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Questions & Answers about Αυτό είναι νερό.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
- IPA: [afˈto ˈine neˈɾo]
- Simple guide: aftó íne neró
- Notes:
- αυ before a voiceless consonant like τ is [af], so αυτό = [afˈto].
- ει is [i]; αι (as in είναι) is [e], so είναι = [ˈine], not “eé-nai”.
- Greek ρ is a tap [ɾ], not the English r.
- Each stressed vowel has a written accent that marks the stressed syllable: αυτό, είναι, νερό.
What does each word do grammatically?
- Αυτό: demonstrative pronoun, neuter, nominative singular = “this (thing)”
- είναι: 3rd person form of “to be” (present tense) = “is/are”
- νερό: noun, neuter, nominative/accusative singular = “water” (a mass noun here)
Why is there no article before νερό?
Because νερό is used as an indefinite mass noun. Greek normally omits the article with indefinite mass or abstract nouns:
- Αυτό είναι νερό. = “This is water.” Use the article to refer to specific water:
- Αυτό είναι το νερό. = “This is the water (we meant).” Note: ένα νερό literally “a water” is idiomatic in contexts like ordering (it implies a bottle/glass), but it’s not used in a plain identification like this.
Can I drop Αυτό and just say Είναι νερό?
Yes. Greek is a pro‑drop language, so Είναι νερό. = “It is water.” Context supplies the subject. Αυτό είναι νερό. explicitly points to “this,” which is more deictic/emphatic.
Which form of “this” should I use: αυτό, αυτός, or αυτή?
- Use the form that matches the gender/number of what you’re referring to.
- Singular: αυτός (masc), αυτή (fem), αυτό (neut)
- Plural: αυτοί (masc), αυτές (fem), αυτά (neut)
- For inanimate or unknown-gender “it/this,” neuter αυτό is the default.
- Αυτό είναι νερό. (inanimate, neuter)
- Αυτή είναι η Μαρία. (fem person)
- Αυτός είναι ο Γιάννης. (masc person)
What’s the difference between αυτό and εκείνο?
- αυτό = “this” (near the speaker or just mentioned)
- εκείνο = “that” (farther away in space/time/discourse) Example: Εκείνο είναι νερό. = “That is water.”
How do I ask “Is this water?” What’s the question mark in Greek?
- Neutral yes/no question: Είναι αυτό νερό; (Greek uses the semicolon as the question mark.)
- You can also say Αυτό είναι νερό; with rising intonation.
How do I say “This is the water” vs. “This water is cold”?
- Identification of a specific item: Αυτό είναι το νερό.
- When “this” modifies a noun, Greek uses the “double article” pattern:
- Αυτό το νερό είναι κρύο. = “This water is cold.”
- You may also see postposed Το νερό αυτό είναι κρύο.
What tense and person is είναι? Why is it also used for “they are”?
είναι is present tense of είμαι (“to be”). It serves both 3rd singular and 3rd plural; context decides.
- είμαι (I am)
- είσαι (you are, sg)
- είναι (he/she/it is)
- είμαστε (we are)
- είστε (you are, pl/polite)
- είναι (they are)
How do I negate it: “This is not water”?
Αυτό δεν είναι νερό. Place δεν before the verb. Before a vowel (as in είναι), the final -ν is kept: [ðeˈn ine].
Does αυτό have to “agree” with νερό?
It agrees with the thing you’re pointing to, not with the predicate noun. Because the referent here is an inanimate “it,” neuter αυτό is used. If you point to a feminine noun, you’d use αυτή; to a masculine noun, αυτός:
- Αυτή είναι μπύρα. (μπύρα is feminine)
- Αυτός είναι καφές. (καφές is masculine)
- Αυτό είναι νερό. (νερό is neuter)
Is the word order fixed? Can I say Νερό είναι?
Word order is flexible for focus:
- Neutral: Αυτό είναι νερό.
- Focus on “water”: Νερό είναι (αυτό). = “It’s water (indeed).”
- Question: Είναι νερό αυτό; = “Is this water?” Use the neutral order unless you need emphasis or a specific nuance.
Do I have to type the accent marks?
Yes. In modern Greek orthography, polysyllabic words must carry one written accent on the stressed syllable: αυτό, είναι, νερό. Omitting accents is considered misspelling.
Why is αυτό pronounced with an f sound (aftó), not av tó?
Greek αυ and ευ change sound depending on the next letter:
- Before voiceless consonants (θ, κ, ξ, π, σ, τ, φ, χ, ψ): αυ = [af], ευ = [ef]
- Before vowels or voiced consonants (β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ): αυ = [av], ευ = [ev] So αυτό = [afˈto], but αυγό (“egg”) = [avˈɣo].
Can νερό be plural?
Normally νερό is a mass noun: πολύ νερό = “a lot of water.” The plural νερά exists but is used for “waters” in a geographic/poetic sense: τα νερά του Αιγαίου = “the waters of the Aegean.” In cafés, ένα νερό means “a bottle/glass of water” by ellipsis.
Any common pitfalls with this sentence pattern?
- Mixing up είναι (“is/are”) with ναι (“yes”): Ναι, είναι νερό. = “Yes, it is water.”
- Adding an article where it doesn’t belong: avoid Αυτό είναι ένα νερό for plain identification.
- Forgetting the Greek question mark ; when writing questions.
- Dropping required accents: write αυτό, not αυτο.