Two-Termination Adjectives in -ης / -ης / -ες | Greek Grammar

Most Greek adjectives have three separate forms for the three genders. This class has only two: the masculine and the feminine are identical, and only the neuter stands apart. It ends in -ης for masculine and feminine (ο διεθνής, η διεθνής) and -ές for neuter (το διεθνές). These are learned adjectives — inherited more or less intact from Ancient Greek — so they carry a formal flavour, but you will meet them constantly in news, science, law and academic writing: διεθνής (international), ακριβής (exact, precise), συνεχής (continuous), ειλικρινής (sincere), σαφής (clear), πλήρης (full, complete).

Why "two-termination"

In Ancient Greek a large group of adjectives never bothered to distinguish masculine from feminine — one form served both. Modern Greek kept these words in the learned register and kept that feature with them. So the label is literal: two endings do the work of three, because -ης covers he and she alike.

	Masculine / Feminine	Neuter
Nom. sg.	διεθνής	διεθνές
Gen. sg.	διεθνούς	διεθνούς
Acc. sg.	διεθνή	διεθνές
Nom. pl.	διεθνείς	διεθνή
Gen. pl.	διεθνών	διεθνών
Acc. pl.	διεθνείς	διεθνή

Three endings are worth flagging because they exist nowhere in the ordinary adjective classes. The genitive singular is -ούς (διεθνούς) for all genders — a dead giveaway of a learned adjective. The masculine/feminine plural is -είς (διεθνείς), used for both subject and object. And the neuter plural is -ή (διεθνή). Also note a pure sound coincidence: διεθνής (nominative singular) and διεθνείς (plural) are pronounced exactly the same, dhiethnís — only the ending's spelling tells you the number.

Ο διεθνής Τύπος ασχολήθηκε αμέσως με το σκάνδαλο.

o dhiethnís típos ascholíthike amésos me to skándhalo

The international press covered the scandal immediately.

Η διεθνής κοινότητα καταδίκασε την επίθεση.

i dhiethnís kinótita katadhíkase tin epíthesi

The international community condemned the attack.

Πρόκειται για ένα διεθνές συνέδριο με χίλιους συμμετέχοντες.

prókite ya éna dhiethnés sinédhrio me chílius simetéchondes

It's an international conference with a thousand participants.

The first two sentences are the whole point of the class in a nutshell: ο διεθνής Τύπος (masculine) and η διεθνής κοινότητα (feminine) use the same word. Only when you switch to a neuter noun does the form change, to διεθνές.

The genitive and plural in use

The -ούς genitive and -είς plural are where learners slip, because these endings feel alien. They are, however, completely fixed.

Ο ρόλος ενός διεθνούς οργανισμού είναι να διαμεσολαβεί.

o rólos enós dhiethnús orghanizmú íne na dhiamesolaví

The role of an international organisation is to mediate.

Πολλές διεθνείς εταιρείες άνοιξαν γραφεία στη Λευκωσία.

polés dhiethnís eteríes ániksan ghrafía sti Lefkosía

Many international companies opened offices in Nicosia.

Χρειαζόμαστε ακριβείς μετρήσεις, όχι απλές εκτιμήσεις.

chriazómaste akrivís metrísis, óchi aplés ektimísis

We need precise measurements, not mere estimates.

Θέλω μια σαφή απάντηση: ναι ή όχι;

thélo mia safí apándisi: ne i óchi;

I want a clear answer — yes or no?

πλήρης: the one with a moving stress

Almost all of these adjectives are oxytone — the stress is glued to the final syllable and never moves (διεθνής, διεθνούς, διεθνή, διεθνείς). One common member breaks the mould: πλήρης ("full, complete") is stressed on the first syllable and keeps it there throughout (πλήρης, πλήρους, πλήρη, πλήρεις, πλήρη). Otherwise it declines exactly like διεθνής.

Το ξενοδοχείο ήταν πλήρες όλον τον Αύγουστο.

to ksenodhochío ítan plíres ólon ton Ávghusto

The hotel was full all through August.

Ήταν ειλικρινής μαζί μου, και το εκτίμησα.

ítan ilikrinís mazí mu, ke to ektímisa

He was honest with me, and I appreciated it.

Don't confuse them with the -ης noun — or the colloquial -ης adjective

Two other things in Greek end in -ης, and neither declines like this class.

First, a huge group of masculine nouns ends in -ης: ο μαθητής (pupil), ο πολίτης (citizen), ο ναύτης (sailor). These have a feminine partner that is a different word (η μαθήτρια), a genitive in -ή (του μαθητή, not ×μαθητούς) and a plural in -ες (οι μαθητές). See masculine nouns in -ης. The adjective διεθνής shares only its spelling with them — the genitive -ούς and neuter -ές mark it out at once.

Second, there is a lively colloquial adjective class in -ης / -α / -ικο: ζηλιάρης (jealous), ζηλιάρα (fem.), ζηλιάρικο (neut.); also κατσούφης (sulky), παραπονιάρης (whiny). These are informal, have a distinct feminine in -α, and a neuter in -ικο — the opposite profile from the learned two-termination class, which has no separate feminine and a neuter in -ές. Never cross-pollinate the two.

Ο μικρός είναι λίγο ζηλιάρης με τα παιχνίδια του.

o mikrós íne lígho zilyáris me ta pechnídhia tu

The little one is a bit jealous with his toys.

Learned register, everyday doublets

Because these words are learned, several have a plainer, more colloquial cousin that means much the same thing. The classic pair is ευγενής (learned: "noble", also formally "kind") beside everyday ευγενικός ("polite, kind"). Both are correct; they simply sit at different points on the register scale.

Ο σερβιτόρος ήταν πολύ ευγενικός μαζί μας όλο το βράδυ.

o servitóros ítan polí evyenikós mazí mas ólo to vrádhi

The waiter was very kind to us all evening.

Καταγόταν από μια παλιά και ευγενή οικογένεια.

kataghótan apó mia palyá ke evyení ikoyénia

He came from an old and noble family.

Common Mistakes

1. Giving it a noun-style plural in -ηδες or -ες. The plural of this adjective is -είς, not the ×-ηδες / ×-ες of the -ης nouns.

❌ Οι διεθνήδες οργανισμοί συνεδρίασαν χθες.

Incorrect — the plural is διεθνείς, not ×διεθνήδες.

✅ Οι διεθνείς οργανισμοί συνεδρίασαν χθες.

i dhiethnís orghanizmí sinedhríasan chthes

The international organisations met yesterday.

2. Using the neuter -ές in the genitive. The neuter is -ές only in the nominative and accusative; the genitive is -ούς for every gender.

❌ Η ίδρυση ενός διεθνές δικαστηρίου.

Incorrect — the genitive is διεθνούς, not the nominative διεθνές.

✅ Η ίδρυση ενός διεθνούς δικαστηρίου.

i ídhrisi enós dhiethnús dhikastiríu

The founding of an international court.

3. Using the masculine -ής for a neuter noun. A neuter noun takes -ές, not the masculine/feminine -ής.

❌ Ήταν ένα συνεχής πρόβλημα όλη τη χρονιά.

Incorrect — πρόβλημα is neuter, so the adjective is συνεχές.

✅ Ήταν ένα συνεχές πρόβλημα όλη τη χρονιά.

ítan éna sinechés próvlima óli ti chroniá

It was a constant problem all year.

4. Confusing ακριβής (precise) with ακριβός (expensive). These are two different adjectives: ακριβής/-ής/-ές (two-termination, "exact") and ακριβός/-ή/-ό (ordinary three-termination, "expensive"). To say something costs a lot, you need ακριβός.

❌ Αυτό το ρολόι είναι πολύ ακριβής.

Incorrect — 'expensive' is ακριβό; ακριβής would mean 'precise'.

✅ Αυτό το ρολόι είναι πολύ ακριβό.

aftó to rolói íne polí akrivó

This watch is very expensive.

Key Takeaways

Two forms, not three: masculine and feminine share -ης (ο/η διεθνής); only the neuter differs, -ές (το διεθνές).
Tell-tale learned endings: genitive -ούς (διεθνούς), masc./fem. plural -είς (διεθνείς), neuter plural -ή (διεθνή).
Most are oxytone (fixed final stress); πλήρης is the common exception, stressed on the first syllable throughout.
Don't confuse them with the -ης masculine nouns (μαθητής, gen. -ή, pl. -ες) or the colloquial -ης/-α/-ικο adjective (ζηλιάρης).
Many have an everyday -ικος doublet (ευγενής ↔ ευγενικός); mind the register.

Now practice Greek

Reading grammar gets you part of the way. The exercises are where it sticks — free, no signup needed.

Start learning Greek →