Ισχύει αυστηρή ποινή.

ισχύει comes from ισχύω, which often means to be in force, to apply, to be valid, or to hold.

In this sentence, it does not mean physical strength. It is being used in the legal/regulatory sense: a strict penalty is in effect or applies.

So Ισχύει αυστηρή ποινή has the feeling of:

• A strict penalty applies
• A severe penalty is in force
• There is a strict penalty in effect

This is a very natural kind of wording in formal notices, rules, and regulations.

Because ποινή is the grammatical subject of the sentence.

The verb ισχύει is third person singular, and ποινή is a singular noun, so they match:

• ισχύει = it applies / is in force
• ποινή = penalty

In English, we might feel that the sentence is close to there is a strict penalty, but in Greek the structure is more like a strict penalty applies. That makes ποινή the subject, so nominative is correct.

Greek often omits the article in short statements, headlines, warnings, notices, and formal phrasing.

So αυστηρή ποινή means a strict penalty here, not necessarily the strict penalty.

Compare the feel:

• Ισχύει αυστηρή ποινή. = A strict penalty applies.
• Ισχύει η αυστηρή ποινή. = The strict penalty applies / is in force.

Without the article, the sentence sounds general and official, which is very common in public language.

αυστηρή is the feminine singular nominative form of the adjective αυστηρός (strict, severe).

It has to agree with ποινή, which is:

• feminine
• singular
• nominative

So the adjective must match it:

• masculine: αυστηρός
• feminine: αυστηρή
• neuter: αυστηρό

Because ποινή is feminine, we get αυστηρή ποινή.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English.

You may see:

• Ισχύει αυστηρή ποινή.
• Αυστηρή ποινή ισχύει.

The first version is the more neutral and natural one in many contexts, especially in notices or formal statements.

Putting Αυστηρή ποινή first can add emphasis, as if highlighting the penalty itself.

Even though word order can change, the grammatical relationships stay clear because of the noun and adjective forms.

Yes. Greek does not need an explicit subject pronoun the way English often does.

The verb ending in ισχύει already tells you it is third person singular. Greek regularly leaves out subject pronouns unless they are needed for emphasis or contrast.

So the sentence is fully complete as it stands.

Ισχύει is pronounced approximately ee-SKHEE-ee.

A few helpful points:

• Ι = ee
• σχ is pronounced like s
  • a strong kh sound
• ύ here sounds like ee
• ει also sounds like ee in Modern Greek

So although the spelling looks complicated, the modern pronunciation is fairly straightforward.

The cluster σχ appears in several Greek words and is normal, even if it looks unusual to English speakers.

Not with exactly the same meaning.

• υπάρχει αυστηρή ποινή = there is a strict penalty
• ισχύει αυστηρή ποινή = a strict penalty applies / is in force

So υπάρχει just states existence, while ισχύει emphasizes validity, applicability, or official force.

In legal, official, and regulatory language, ισχύει is often the better choice.

It can be translated in several related ways depending on context:

• penalty
• punishment
• sentence in some legal contexts

In Ισχύει αυστηρή ποινή, penalty is usually the best choice, especially if the sentence appears on a sign, warning, or legal notice.

Yes, definitely. It sounds formal, official, and impersonal.

It is the kind of sentence you might see in:

• regulations
• warning signs
• legal texts
• administrative announcements

In everyday speech, a person might choose a more conversational wording, but this sentence is perfectly natural in official contexts.

If you wanted to say strict penalties apply, you would make both the noun phrase and the verb plural:

• Ισχύουν αυστηρές ποινές.

Changes:

• ισχύει → ισχύουν because the subject is now plural
• αυστηρή → αυστηρές to agree with plural feminine ποινές
• ποινή → ποινές

So the structure works the same way, just in the plural.