A causal clause explains why the main situation holds. Greek can place the reason before the main clause as a frame or after it as an explanation. It can also compress a cause into a noun phrase, then present the corresponding result with γι' αυτό “that is why.”
The inventory and register differences among επειδή, γιατί, αφού, μια(ς) και/που, καθώς, δεδομένου ότι, and λόγω του ότι belong to causal conjunctions. This page uses that inventory to build complete cause-and-result sentences.
Put the reason first to frame what follows
A fronted reason tells the listener how to interpret the main event before that event arrives. Neutral επειδή is especially natural in this position. In writing, put a comma after the completed causal clause.
Επειδή το τρένο είχε καθυστέρηση, φτάσαμε μετά τις δέκα.
epidhí to tréno íche kathistérisi, ftásame metá tis dhéka
Because the train had been delayed, we arrived after ten.
Επειδή δεν κοιμήθηκα καλά, σήμερα δυσκολεύομαι να συγκεντρωθώ.
epidhí dhen kimíthika kalá, símera dhiskolévome na singendrothó
Because I didn't sleep well, I'm finding it hard to concentrate today.
The first clause is the interpretive frame. Αφού and μιας και also front readily when the cause is treated as already available or easy to accept.
Αφού έχεις ήδη τα κλειδιά, μπες εσύ πρώτος.
afú échis ídhi ta klidhiá, bes esí prótos
Since you already have the keys, you go in first.
Μιας και θα είσαι στο κέντρο, μπορείς να πάρεις το δέμα;
mias ke tha íse sto kéndro, borís na páris to dhéma;
Since you'll be downtown, can you pick up the parcel?
These linkers introduce indicative clauses, including future θα είσαι. They present a reason as a proposition, not an intended event.
Put the reason last to answer “why?”
When the main clause comes first, it establishes the claim and the following causal clause supplies the explanation. Everyday γιατί is particularly frequent in this order, though this is a preference, not a ban on initial γιατί.
Ακυρώσαμε την πεζοπορία γιατί ο καιρός χειροτέρεψε απότομα.
akirósame tin pezoporía yatí o kerós chirotérepse apótoma
We canceled the hike because the weather suddenly got worse.
Σήμερα δυσκολεύομαι να δουλέψω γιατί δεν κοιμήθηκα σχεδόν καθόλου.
símera dhiskolévome na dhulépso yatí dhen kimíthika schedhón kathólu
I'm finding it hard to work today because I barely slept.
This order is natural when the result is more newsworthy. Επειδή δεν κοιμήθηκα καλά… frames the message through the bad night; Δυσκολεύομαι… γιατί… announces the problem first, then answers “why?”
Initial γιατί remains possible in a direct answer or segmented conversational explanation. The practical choice is whether the listener receives the reason first or the claim first.
Express the cause without a clause
If the cause is a thing, event, or condition rather than a full proposition, Greek often uses a prepositional phrase. Λόγω + genitive is neutral in careful writing and frequent in notices, reports, and news (formal). The genitive is required because λόγω historically means “on account of.”
Η πτήση ακυρώθηκε λόγω της απεργίας.
i ptísi akiróthike lógho tis aperyías
The flight was canceled because of the strike.
Το μουσείο παρέμεινε κλειστό λόγω τεχνικού προβλήματος.
to musío parémine klistó lógho technikú provlímatos
The museum remained closed because of a technical problem. (formal)
For many physical or immediate causes, everyday Greek also uses από + accusative: emotion, fatigue, heat, cold, pain, or weather can be construed as the source that produces the state.
Τα ρούχα μούσκεψαν από τη δυνατή βροχή.
ta rúcha múskepsan apó ti dhinatí vrochí
The clothes got soaked from the heavy rain.
Δεν μπορούσε να μιλήσει από τη συγκίνηση.
dhen borúse na milísi apó ti singínisi
She couldn't speak from emotion.
The styles differ: λόγω της βροχής categorizes a reason and fits a report; από τη βροχή presents rain directly as the source. Formal λόγω του ότι can introduce a clause but is heavier than επειδή.
Η συνεδρίαση μεταφέρθηκε λόγω του ότι η αίθουσα δεν ήταν διαθέσιμη.
i sinedhríasi metaférthike lógho tu óti i éthusa dhen ítan dhiathésimi
The meeting was moved due to the fact that the room was unavailable. (formal/official)
Turn the cause around and state the result
A because-clause looks backward from an event to its reason. Γι' αυτό reverses the direction: it points back to an established cause and introduces its consequence. It normally connects independent clauses or sentences rather than subordinating the cause.
Το λεωφορείο δεν πέρασε, γι' αυτό πήραμε ταξί.
to leoforío dhen pérase, yaftó pírame taksí
The bus didn't come, so we took a taxi.
Ο ανελκυστήρας χάλασε. Γι' αυτό ανεβήκαμε με τα πόδια.
o anelkistíras chálase. yaftó anevíkame me ta pódhia
The lift broke down. That's why we walked upstairs.
Compare Πήραμε ταξί γιατί δεν πέρασε το λεωφορείο, claim then explanation, with Το λεωφορείο δεν πέρασε, γι' αυτό πήραμε ταξί, cause then result. See causal connectors and the focused γι' αυτό page.
Common Mistakes
1. Using the nominative after λόγω. The construction requires the genitive.
❌ Αργήσαμε λόγω η κίνηση.
Incorrect—λόγω requires a genitive noun phrase.
✅ Αργήσαμε λόγω της αυξημένης κίνησης.
aryísame lógho tis afksiménis kínisis
We were late because of the increased traffic.
2. Using a genitive after ordinary από. Here από takes the accusative, as Greek prepositions normally do.
❌ Ζαλίστηκε από της ζέστης.
Incorrect—the cause phrase with από takes the accusative.
✅ Ζαλίστηκε από την πολλή ζέστη.
zalístike apó tin polí zésti
She felt dizzy from the intense heat.
3. Stacking two causal subordinators. Choose one frame for the same clause.
❌ Επειδή γιατί είχε ομίχλη, οδηγήσαμε αργά.
Incorrect—do not combine επειδή and γιατί as one conjunction.
✅ Επειδή είχε πυκνή ομίχλη, οδηγήσαμε αργά.
epidhí íche pikní omíchli, odhiyísame arghá
Because there was thick fog, we drove slowly.
Key Takeaways
- A fronted reason clause frames what follows; a final reason clause explains a claim already made.
- Επειδή readily fronts a neutral reason, while everyday γιατί often follows the main clause; these are preferences, not absolute position rules.
- Use λόγω + genitive for a nominal cause in careful prose and από + accusative for many direct physical or emotional sources.
- Reverse cause-to-explanation order with γι' αυτό: cause first, then result.
Related Topics
- Cause: γιατί, επειδή, αφούA2 — Express reasons with everyday γιατί and επειδή, given-cause αφού or the μια και/μιας και and μια που/μιας που families, and formal alternatives.
- Causal and Consecutive ConnectorsB1 — Connect Greek sentences by presenting a real-world consequence, logical inference, practical conclusion, or formally stated result.
- γι' αυτό: That's Why / ThereforeA2 — Use everyday γι' αυτό to point from an established cause to its real-world consequence, and distinguish it from logical inference.