Γι' αυτό means “that's why,” “for that reason,” or everyday “therefore.” It points backward to a fact the conversation has already established and introduces the consequence of that fact. The direction is always the useful clue: cause → γι' αυτό → result.
The expression comes historically from για αυτό “for this,” with the final vowel of για elided before αυτό. As a connector, the conventional spelling is γι' αυτό, with the apostrophe after γι.
State the cause, then its result
In one sentence, a comma often separates the cause from γι' αυτό and the consequence. The connector belongs with the second part.
Έχασα το τελευταίο λεωφορείο, γι' αυτό γύρισα με τα πόδια.
échasa to teleftéo leoforío, yaftó yírisa me ta pódhia
I missed the last bus, so I walked home.
Το μωρό κοιμάται, γι' αυτό μίλα πιο σιγά.
to moró kimáte, yaftó míla pio sighá
The baby is sleeping, so speak more quietly.
Δεν έφαγε πρωινό, γι' αυτό πεινάει ήδη.
dhen éfaghe proinó, yaftó pinái ídhi
She didn't eat breakfast, so she's already hungry.
The first statement supplies the real-world reason; the second reports what happened, what now holds, or what action is appropriate because of it. Γι' αυτό does not introduce a subordinate clause. Both sides can stand as independent statements.
Open a new sentence with γι' αυτό
The cause and result often occupy separate sentences. Initial Γι' αυτό then explicitly links the new sentence back to the preceding one. A comma is common after the connector in careful writing, though short integrated sentences often omit it.
Ο δρόμος προς το χωριό παραμένει κλειστός. Γι' αυτό, θα ακολουθήσουμε την παραλιακή διαδρομή.
o dhrómos pros to chorió paraméni klistós. yaftó, tha akoluthísume tin paraliakí dhiadhromí
The road to the village remains closed. For that reason, we'll take the coastal route.
Η αίθουσα δεν είναι διαθέσιμη αύριο. Γι' αυτό μεταφέραμε τη συνάντηση για την Πέμπτη.
i éthusa dhen íne dhiathésimi ávrio. yaftó metaférame ti sinándisi ya tin Pémpti
The room isn't available tomorrow. That's why we moved the meeting to Thursday.
Sentence-initial use is neutral in conversation, messages, journalism, and ordinary formal writing. It is less bureaucratic than συνεπώς and more directly causal than inferential άρα.
Reverse the order with επειδή or γιατί
The same event can be packaged in the opposite direction. A causal conjunction attaches the reason to a result already stated: result ← reason.
Γύρισα με τα πόδια γιατί είχα χάσει το τελευταίο λεωφορείο.
yírisa me ta pódhia yatí ícha chási to teleftéo leoforío
I walked home because I had missed the last bus.
Compare this with Έχασα το τελευταίο λεωφορείο, γι' αυτό γύρισα… The facts are equivalent, but the information flow differs. The first starts from the result and explains it; the γι' αυτό version presents a cause and then traces its consequence. Clause placement is developed on causal clauses; the γιατί/επειδή preference belongs to causal conjunctions.
Real-world consequence versus logical inference
Γι' αυτό normally states that one situation brought about or motivated another. Άρα says that a proposition follows from evidence. English so can hide the distinction.
Το γραφείο έκλεισε νωρίς, γι' αυτό δεν παρέλαβα τον φάκελο.
to ghrafío éklise norís, yaftó dhen parélava ton fákelo
The office closed early, so I didn't collect the file. (real-world consequence)
Τα φώτα του γραφείου είναι σβηστά, άρα μάλλον έχουν φύγει όλοι.
ta fóta tu ghrafíu íne zvistá, ára málon échun fíyi óli
The office lights are off, so everyone has probably left. (inference from evidence)
The uncollected file was caused by the closure. The departure is not caused by the lights being off; it is inferred from them. In casual reasoning speakers sometimes use γι' αυτό or άρα more loosely, but this contrast is the best guide for precise writing.
Register alternatives
Several connectors translate as “therefore,” but they package the relation differently.
| Connector | Typical role | Register |
|---|---|---|
| γι' αυτό | direct real-world reason → result | neutral/everyday |
| άρα | inference or conclusion | neutral; common in reasoning |
| επομένως | organized conclusion or consequence | written/formal |
| συνεπώς | explicit logical consequence | formal/academic |
Δεν συγκεντρώθηκε ο απαιτούμενος αριθμός ψήφων. Επομένως, η πρόταση απορρίπτεται.
dhen singendróthike o apetúmenos arithmós psífon. epoménos, i prótasi aporíptete
The required number of votes was not obtained. Therefore, the proposal is rejected. (formal)
Τα στοιχεία είναι ελλιπή· συνεπώς, το συμπέρασμα δεν μπορεί να θεωρηθεί οριστικό.
ta stichía íne elipí; sinepós, to simbérazma dhen borí na theorithí oristikó
The evidence is incomplete; consequently, the conclusion cannot be regarded as final. (academic)
The broader inventory, including οπότε, λοιπόν, και έτσι, and ως εκ τούτου, belongs to causal and consecutive connectors.
Common Mistakes
1. Putting the apostrophe after the full preposition. It replaces the lost final α.
❌ Για' αυτό ακυρώθηκε η επίσκεψη.
Incorrect spelling—the connector is γι' αυτό.
✅ Γι' αυτό ακυρώθηκε η επίσκεψη.
yaftó akiróthike i epískepsi
That's why the visit was canceled.
2. Omitting the apostrophe in edited writing. Write the elision explicitly.
❌ Γι αυτό δεν βρήκαμε διαθέσιμο τραπέζι.
Incorrect standard spelling—write γι' αυτό.
✅ Γι' αυτό δεν βρήκαμε διαθέσιμο τραπέζι.
yaftó dhen vríkame dhiathésimo trapézi
That's why we couldn't find an available table.
3. Reversing the discourse direction. Choose the form whose arrow matches the message.
✅ Έπεσε πυκνή ομίχλη, γι' αυτό έκλεισε το αεροδρόμιο.
épese pikní omíchli, yaftó éklise to aerodhrómio
Thick fog descended, so the airport closed. (cause → result)
✅ Το αεροδρόμιο έκλεισε επειδή έπεσε πυκνή ομίχλη.
to aerodhrómio éklise epidhí épese pikní omíchli
The airport closed because thick fog descended. (result ← cause)
Key Takeaways
- Γι' αυτό points from an established cause to its consequence: cause → result.
- A causal conjunction reverses the packaging: result first, then επειδή/γιατί + reason.
- Γι' αυτό usually reports a real-world consequence; άρα foregrounds an inference from evidence.
- Επομένως is written/formal and συνεπώς more explicitly formal or academic.
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Start learning Greek →Related Topics
- για: for, about, toA1 — How για marks beneficiaries, topics, destinations, durations, and purpose through the high-frequency connector για να.
- Causal ClausesA2 — Arrange Greek reason clauses before or after a main clause, replace clauses with nominal causes, and connect a cause to its result.
- Causal and Consecutive ConnectorsB1 — Connect Greek sentences by presenting a real-world consequence, logical inference, practical conclusion, or formally stated result.