Learn Hardcore Greek: Τι ρούχα φοράει η γυναίκα στο πάρτι; - What clothes is the woman wearing at the party?

Greek word order is flexible. In wh-questions, it’s common to have the question word first (Τι), then the verb (φοράει), and then the subject (η γυναίκα). You can also say Τι ρούχα η γυναίκα φοράει στο πάρτι; or the neutral Τι ρούχα φοράει στο πάρτι η γυναίκα;. All are grammatical; the given order is very natural.

Why Τι ρούχα and not Ποια ρούχα?

Τι ρούχα asks generally about what kind/kinds of clothes (open-ended).
Ποια ρούχα means which clothes, implying a limited set or options in mind (e.g., from a selection). Both are correct; choose based on nuance.

Should there be an article before ρούχα?

No. Greek typically omits the article with plural nouns when the meaning is indefinite or generic. Τι ρούχα = what clothes (in general). If you used τα ρούχα, it would mean the definite set the clothes, which isn’t what you want here.

What cases are used here?

η γυναίκα is nominative (subject).
ρούχα is accusative (direct object). For neuter plural like ρούχα, nominative and accusative look the same.
στο is the preposition σε plus the article το, and it takes the accusative (το πάρτι).

What exactly is στο?

It’s the contraction of σε + το. Greek regularly contracts:

σε + τον = στον
σε + την = στη(ν)
σε + το = στο
Plurals: στους / στις / στα

Is πάρτι declined? Why το πάρτι, στο πάρτι look the same?

Πάρτι is an indeclinable neuter loanword. Its form stays πάρτι in all cases; only the article changes (e.g., το πάρτι, του πάρτι, στο πάρτι).

What’s the punctuation at the end? It looks like a semicolon.

In Greek, the question mark is written as a semicolon (;). So …πάρτι; is a question.

How do you pronounce the sentence?

Rough guide with stress in caps: TI RÚ-ha fo-RÁ-(e) i yi-NÉ-ka sto PÁR-ti
IPA (broad): [ti ˈru.xa foˈɾa(i) i ʝiˈneka sto ˈpaɾti] Notes:
γ before ι/ε is [ʝ] (as in γυναίκα).
χ before α is (as in ρούχα).
ου is [u] (as in ρούχα).
The ending -άει is often pronounced as just [a] in speech; hence [foˈɾa].

Is φοράει the only correct form? What about φορά or φορεί?

All these exist:

φοράει and φορά are both standard for 3rd person singular present.
φορεί is more formal/old-fashioned. Meaning is the same: she wears/is wearing.

Does Greek distinguish between simple and continuous like English (wears vs is wearing)?

Not in the present. Φοράει covers both. Context decides. If you want future/planned outfit, use θα φορέσει (she will wear).

Can I drop ρούχα and just say Τι φοράει η γυναίκα στο πάρτι;?

Yes, and it’s very idiomatic. Τι φοράει…; naturally implies clothing.

Can I use a pronoun instead of η γυναίκα?

Yes, for emphasis or when the referent is clear: Τι ρούχα φοράει αυτή στο πάρτι; or Αυτή τι ρούχα φοράει στο πάρτι;. Greek often omits subject pronouns unless emphasizing or clarifying.

Does στο πάρτι mean “at the party” or “to the party”?

Σε/στο can mean both, depending on the verb:

With a motion verb: Πάει στο πάρτι = goes to the party.
With a static verb like φοράει: …στο πάρτι = at the party (location/time context).

Why doesn’t Τι have an accent?

In the monotonic system, most monosyllables are unaccented unless needed to distinguish homographs (e.g., πού vs που). Τι normally has no accent. The accents you see in ρούχα, φοράει, γυναίκα, πάρτι mark their stressed syllables.

Are there alternative wordings with the same meaning?

Τι φοράει η γυναίκα στο πάρτι; (most natural)
Ποια ρούχα φοράει η γυναίκα στο πάρτι; (which clothes)
Η γυναίκα τι ρούχα φοράει στο πάρτι; (fronted subject)
For planned outfit: Τι θα φορέσει η γυναίκα στο πάρτι;

What’s the singular of ρούχα, and can I use it here?

Singular is ρούχο (a piece of clothing). You could ask Τι ρούχο φοράει…; if you expect a single item (e.g., just asking about a dress). Usually Τι ρούχα is broader and more natural.

Is there a more colloquial way to ask the same thing?

Yes:

Τι ρούχα έχει (πάνω της) η γυναίκα στο πάρτι; = What clothes does she have (on her) at the party?
Τι έχει φορέσει η γυναίκα στο πάρτι; = What has she put on for the party? (perfect aspect, often current result)