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Questions & Answers about Τι σημαίνει «ούτε»;
How do I pronounce the word ούτε?
IPA: [ˈute], roughly “OO-teh.”
- The accent mark over ύ means the stress is on the first syllable (ού).
- ου is one sound /u/ (like the oo in “food”).
- τ is an unaspirated t.
- ε is a close-mid e (like the vowel in Spanish “pero” or close to English “met,” but tenser).
What kind of word is ούτε, and what does it express?
It’s a negative coordinating conjunction (and sometimes an adverbial negative). It typically means:
- “neither/nor” when used in pairs: ούτε … ούτε …
- “nor” linking to a previous negative clause
- “not even,” especially in the patterns ούτε (alone), ούτε καν, or ούτε που
Do I always need two ούτεs (neither…nor), or can I use just one?
Both are possible, depending on meaning.
- Pair for “neither…nor”: Ούτε ο Γιάννης ούτε η Μαρία ήρθαν. (Neither John nor Mary came.) Note the verb is plural because the subject is plural.
- Single ούτε for “nor” after a negative: Δεν ήρθε, ούτε τηλεφώνησε. (He didn’t come, nor did he call.)
- Single ούτε for “not even/…either”: Ούτε εγώ πήγα. (I didn’t go either / Me neither.)
Do I use δεν with ούτε?