Προς presents a person or thing as oriented toward a goal. With motion, it describes the direction of travel without by itself claiming that the goal was reached. It also extends that directional image to attitudes, messages, responsibilities, and purposes, especially in (formal) language.
Direction rather than arrival
The central pattern is προς + accusative. The complement names the direction in which someone moves, looks, turns, or points.
Μόλις άρχισε να βρέχει, τρέξαμε προς την έξοδο.
mólis árchise na vréchi, tréksame pros tin éksodho
As soon as it started raining, we ran toward the exit.
Άκουσε το όνομά του και στράφηκε προς εμένα.
ákuse to ónomá tu ke stráfike pros eména
He heard his name and turned toward me.
Το παιδί έδειξε προς το βουνό, αλλά δεν είδαμε τίποτα.
to pedhí édhikse pros to vunó, alá dhen ídhame típota
The child pointed toward the mountain, but we couldn't see anything.
The endpoint may later be reached, but προς does not assert that result. It gives the vector, much like an arrow on a sign. This makes it useful when the route matters more than the destination.
προς versus σε
Everyday σε identifies a destination or location. With a goal-directed verb, πάω στην πλατεία normally presents the square as the destination of the trip. Πηγαίνω προς την πλατεία means “I am heading in the direction of the square” and leaves the endpoint open.
Πήγα στην πλατεία και συνάντησα τη Σοφία εκεί.
pígha stin platía ke sinándisa ti Sofía ekí
I went to the square and met Sofia there.
Πήρα τον δρόμο προς την πλατεία, αλλά γύρισα πίσω για την ομπρέλα μου.
píra ton dhrómo pros tin platía, alá yírisa píso ya tin obréla mu
I headed along the road toward the square, but went back for my umbrella.
Both sentences are grammatical; they answer different questions. Σε says where the trip is directed as its destination, whereas προς highlights orientation. For ordinary “go to school” or “be at school,” use σε, not the more marked προς. The wider contrast is developed on motion and location.
Approximate place and time
Προς can also mean “around/on the side of” a place or “toward” a point in time. These uses are less exact than a destination or a clock reading.
Το καινούριο μαγαζί είναι προς το λιμάνι, δίπλα σ' ένα παλιό ξενοδοχείο.
to kenúrio maghazí íne pros to limáni, dhípla s' éna palió ksenodhochío
The new shop is over toward the port, next to an old hotel.
Θα σε πάρω τηλέφωνο προς το βράδυ, όταν τελειώσω.
tha se páro tiléfono pros to vrádhi, ótan telióso
I'll call you toward evening, when I finish.
Here English may prefer near, over by, or toward. The shared idea is approximation from a chosen direction.
Abstract direction and relation
Attitudes and actions can be metaphorically directed toward a person. This use is common with nouns such as αγάπη, σεβασμός, στάση, ευθύνη, and υποχρέωση, and with adjectives such as ευγενικός. It often sounds more careful or institutional than an everyday alternative with σε, για, or απέναντι σε.
Ο σεβασμός προς τους συναδέλφους φαίνεται στις μικρές καθημερινές πράξεις.
o sevasmós pros tus sinadhélfus fénete stis mikrés kathimerinés práksis
Respect toward one's colleagues shows in small everyday actions.
Η αγάπη της προς τους γονείς της δεν άλλαξε με την απόσταση.
i aghápi tis pros tus ghonís tis dhen álakse me tin apóstasi
Her love for her parents did not change with the distance.
Ο ανάδοχος παραμένει υπεύθυνος προς τρίτους για κάθε ζημιά.
o anádhochos paraméni ipéfthinos pros trítus ya káthe zimiá
The contractor remains liable to third parties for any damage. (formal)
The last construction is (formal) and typical of contracts or official prose. In conversation, speakers often recast it with απέναντι σε.
Προς also introduces purpose, particularly after a noun in (formal) administrative language:
Η ανακοίνωση στάλθηκε προς ενημέρωση όλων των κατοίκων.
i anakínosi stálthike pros enimérosi ólon ton katíkon
The notice was sent for the information of all residents. (formal)
Fixed expressions
Several phrases must be learned as units:
| Expression | Meaning and register |
|---|---|
| προς το παρόν | for the moment; neutral and very common |
| ένα προς ένα | one by one; item by item |
| ώρα προς ώρα | hour by hour (formal), especially in technical prose |
| προς τα δεξιά | toward the right |
| προς τι; | what for? (formal), often rhetorical |
Προς το παρόν δεν χρειάζεται να αλλάξουμε το σχέδιο.
pros to parón dhen chriázete na aláksume to schédhio
For the moment, we don't need to change the plan.
Έλεγξα τα τιμολόγια ένα προς ένα πριν τα στείλω.
élengksa ta timolóyia éna pros éna prin ta stílo
I checked the invoices one by one before sending them.
Οι μετρήσεις συγκρίνονται ώρα προς ώρα.
i metrísis singrínonde óra pros óra
The measurements are compared hour by hour. (formal)
Common Mistakes
1. Combining προς with a σε contraction. Προς takes the article directly.
❌ Κατευθυνθήκαμε προς στην έξοδο.
Incorrect — do not put the σε contraction στην after προς.
✅ Κατευθυνθήκαμε προς την έξοδο.
katefthinthíkame pros tin éksodho
We headed toward the exit.
2. Using a nominative pronoun after προς. Its complement is accusative.
❌ Η κάμερα ήταν στραμμένη προς εγώ.
Incorrect — use the strong accusative pronoun εμένα.
✅ Η κάμερα ήταν στραμμένη προς εμένα.
i kámera ítan straméni pros eména
The camera was pointed toward me.
3. Treating προς and σε as exact synonyms. Both are correct below, but only the first confirms the intended destination.
✅ Πήγα στο φαρμακείο και αγόρασα παυσίπονα.
pígha sto farmakío ke aghórasa pafsípona
I went to the pharmacy and bought painkillers. (destination)
✅ Περπάτησα προς το φαρμακείο, αλλά με σταμάτησε η βροχή.
perpátisa pros to farmakío, alá me stamátise i vrochí
I walked toward the pharmacy, but the rain stopped me. (direction)
4. Rebuilding a fixed phrase word by word. “For the moment” is προς το παρόν.
❌ Προς τον παρόν θα περιμένουμε.
Incorrect — the fixed expression uses the neuter article and form: προς το παρόν.
✅ Προς το παρόν θα περιμένουμε.
pros to parón tha periménume
For the moment, we'll wait.
Key Takeaways
- Προς + accusative marks direction or orientation and does not itself assert arrival.
- Σε is the everyday destination/location preposition; προς is more marked and is common in signs, careful description, and formal abstract relations.
- Abstract respect, responsibility, and purpose can be directed with προς, especially in formal prose.
- Learn προς το παρόν, ένα προς ένα, and ώρα προς ώρα as fixed expressions.
Related Topics
- σε: to, at, in, onA1 — How σε covers both location and direction, fuses with the definite article, and marks recipients and clock time.
- The Accusative PrepositionsA1 — The core Modern Greek prepositions that take an accusative complement, from σε and από to μέχρι, χωρίς, παρά, and κατά.
- Motion vs LocationA2 — How Greek motion verbs choose goals, sources, paths, and direct objects while σε itself covers both destination and static location.
- Prepositional IdiomsC1 — Ten fixed Greek prepositional phrases for everyday, emphatic, and formal meanings that cannot be assembled word by word.