από: from, of, by, than

The central meaning of από is source: the point where someone, something, or an action comes from. This explains its surprising English translations: “from,” passive “by,” partitive “of,” and comparative “than.”

από takes an accusative complement in all the uses introduced here. Unless marked otherwise, they are neutral Standard Modern Greek.

Physical source and origin

Use από for a person's origin and for the starting point of movement.

The noun after από is accusative: η Κρήτη → την Κρήτη, η δουλειά → τη δουλειά. Place names that take an article keep it here: από την Ελλάδα, από την Αθήνα, από την Κρήτη. English usually has none, so learn the Greek phrase as a whole.

Source versus goal: από and σε

από looks backward to a starting point; σε looks forward to a goal or locates something at a point. A single sentence can show the whole path.

This source–goal contrast is more reliable than memorizing English equivalents. Greek keeps the path clear through από versus σε. Harder route and boundary choices belong to σε versus από.

The agent of a passive: “by”

In a passive sentence, από introduces the person or force from which the action proceeds. English uses “by,” but Greek treats the doer as a kind of source.

This use is especially common in news, reports, and formal writing (formal/written). Everyday conversation often prefers an active sentence when the doer matters. Also keep the agent separate from the instrument: από τον μάγειρα means “by the cook,” but με ένα μαχαίρι means “with a knife.” English can use “by” for methods such as “by hand”; Greek uses με for that means. The full choice is on expressing the passive agent.

Comparison: “than”

After a comparative with πιο, από introduces the standard against which someone or something is measured.

English speakers often expect a dedicated word meaning only “than.” Greek instead reuses its source word: the comparison starts from a reference point. A strong pronoun after από must be accusative: από μένα, από σένα, από αυτόν. Detailed alternatives, including comparisons without από, are reserved for από in comparisons.

One “of” a group

από also marks the larger set from which a member is selected. This is the normal Greek equivalent of English “of” in one of, some of, and similar partitive expressions.

This does not make από the general preposition of possession. “Maria's car” is το αυτοκίνητο της Μαρίας, with the genitive, not a phrase built mechanically with από. The “of” translation belongs specifically to selection from a set and to certain other source-like uses covered later on the uses of από.

Route: “through” or “via”

With a verb of movement, από can name an intermediate point on the route. You enter the place from one side and continue beyond it.

English may say “through,” “via,” “past,” or “by”; Greek still presents a point on the path.

Full από and shortened απ'

Before a vowel, and very often before an article beginning with τ-, από may lose its final vowel: απ' την Αθήνα, απ' το σπίτι, απ' όλα. The apostrophe marks the missing ο and stays attached to απ'.

The full forms από την Αθήνα, από το σπίτι, από όλα are always correct and neutral in writing. The shortened forms are ordinary in speech and common in informal writing; they do not change the meaning or the accusative case.

Common Mistakes

1. Keeping a nominative article after από. The preposition governs the accusative.

2. Using a subject pronoun after comparative από. Strong pronouns also change case.

3. Putting the apostrophe after the full word. It replaces the lost final vowel.

Key Takeaways

• The core of από is source: origin, starting point, route, passive agent, comparison standard, or group selected from.
• It takes the accusative: από την Αθήνα, από μένα, από τους φίλους.
• από marks a passive agent, while με marks an instrument or means.
• The optional shortened form απ' is common in speech; full από is always correct.