…
Questions & Answers about Πώς είναι το σπίτι;
Does this mean How is the house? or What is the house like?
Both are possible. Πώς είναι το σπίτι; most often asks for a description (appearance/condition), i.e., What is the house like? It can also mean How is the house (doing)? after, say, bad weather or renovations.
Why does the sentence end with a semicolon?
In Greek, the question mark is written as a semicolon: ; So Πώς είναι το σπίτι; is a question.
Why use πώς here and not τι or ποιο?
- πώς = how/in what way; used for descriptions: Πώς είναι το σπίτι;
- τι = what (identity/definition). Τι είναι το σπίτι; would mean What is the house? (odd unless you mean “What kind of thing is a house?”).
- ποιο = which/which one. Ποιο είναι το σπίτι; = Which one is the house? (e.g., among several buildings).
Does this ask about location?
No. For location use πού (with an accent): Πού είναι το σπίτι; = Where is the house?
What are the gender and form of το σπίτι?
Σπίτι is neuter; its article is το. Here it’s nominative singular (the subject of είναι). Note: neuter nominative and accusative look the same (το σπίτι).
Do I need the article το? Can I just say Πώς είναι σπίτι;?
Keep the article when you mean a specific house: Πώς είναι το σπίτι; Without the article, σπίτι can mean “at home”: Είμαι σπίτι = I’m at home. Different meaning.
What is είναι exactly? Why that form?
It’s the 3rd person singular present of είμαι (to be), matching the singular subject το σπίτι. Mini-paradigm (present): είμαι, είσαι, είναι, είμαστε, είστε/είσαστε, είναι.
Can I change the word order?
Yes. Greek is flexible. Το σπίτι, πώς είναι; is also fine and can sound more conversational, focusing first on “the house.”
How do I pronounce it?
Roughly: [pos ˈine to ˈspiti] → Pos íne to spíti. Notes:
- ει → /i/ (like “ee”), αι → /e/ (like “e” in “bed”); είναι sounds like íne.
- ο and ω sound the same (/o/) in Modern Greek.
Why is there an accent on Πώς? Is πως different?
Yes. Πώς (with accent) = how. πως (no accent) = that (like ότι). Accent marks distinguish them.
How else can I ask for a description?
- Τι σπίτι είναι; = What kind of house is it? (classification)
- Πώς είναι από μέσα/απ’ έξω; = What’s it like inside/outside?
- Colloquial: Τι σόι σπίτι είναι; = What kind of house is it?
How could someone answer this question naturally?
With adjectives or short descriptions that agree in neuter:
- Είναι μεγάλο/μικρό/όμορφο/παλιό/καινούριο/φωτεινό/σκοτεινό/καθαρό/βρώμικο.
- Είναι διώροφο, με κήπο και μεγάλο μπαλκόνι.
- Είναι σε καλή κατάσταση.
How do I change it for past or future?
- Past: Πώς ήταν το σπίτι; = What was the house like?
- Future: Πώς θα είναι το σπίτι; = What will the house be like?
How do I make it plural?
Plural of το σπίτι is τα σπίτια. So: Πώς είναι τα σπίτια; = What are the houses like?
How do I direct it to someone’s house politely or familiarly?
- Familiar: Πώς είναι το σπίτι σου; = What’s your house like?
- Polite/plural: Πώς είναι το σπίτι σας;
Does σπίτι also mean “home”? Any synonyms?
Yes, σπίτι often means “home” as well (e.g., γυρίζω σπίτι = I’m going home). A more formal synonym is οικία; κατοικία means “residence.” Diminutive: σπιτάκι = “little house/cozy home.”
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Greek grammar?”
Greek grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning GreekMaster Greek — from Πώς είναι το σπίτι; to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions