Το «λ» γράφεται εύκολα.

The letter "λ" is written easily.

Breakdown of Το «λ» γράφεται εύκολα.

• εύκολα: easily
• το λ: the letter λ
• γράφεται: to be written

Questions & Answers about Το «λ» γράφεται εύκολα.

Why is there a Το in front of λ? Why not just «λ» γράφεται εύκολα?

In Greek, single letters and symbols are usually treated like neuter nouns, so they take the neuter article το.

• Το λ = “the letter λ”
• Without the article (λ γράφεται εύκολα) it’s not wrong in casual speech, but it sounds a bit abrupt or “headline‑like”.
• Using Το makes the sentence sound natural and complete, like “The λ is easy to write” / “The letter λ is easy to write.”

Why is the article το neuter? Are all letters neuter in Greek?

Yes, letters of the alphabet are normally neuter in Greek.

• το α, το β, το γ, το λ, etc.
• Also with the full names: το άλφα, το βήτα, το λάμδα.

So το λ literally means “the (neuter) λ”, i.e. “the letter λ”. This is just a convention of the language; learners simply memorize that letters are neuter.

What do the angle quotation marks « » around λ mean? Are they different from English quotes?

The marks « » are the standard Greek quotation marks. Here they are used to show that λ is being mentioned as a symbol/character, not used as a sound in a word.

They correspond to English:

• “λ” or 'λ' ↔ Greek «λ»

In modern Greek writing you will also see the English-style quotes (“ ”) quite often, especially online. All of these are understood; «λ» is just the traditional Greek style.

What exactly is γράφεται? Which verb form is this?

γράφεται is:

• from the verb γράφω = “I write”
• present tense
• 3rd person singular
• mediopassive voice

So γράφω (active) = “I write”, γράφεται (mediopassive) = “it is written / it gets written”.

In this sentence, Το λ γράφεται εύκολα = “The λ is (being) written easily” → “The letter λ is easy to write.”

Is γράφεται passive, reflexive, or something else?

Greek has one “mediopassive” set of endings that covers:

• Passive meanings: Το γράμμα γράφεται = “The letter is written.”
• Middle/reflexive meanings: ντύνομαι = “I dress (myself).”
• Some verbs that are just normally in this form: έρχομαι = “I come.”

Here, γράφεται is clearly passive: “is written”. There is an implied agent (“by someone”), but it doesn’t need to be mentioned.

Why do we say γράφεται εύκολα and not something like είναι εύκολα γραμμένο?

Different structures, slightly different emphasis:

• Το λ γράφεται εύκολα
  Literally: “The λ is written easily.”
  Emphasis: the process of writing it is easy.

• Το λ είναι εύκολο να το γράψεις.
  “The λ is easy (for you) to write.”
  Emphasis: similar meaning, but sounds a bit more like advice/instruction.

• είναι εύκολα γραμμένο would mean “it is easily written / has been written easily”, referring to a specific written instance of something, not to the general act of writing the letter.

For talking about how easy a letter is to write in general, γράφεται εύκολα is the most natural, compact way.

What part of speech is εύκολα? Why is it εύκολα and not εύκολο?

εύκολα is an adverb. It comes from the adjective εύκολος (easy).

• εύκολος (adj.) = easy (masc.)
• εύκολη (adj.) = easy (fem.)
• εύκολο (adj.) = easy (neuter)
• εύκολα (adv.) = easily

In γράφεται εύκολα, εύκολα modifies the verb γράφεται (“is written”), so you need the adverb “easily”, not the adjective “easy”.

Compare:

• Το γράμμα είναι εύκολο. = “The letter is easy.” (adjective – describes the letter)
• Το γράμμα γράφεται εύκολα. = “The letter is written easily.” (adverb – describes how the action is done)

Why doesn’t εύκολα agree with το λ in gender/number?

Adjectives agree with nouns, but adverbs do not.

• εύκολο γράμμα → adjective εύκολο agrees with neuter γράμμα.
• γράφεται εύκολα → adverb εύκολα modifies the verb γράφεται and never changes form.

So εύκολα stays the same regardless of the gender/number of the subject.

Could you also say Το γράμμα λ γράφεται εύκολα? Is that more explicit?

Yes, that is perfectly correct and very clear:

• Το γράμμα λ γράφεται εύκολα.
  = “The letter λ is written easily.”

There is only a nuance:

• Το λ γράφεται εύκολα. – more compact, natural in everyday speech or in explanations where it’s obvious we’re talking about letters.
• Το γράμμα λ γράφεται εύκολα. – slightly more explicit, good in teaching contexts or when introducing the alphabet.

Both are idiomatic.

Can I change the word order? For example, Το λ εύκολα γράφεται?

Word order in Greek is flexible, but not all orders sound equally natural.

• Το λ γράφεται εύκολα. – neutral, natural.
• Το λ εύκολα γράφεται. – possible, but sounds a bit marked/emphatic (putting focus on εύκολα).
• Εύκολα γράφεται το λ. – also possible, emphasizing “easily”.

You cannot say:

• Το λ γράφεται εύκολο. – incorrect (you’d be forcing an adjective to modify a verb).

How do you pronounce each word: Το λ γράφεται εύκολα?

Pronunciation (approximate, in IPA and rough English):

• Το → /to/ (“toh”)
• λ when read as λάμδα → /ˈlamða/ (“LAHM-tha” with soft “th” as in “this”)
  but in this sentence you usually just say the letter name το λάμδα or το λ (pronounced as the sound /l/ when reading).
• γράφεται → /ˈɣrafete/
  
  • γρ: /ɣr/, voiced fricative like a softer “gh” in Spanish “agua”
    • r
  • stress on the first syllable: ΓΡΑ-φε-ται
• εύκολα → /ˈefkola/
  
  • ευ before a voiceless consonant (like κ) is pronounced ef
  • stress on the first syllable: ΕΥ-κο-λα

Full phrase (with λάμδα):
Το λάμδα γράφεται εύκολα. → /to ˈlamða ˈɣrafete ˈefkola/

Why is present tense used here? Does γράφεται mean “is written” right now or “is (in general) written”?

In Greek, the simple present can express:

• an action happening now:
  Γράφεται η λέξη στον πίνακα. = “The word is being written on the board (right now).”
• a general truth/habitual action:
  Το λ γράφεται εύκολα. = “The λ is (in general) written easily.”

In this sentence it clearly describes a general property of the letter, not a one-time event.

Is the sentence more natural with the name of the letter, like Το λάμδα γράφεται εύκολα?

Both are natural:

• Το λ γράφεται εύκολα.
• Το λάμδα γράφεται εύκολα.

Using the symbol λ feels a bit more visual/graphical (as in a written exercise or on a board). Using the name λάμδα is more like talking about the letter in speech. In everyday spoken Greek, you’ll often hear the name: Το λάμδα γράφεται έτσι… (“Lambda is written like this…”).