δέχομαι covers three ideas that English often assigns to different verbs: accepting an offer, receiving a person or an experience, and agreeing to do something. Its mediopassive shape does not make its subject passive: δέχτηκα means “I accepted/received,” not “I was accepted.” That deponent pattern is introduced on deponent verbs.
Principal parts
| Slot | Form | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Present | δέχομαι, δέχεσαι, δέχεται, δεχόμαστε, δέχεστε, δέχονται | |
| Imperfect | δεχόμουν | |
| Aorist | δέχτηκα · δέχθηκα | second (formal) |
| Dependent | δεχτώ · δεχθώ | second (formal) |
| Imperative | δέξου / δεχτείτε · δεχθείτε | singular irregular; δεχθείτε (formal) |
| Perfect | έχω δεχτεί | |
| Result adjective | δεκτός, δεκτή, δεκτό | accepted, admissible |
| -μένος form ×δεγμένος | does not exist as a Standard Modern Greek result participle of this simple verb | |
The -χτ- / -χθ- doublets are both current: the first is the ordinary spoken choice, while the second belongs chiefly to careful and official language. δέξου must be learned whole; the expected-looking ×δέξε is not its command. The related result word is the -τός adjective δεκτός, whose agreement is covered with participial adjectives.
Government
| Frame | Meaning | Model |
|---|---|---|
| accusative object | accept or receive what is offered | δέχομαι μια πρόταση |
να
| agree to act | δέχομαι να βοηθήσω |
| accusative event | undergo what is directed at the subject | δέχομαι πίεση / επίθεση |
| accusative person | receive or see a visitor | ο γιατρός δέχεται ασθενείς |
Δέχτηκα την πρόταση, γιατί οι όροι ήταν δίκαιοι.
dhéchtika tin prótasi, yatí i óri ítan dhíkei
I accepted the proposal because the terms were fair.
Δέχτηκε να μας βοηθήσει με τη μετακόμιση.
dhéchtike na mas voithísi me ti metakómisi
She agreed to help us with the move.
The event-object pattern feels passive in English, but its Greek grammar is active in meaning: the subject undergoes a blow, pressure, attack or goal while δέχομαι keeps an accusative object.
Η ομάδα δέχτηκε δύο γκολ στα τελευταία δέκα λεπτά.
i omádha dhéchtike dhío gol sta teleftéa dhéka leptá
The team conceded two goals in the last ten minutes.
Δέχεστε κάρτα ή μόνο μετρητά;
dhécheste kárta i móno metritá;
Do you take cards, or cash only?
That distinction is about the event, not the object's materiality. δέχομαι ένα δώρο profiles consent to what somebody offers; παραλαμβάνω ένα δέμα profiles taking delivery. A bullet, attack or goal lies at the other edge: it is not willingly accepted, but it is directed at and reaches the subject. Those readings share one abstract core—something comes toward an endpoint—not one English translation.
Παρέλαβα το δέμα το πρωί και υπέγραψα στην είσοδο.
parélava to dhéma to proí ke ipéghrapsa stin ísodho
I collected the parcel in the morning and signed at the entrance.
The prefixed family
| Verb | Core meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| αποδέχομαι | accept explicitly or formally | (formal) |
| παραδέχομαι | admit, acknowledge | neutral |
| υποδέχομαι | welcome, receive on arrival | neutral |
| προσδέχομαι | welcome or receive favourably; learned and now uncommon | (formal) |
The prefix changes the lexical meaning, not merely the tone; see the wider system on prefixes.
Παραδέχτηκε ότι είχε κάνει λάθος.
paradhéchtike óti íche káni láthos
He admitted that he had made a mistake.
Μας υποδέχτηκαν με καφέ και σπιτική πίτα.
mas ipodhéchtikan me kafé ke spitikí píta
They welcomed us with coffee and homemade pie.
The result adjective supplies the passive-looking outcome that δέχτηκα cannot: έγινε δεκτός / δεκτή means “was accepted.” It agrees with the person or proposal described.
Η αίτησή της έγινε δεκτή χωρίς καθυστέρηση.
i étisí tis éyine dhektí chorís kathistérisi
Her application was accepted without delay.
Set phrases
- δέχομαι τηλεφώνημα / επίσκεψη / πίεση — receive a call / visit / pressure
- δεν δέχομαι κουβέντα — I will hear no argument
- έγινε δεκτός στο πανεπιστήμιο — he was admitted to university
- Δεκτό! — Accepted! / Fair point!
Common Mistakes
Do not misread δέχτηκα as “I was accepted”: its subject accepts or receives something. Greek reverses the participants for the admission reading.
Με δέχτηκαν στο πανεπιστήμιο.
me dhéchtikan sto panepistímio
I was admitted to university.
❌ Δέξε την πρόσκληση.
Incorrect — the singular command is irregular.
✅ Δέξου την πρόσκληση.
dhéksu tin prósklisi
Accept the invitation.
Key Takeaways
- δέχομαι · δεχόμουν · δέχτηκα / δέχθηκα · να δεχτώ / δεχθώ · δέξου / δεχτείτε / δεχθείτε · έχω δεχτεί.
- It means accept, receive, or agree; what is offered or undergone is accusative.
- “I was accepted” is με δέχτηκαν or έγινα δεκτός, not δέχτηκα.
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