στο χωριό να δει την οικογένειά της. (kathe savatokiriako epistreki sto khorio na dhi tin ikoyenia tis) “Every weekend she returns to the village to see her family.”
28.27 Ο πατέρας τους δουλεύει στα χωράφια. (o pateras tus dhulevi sta khorafia) “Their father works in the fields.”
28.28 Τα χέρια του είναι σκληρά από την δουλειά, αλλά η καρδιά του είναι τρυφερή. (ta kheria tu ine sklira apo tin dhulia, ala i kardhia tu ine triferi) “His hands are hard from work, but his heart is tender.”
28.29 Η μητέρα τους φροντίζει όλους. Η αγάπη της φαίνεται σε κάθε γεύμα που μαγειρεύει. (i mitera tus frondizi olus. i aghapi tis fenete se kathe ghevma pu maghirevi) “Their mother takes care of everyone. Her love shows in every meal she cooks.”
28.30 Αυτή είναι η οικογένειά τους, με τις ιστορίες της, τις αναμνήσεις τους, και την αγάπη τους. (afti ine i ikoyenia tus, me tis istories tis, tis anamnisis tus, ke tin aghapi tus) “This is their family, with her stories, their memories, and their love.”
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28.16 Ο Νίκος και η οικογένειά του ζουν σε ένα χωριό στην Πελοπόννησο. (o nikos ke i ikoyenia tu zun se ena khorio stin peloponniso)
28.17 Το σπίτι του είναι παλιό, αλλά το αγαπάει πολύ. (to spiti tu ine palio, ala to aghapai poli)
28.18 Η γιαγιά του ζει μαζί τους και της αρέσει να διηγείται ιστορίες. (i yaya tu zi mazi tus ke tis aresi na dhiyiete istories)
28.19 Οι ιστορίες της είναι για την νιότη της και τη ζωή της στο χωριό. (i istories tis ine ya tin nioti tis ke ti zoi tis sto khorio)
28.20 Ο παππούς της, που ήταν ο άντρας της, πέθανε πριν δέκα χρόνια. (o papus tis, pu itan o andras tis, pethane prin dheka khronia)
28.21 Τα χέρια της τρέμουν λίγο τώρα, αλλά η μνήμη της είναι καθαρή. (ta kheria tis tremune ligho tora, ala i mnimi tis ine kathari)
28.22 Κάθε απόγευμα, ο Νίκος κάθεται δίπλα της και ακούει τις αναμνήσεις της. (kathe apoghevma, o nikos kathete dhipla tis ke akui tis anamnisis tis)
28.23 Η αδελφή του Νίκου, η Ελένη, έφυγε από το χωριό. (i adhelfi tu niku, i eleni, efighe apo to khorio)
28.24 Το διαμέρισμά της είναι στην Αθήνα, κοντά στο πανεπιστήμιο. (to dhiamerisma tis ine stin athina, konda sto panepistimio)
28.25 Η δουλειά της είναι δύσκολη, αλλά της αρέσει. (i dhulia tis ine dhiskoli, ala tis aresi)
28.26 Κάθε Σαββατοκύριακο επιστρέφει στο χωριό να δει την οικογένειά της. (kathe savatokiriako epistreki sto khorio na dhi tin ikoyenia tis)
28.27 Ο πατέρας τους δουλεύει στα χωράφια. (o pateras tus dhulevi sta khorafia)
28.28 Τα χέρια του είναι σκληρά από την δουλειά, αλλά η καρδιά του είναι τρυφερή. (ta kheria tu ine sklira apo tin dhulia, ala i kardhia tu ine triferi)
28.29 Η μητέρα τους φροντίζει όλους. Η αγάπη της φαίνεται σε κάθε γεύμα που μαγειρεύει. (i mitera tus frondizi olus. i aghapi tis fenete se kathe ghevma pu maghirevi)
28.30 Αυτή είναι η οικογένειά τους, με τις ιστορίες της, τις αναμνήσεις τους, και την αγάπη τους. (afti ine i ikoyenia tus, me tis istories tis, tis anamnisis tus, ke tin aghapi tus)
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This narrative demonstrates the full range of Greek possessive pronouns in context, including both singular (του/της) and plural (τους) forms.
Singular Possessives in Use:
The narrative extensively uses both του (his) and της (her): -
η οικογένειά του (i ikoyenia tu) - “his family” -
το σπίτι του (to spiti tu) - “his house” -
η γιαγιά του (i yaya tu) - “his grandmother” -
οι ιστορίες της (i istories tis) - “her stories” -
η μνήμη της (i mnimi tis) - “her memory” -
το διαμέρισμά της (to dhiamerisma tis) - “her apartment”
Notice how the possessive remains constant (του or της) regardless of whether the possessed noun is masculine, feminine, neuter, singular, or plural.
Plural Possessive τους:
The narrative introduces τους (tus) meaning “their”: -
ο πατέρας τους (o pateras tus) - “their father” -
η μητέρα τους (i mitera tus) - “their mother” -
η οικογένειά τους (i ikoyenia tus) - “their family”
Genitive with Names:
Example 28.23 shows possessive construction with proper names: -
η αδελφή του Νίκου (i adhelfi tu niku) - “Nikos’s sister”
Here Νίκου (niku) is the genitive form of Νίκος (nikos). The genitive construction works the same way with names as with pronouns.
Multiple Possessives in One Sentence:
Example 28.19 uses της three times: -
Οι ιστορίες της... την νιότη της... τη ζωή της -
“Her stories... her youth... her life”
Each refers to the same person (the grandmother), showing how Greek tracks possession consistently.
Dative Construction with αρέσει:
Examples 28.18 and 28.25 use a special construction: -
της αρέσει (tis aresi) - “she likes” (literally: “to-her pleases”)
This isn’t a possessive but the genitive/dative form used with the verb αρέσω (to please). The thing that is liked is the subject, and the person who likes is in the genitive/dative case.
Possessives with Body Parts:
Examples 28.21 and 28.28 show possessives with body parts: -
τα χέρια της (ta kheria tis) - “her hands” -
τα χέρια του (ta kheria tu) - “his hands” -
η καρδιά του (i kardhia tu) - “his heart”
Greek requires possessive pronouns with body parts when referring to someone other than the subject.
Abstract Nouns with Possessives:
The narrative uses possessives with abstract concepts: -
η μνήμη της (i mnimi tis) - “her memory” -
η αγάπη της (i aghapi tis) - “her love” -
οι αναμνήσεις της (i anamnisis tis) - “her recollections”
This shows that possessive constructions work the same way with abstract and concrete nouns.
Cultural and Thematic Notes:
The narrative depicts a traditional Greek family scenario that’s increasingly rare but still emotionally resonant: the multi-generational household in a village, the grandmother as keeper of family stories, the daughter who left for university in Athens, the father working the land. This mirrors the demographic reality of modern Greece - rural depopulation as young people move to cities, but maintaining strong family connections through weekend visits.
The repeated possessives (του/της/τους) emphasize the interconnectedness of family members - everything belongs to someone, everyone is defined through relationships. This linguistic feature reinforces the cultural emphasis on family bonds that remains central to Greek identity.
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IPA Transcriptions: -
του [tu] - like English “too” -
της [tis] - like English “tease” -
τους [tus] - like English “toos” (rhymes with “choose”)
Detailed Pronunciation:
All three forms use: -
τ [t] - unaspirated voiceless alveolar stop (no puff of air) -
υ/ι [i] - close front unrounded vowel (like “ee” in “see”) -
ς [s] - voiceless alveolar fricative (like “s” in “sea”)
The difference between του and της is only in the vowel: -
ου (omicron-upsilon digraph) = [u] (”oo” sound) -
η (eta) = [i] (”ee” sound)
Stress Patterns:
These possessive pronouns are typically unstressed in connected speech. The stress falls on the noun or verb: -
Το ΣΠΙτι του - stress on “house,” not on possessive -
Η μηΤΕρα της - stress on second syllable of “mother”
Exception: When contrasting possessors, stress may fall on the possessive: -
Το σπίτι ΤΟΥ, όχι της - “HIS house, not hers”
Common Pronunciation Errors: -
Aspiration: English speakers often aspirate the /t/, adding a puff of air. Greek /t/ should be produced without aspiration, more like the “t” in “stop” than “top.” -
Vowel quality: -
ου should be pure [u], not diphthongized like English “too” [tuː] -
η should be pure [i], not reduced to [ɪ] as in English “it” -
Over-stressing: English speakers tend to stress possessives due to English patterns. Keep them light and unstressed in Greek. -
Inserting glottal stop: Don’t add a glottal stop before vowels in Greek. The flow should be smooth: το-όνομά-του flows together, not broken up.
Audio Reference Suggestions: -
Search “Greek possessive pronouns pronunciation” on YouTube -
Use Forvo.com for native speaker pronunciations -
The phrase το σπίτι του (to spiti tu, “his house”) is common and has many audio examples online -
Greek language learning podcasts like “GreekPod101” feature these in natural contexts
Listening Practice:
Focus on hearing the difference between: -
του [tu] vs. το [to] (possessive vs. article) -
της [tis] vs. τις [tis] (possessive vs. accusative plural article) -
τους [tus] as possessive vs. τους [tus] as accusative masculine plural article
Context always clarifies meaning, but training your ear to these minimal pairs helps comprehension.
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This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute Modern Language Course series, designed specifically for autodidact students learning Modern Greek through systematic vocabulary acquisition and authentic text engagement.
The CSV-Based Progression:
This course follows a carefully curated list of 1,000 core vocabulary items ranked by frequency and pedagogical utility. Lesson 28 focuses on “his” - the possessive pronoun system in Greek - because understanding possession is fundamental to describing relationships, ownership, and attribution. By learning words in order of importance and frequency, you build a foundation that enables real communication from the earliest stages.
Why Post-Nominal Possessives Matter:
The Greek possessive system exemplifies how languages can structure the same semantic content differently. English uses pre-nominal possessive adjectives (”my book,” “his house”), while Greek uses post-nominal genitive pronouns (το βιβλίο μου, το σπίτι του). Understanding this difference isn’t just about memorizing a pattern - it’s about internalizing a different way of organizing linguistic information.
This structural difference affects: -
Word order processing: You must wait for the possessive to know who owns something -
Article usage: The definite article becomes obligatory with possessives -
Mental representation: Greek speakers conceptualize possession as a relationship following the possessed item
The Interlinear Method’s Power:
The interlinear glossing format used throughout this course makes these structural differences visible. By showing you word-by-word how Greek sentences are built, the construed text reveals patterns that traditional grammar explanations can obscure. You see that: -
Το σπίτι του breaks down as “the house of-him” -
Η αδελφή της parses as “the sister of-her” -
Οι γονείς τους analyzes as “the parents of-them”
This transparency accelerates comprehension and helps you develop an intuitive feel for Greek structure.
Real Greek from Day One:
The narrative section (examples 28.16-28.30) isn’t simplified “learner Greek” - it’s natural Greek prose that happens to be carefully glossed. The story of Nikos and his family could appear in a contemporary Greek short story or novel. By engaging with authentic language from the beginning, you train your brain to process real Greek, not an artificial intermediate step.
Cultural Learning Through Language:
Language and culture are inseparable. This lesson’s focus on family possessives (η γιαγιά του, ο πατέρας τους, η οικογένειά της) naturally introduces you to Greek family structure, values, and demographics. You learn not just how to say “his grandmother” but also that multi-generational households remain culturally significant, that oral tradition (the grandmother’s stories) matters, that young people migrate to cities for education but maintain strong village connections.
Literary Greek Enrichment:
The citation from Giorgos Seferis demonstrates how the same possessive structures appear in Greece’s Nobel Prize-winning literature. Το όνομά του (his name), οι φίλοι του (his friends), τα πρόσωπά τους (their faces) - the same grammatical patterns serve everyday conversation and modernist poetry. This continuity between colloquial and literary Greek is part of what makes the language learnable and deeply rewarding.
How to Use This Lesson Effectively:
First Session: -
Read through Section A carefully, paying attention to the post-nominal position -
Notice how του and της never change form -
Observe the obligatory definite article pattern
Second Session: -
Study Section D’s grammar explanation thoroughly -
Understand why Greek structures possession this way -
Compare with English to clarify the differences
Third Session: -
Read the narrative (Section 28.16-28.30) for comprehension -
Notice how possessives work in extended discourse -
Pay attention to family relationship vocabulary
Ongoing Practice: -
Return to Section C and try reading without glosses -
Listen to audio recordings of these phrases if available -
Create your own sentences using possessive pronouns -
Notice possessives when reading other Greek texts
Course Links and Resources: -
Full course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index -
Student reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk -
Main website: https://latinum.org.uk
About the Latinum Institute:
Since 2006, the Latinum Institute has pioneered the use of interlinear texts for language acquisition. Originally focused on Latin (hence the name), the Institute has expanded to create materials for numerous languages while maintaining the same core methodology: authentic texts with complete grammatical transparency through word-by-word glossing.
The approach is based on solid linguistic principles: -
Comprehensible input: You understand every word through glossing -
Authentic language: Real Greek from day one -
Pattern recognition: Your brain learns structure through exposure -
Systematic progression: Frequency-based vocabulary building
Your Journey in Modern Greek:
You’re now 28 lessons into a 1,000-word journey. Each lesson builds on previous ones while introducing new grammatical territory. Possessive pronouns (Lesson 28) combine with interrogatives (Lesson 27 - τι) to create questions like Τι είναι το όνομά του; (What is his name?). Earlier lessons on articles, verbs, and basic nouns now support increasingly complex expressions.
By systematically working through this curriculum, you’re not just memorizing vocabulary - you’re building an internalized model of how Greek works. The post-nominal possessives that seem strange now will eventually feel natural. The definite article requirement will become automatic. The distinction between του and της will activate without conscious thought.
Next Steps:
Continue to Lesson 29 to expand your command of Greek pronouns and grammatical structures. Each lesson is self-contained, so you can also review previous lessons or skip ahead if needed. The interlinear format makes any lesson accessible regardless of sequence, though the systematic progression is pedagogically optimal.
Καλή συνέχεια! (kali sinekhia) - Good continuation!
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