Η κλήση στάθμευσης δείχνει τον κωδικό παράβασης.

Breakdown of Η κλήση στάθμευσης δείχνει τον κωδικό παράβασης.

δείχνω
to show
η κλήση στάθμευσης
the parking ticket (fine)
ο κωδικός παράβασης
the violation code

Questions & Answers about Η κλήση στάθμευσης δείχνει τον κωδικό παράβασης.

What does each word in Η κλήση στάθμευσης δείχνει τον κωδικό παράβασης mean?

A word-by-word breakdown is:

  • Η = the
  • κλήση = ticket / citation here, not call
  • στάθμευσης = of parking
  • δείχνει = shows
  • τον = the for a masculine singular object
  • κωδικό = code
  • παράβασης = of violation / infraction

So the structure is very literally:

The ticket of parking shows the code of violation.

In more natural English, this becomes something like The parking ticket shows the violation code.

Why does κλήση mean ticket here? I thought it meant call.

That is a very common question. The noun κλήση can mean different things depending on context, including:

  • call
  • summons
  • citation / ticket

In administrative or legal contexts, κλήση often means a ticket or citation, such as a traffic or parking ticket.

So in this sentence, because it is followed by στάθμευσης and talks about a violation code, κλήση clearly means parking ticket.

Why is Η used at the beginning?

Η is the feminine singular nominative form of the.

It is used because κλήση is:

  • feminine
  • singular
  • the subject of the sentence

So:

  • η κλήση = the ticket

Greek articles change depending on gender, number, and case, so this is not a fixed form like English the.

Why is στάθμευσης in that form?

στάθμευσης is the genitive singular form of στάθμευση.

The genitive here expresses a relationship like of parking. Greek often uses this structure where English might use:

  • a noun+noun combination, like parking ticket
  • or of, like ticket of parking

So:

  • η κλήση στάθμευσης literally = the ticket of parking
  • natural English = the parking ticket

This is a very common Greek pattern: one noun followed by another noun in the genitive.

What form is δείχνει?

δείχνει is the:

  • present tense
  • active voice
  • third person singular

of the verb δείχνω, meaning to show.

So δείχνει means:

  • he/she/it shows

Here the subject is η κλήση στάθμευσης, which is singular, so the verb is singular too.

Why is it τον κωδικό and not ο κωδικός?

Because τον κωδικό is the direct object of the verb δείχνει.

In Greek, nouns and articles change form depending on their role in the sentence. Here:

  • ο κωδικός = nominative, used for the subject
  • τον κωδικό = accusative, used for the direct object

Since the ticket is showing the code, the code is what is being shown, so it must be in the accusative:

  • τον κωδικό

This is one of the biggest differences from English, where the code looks the same whether it is subject or object.

Why is παράβασης also in the genitive?

For the same basic reason as στάθμευσης: it is another noun modifying a noun.

  • κωδικός παράβασης literally = code of violation
  • natural English = violation code or infraction code

So Greek uses the genitive to connect the two nouns.

This means the sentence contains two noun+genitive combinations:

  • κλήση στάθμευσης = parking ticket
  • κωδικό παράβασης = violation code

This kind of structure is very common in formal or administrative Greek.

Is the word order fixed, or could Greek say this differently?

Greek word order is more flexible than English because case endings show who is doing what.

The sentence as given:

Η κλήση στάθμευσης δείχνει τον κωδικό παράβασης

is the most neutral and straightforward order:

  • subject
  • verb
  • object

But Greek could move parts around for emphasis, for example:

  • Τον κωδικό παράβασης δείχνει η κλήση στάθμευσης.

That would sound more marked, with emphasis on the violation code.

So the given version is standard and natural, especially in explanatory or official language.

Could Greek leave out one of the articles here?

Sometimes Greek can omit an article, but in this sentence the articles sound natural and expected.

You have:

  • Η κλήση
  • τον κωδικό

These refer to specific things:

  • the parking ticket
  • the violation code

Greek often uses the definite article more regularly than English does. In official or informational statements like this, keeping the articles is normal.

Is this sentence formal Greek?

Yes, it sounds somewhat formal or administrative.

Words like:

  • κλήση
  • στάθμευσης
  • κωδικός παράβασης

fit the language of notices, tickets, instructions, or official documents.

In everyday conversation, a person might use simpler or more conversational wording depending on context, but this sentence is perfectly normal for written official Greek.

How is the sentence pronounced?

A rough pronunciation guide is:

ee KLEE-see STATH-mef-sees DEEKH-nee ton ko-thee-KO pa-ra-VA-sees

A few notes:

  • η sounds like ee
  • κλήση has stress on the first syllable: KLEE-see
  • στάθμευσης is a bit harder; the θ sounds like th in think
  • δείχνει has the χ sound, like a harsher sound not found in standard English; learners often approximate it
  • κωδικό has stress on the last syllable: ko-thee-KO
  • παράβασης has stress on VA

The written accent marks in Greek are important because they show where the stress goes.

Why are there no words corresponding to English of in parking ticket and violation code?

Because Greek often expresses of relationships just by putting the second noun in the genitive case.

So instead of saying a separate word for of, Greek changes the form of the noun:

  • στάθμευση becomes στάθμευσης
  • παράβαση becomes παράβασης

That is why:

  • κλήση στάθμευσης = ticket of parking
  • κωδικός παράβασης = code of violation

This is one of the most useful patterns to learn, because it appears everywhere in Greek.

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