Breakdown of Χτύπησε ο συναγερμός πυρκαγιάς, με αποτέλεσμα να αρχίσει η εκκένωση.
χτυπάω
to ring
αρχίζω
to begin
ο συναγερμός πυρκαγιάς
the fire alarm
η εκκένωση
the evacuation
Questions & Answers about Χτύπησε ο συναγερμός πυρκαγιάς, με αποτέλεσμα να αρχίσει η εκκένωση.
Why does χτύπησε mean went off here? I thought χτυπάω meant hit.
That is a very common question.
Χτυπάω / χτυπώ does literally mean to hit, but it is also used for things that ring, sound, or go off.
So:
- χτυπάω την πόρτα = I knock on the door
- χτυπάει το τηλέφωνο = the phone is ringing
- χτύπησε ο συναγερμός = the alarm went off / sounded
In this sentence, χτύπησε is the natural verb for an alarm sounding.
Why is the subject after the verb: Χτύπησε ο συναγερμός instead of Ο συναγερμός χτύπησε?
Because Greek word order is more flexible than English.
Both are possible:
- Χτύπησε ο συναγερμός
- Ο συναγερμός χτύπησε
Starting with the verb often sounds natural in narration and puts focus on the event happening. It is a bit like saying:
- The alarm went off rather than
- The alarm is what went off
So Χτύπησε ο συναγερμός is very normal Greek.
What is πυρκαγιάς doing here? Why is it συναγερμός πυρκαγιάς?