Most everyday Modern Greek prepositions govern the accusative; a smaller set governs the genitive. Meaning still matters, because κατά and ως have additional constructions outside their basic rows.
Accusative reference
Unless a register is stated, the use is neutral Standard Modern Greek. The model phrase in each row displays the case even when English does not.
| Preposition | Core meanings | Model phrase |
|---|---|---|
| σε + accusative | to, at, in, on | στο σπίτι · sto spíti · at/to the house |
| από + accusative | from, by, of, since, than | από την Αθήνα · apó tin Athína · from Athens |
| με + accusative | with, by means of | με το τρένο · me to tréno · by train |
| για + accusative | for, about, intended for | για τη δουλειά · ya ti dhuliá · for/about work |
| προς + accusative | toward; to | προς την έξοδο · pros tin éksodho · toward the exit |
| ως + accusative | as far as, until | ως την Παρασκευή · os tin Paraskeví · until Friday |
| μέχρι + accusative | until, as far as | μέχρι τη θάλασσα · méchri ti thálasa · as far as the sea |
| χωρίς + accusative | without | χωρίς τον φορτιστή · chorís ton fortistí · without the charger |
| παρά + accusative | despite; before the hour | παρά τη βροχή · pará ti vrochí · despite the rain |
| κατά + accusative | during, around, according to | κατά τη γνώμη μου · katá ti ghnómi mu · in my opinion |
Πάω στο γραφείο με το λεωφορείο.
páo sto ghrafío me to leoforío
I go to the office by bus.
Θα μείνουμε μέχρι την Κυριακή, παρά την κακοκαιρία.
tha mínume méchri tin Kiriakí, pará tin kakokería
We'll stay until Sunday despite the bad weather.
Also note μετά + accusative “after,” έως as a careful written alternative to temporal ως, and δίχως as a (literary) alternative to χωρίς.
Μετά το μάθημα θα πάμε για καφέ.
metá to máthima tha páme ya kafé
After class we'll go for coffee.
Genitive reference
These forms take the genitive. Many are learned or formal, but λόγω and εναντίον are also ordinary in conversation.
| Preposition | Core meanings | Model phrase |
|---|---|---|
| εναντίον + genitive | against, opposed to | εναντίον της απόφασης · enandíon tis apófasis · against the decision |
| λόγω + genitive | because of, owing to | λόγω της βροχής · lógho tis vrochís · because of the rain |
| μεταξύ + genitive | between, among | μεταξύ των δύο πόλεων · metaksí ton dhío póleon · between the two cities |
| υπέρ + genitive | in favor of, on behalf of | υπέρ της πρότασης · ipér tis prótasis · in favor of the proposal (formal) |
| εκτός + genitive | outside, except | εκτός της πόλης · ektós tis pólis · outside the city |
Η πτήση ακυρώθηκε λόγω της ομίχλης.
i ptísi akiróthike lógho tis omíchlis
The flight was canceled because of the fog.
Η επιτροπή ψήφισε υπέρ της πρότασης.
i epitropí psífise ipér tis prótasis
The committee voted in favor of the proposal. (formal)
Everyday ανάμεσα σε + accusative can replace formal spatial μεταξύ; εκτός από + accusative expands “except for.” See genitive after prepositions for the wider set.
Contraction with σε
Σε must fuse with a following definite article. This is grammar, not optional fast speech.
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | στον | στη(ν) | στο |
| plural | στους | στις | στα |
Τα κλειδιά είναι στην τσάντα, δίπλα στο κινητό.
ta klidhiá íne stin tsánda, dhípla sto kinitó
The keys are in the bag, next to the phone.
Elision: απ', γι', μ'
Before a vowel, από, για, and με may lose their final vowel: απ' αυτόν, γι' αυτό, μ' έναν φίλο. Από also commonly appears as απ' before article forms beginning with τ: απ' το σπίτι. These shortenings are common in speech and informal writing; the full forms remain correct. Unlike the mandatory σε contraction, elision is optional.
Γι' αυτό έφυγα απ' το σπίτι νωρίς.
yaftó éfigha ap' to spíti norís
That's why I left home early. (informal spelling)
Μ' έναν καλό χάρτη θα βρεις εύκολα το μονοπάτι.
m' énan kaló chárti tha vris éfkola to monopáti
With a good map, you'll find the path easily. (informal spelling)
Two case-sensitive cautions
Κατά + accusative has the reference-table meanings, but κατά + genitive means “against” (formal): κατά της απόφασης. Likewise, ως + accusative in the table marks a limit. Role ως “as” is different and normally introduces a noun in the case required by its role in the clause: μιλάω ως γιατρός “I speak as a doctor.”
Common Mistakes
❌ Θα συναντηθούμε σε την πλατεία μετά τη δουλειά.
Incorrect—σε + την must contract to στην.
✅ Θα συναντηθούμε στην πλατεία μετά τη δουλειά.
tha sinandithúme stin platía metá ti dhuliá
We'll meet in the square after work.
❌ Η εκδήλωση ακυρώθηκε λόγω τη βροχή.
Incorrect—λόγω governs the genitive: της βροχής.
✅ Η εκδήλωση ακυρώθηκε λόγω της βροχής.
i ekdhílosi akiróthike lógho tis vrochís
The event was canceled because of the rain.
❌ Οι κάτοικοι τάχθηκαν κατά της απόφαση.
Incorrect—genitive της must be followed by genitive απόφασης in this ‘against’ construction.
✅ Οι κάτοικοι τάχθηκαν κατά της απόφασης.
i kátiki táchthikan katá tis apófasis
The residents came out against the decision. (formal)
Key Takeaways
- The everyday core takes the accusative; εναντίον, λόγω, μεταξύ, υπέρ, and εκτός take the genitive in the listed uses.
- Σε + article contracts obligatorily; απ', γι', μ' are optional elisions.
- Learn case together with meaning where one form has multiple constructions, especially κατά and ως.
Related Topics
- Greek Prepositions OverviewA1 — The Modern Greek preposition system: the everyday accusative default, compulsory σε + article contractions, broad meanings, compound phrases, and the smaller genitive-governing set.
- The Accusative PrepositionsA1 — The core Modern Greek prepositions that take an accusative complement, from σε and από to μέχρι, χωρίς, παρά, and κατά.
- Genitive After Learned PrepositionsB1 — The closed set of formal prepositions — εναντίον, υπέρ, λόγω, μεταξύ, εντός, εκτός, μέσω, αντί, πλην, διά — that take the genitive instead of the accusative, why they all come from the written language, what the everyday σε-alternatives are, and the one place where a preposition can swallow a weak pronoun.
- Preposition + Article: στον, στη, στοA1 — σε is the one Greek preposition that fuses with the article, and it fuses obligatorily — the full grid στον/στη(ν)/στο/στους/στις/στα plus the genitive στου/στης/στων, and why από, για and με only elide instead.
- Formal Connectors From PrepositionsC1 — Recognition guide to the deep learned layer—βάσει, ένεκα, χάριν, δυνάμει, πλην, άνευ, and περί—in legal, academic, and journalistic Greek.