Breakdown of Ο καθηγητής και η καθηγήτρια στο πανεπιστήμιο λένε ότι η γλώσσα σου είναι σε καλό επίπεδο.
Questions & Answers about Ο καθηγητής και η καθηγήτρια στο πανεπιστήμιο λένε ότι η γλώσσα σου είναι σε καλό επίπεδο.
Because the subject is plural.
- Subject: Ο καθηγητής και η καθηγήτρια = the (male) professor and the (female) professor → 2 people → plural.
- Verb: λένε is the 3rd person plural of λέω (to say).
- εγώ λέω – I say
- εσύ λες – you say (sing.)
- αυτός/αυτή/αυτό λέει – he/she/it says
- εμείς λέμε – we say
- εσείς λέτε – you say (pl.)
- αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά λένε – they say
So καθηγητής + καθηγήτρια = they, so Greek uses λένε (“they say”).
They are the same profession, but with different grammatical (and natural) genders:
- ο καθηγητής – male professor/teacher (masculine noun)
- η καθηγήτρια – female professor/teacher (feminine noun)
The article also changes:
- ο for masculine singular (ο καθηγητής)
- η for feminine singular (η καθηγήτρια)
In everyday speech, καθηγητής/καθηγήτρια is typically used for high-school or university-level teachers, not for primary school teachers (who are usually δάσκαλος / δασκάλα).