Learn Hardcore Greek: Η φωνή του καθηγητή είναι ήρεμη, και γι’ αυτό δεν φοβάμαι τόσο στην εξέταση. - The professor’s male voice is calm, and that’s why I am not so afraid in the exam.

φωνή = voice
The article η is the feminine singular nominative article (the).
φωνή is grammatically feminine in Greek, so it takes the feminine article η.

So Η φωνή = The voice (feminine noun).

How do you pronounce Η φωνή του καθηγητή είναι ήρεμη?

Approximate pronunciation (with stressed syllables in capitals):

Η φωνή → i fo-NI
του καθηγητή → tu ka-thi-yi-TI
είναι → I-ne
ήρεμη → I-re-mi

Altogether: i fo-NI tu ka-thi-yi-TI I-ne I-re-mi.

More precisely in IPA: /i foˈni tu kaθiʝiˈti ˈine ˈiɾemi/.

Why do we say του καθηγητή? What case is this and what does it mean?

του καθηγητή is in the genitive case and expresses possession:

ο καθηγητής = the professor / (university) teacher (nominative)
του καθηγητή = of the professor / the professor’s (genitive)

So Η φωνή του καθηγητή literally is the voice of the professor → the professor’s voice.

The endings change like this:

Nominative: ο καθηγητής (subject form)
Genitive: του καθηγητή (possessive: of the professor)
Accusative: τον καθηγητή (object form)

Why is the adjective ήρεμη and not ήρεμος or ήρεμο?

In Greek, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe.

Adjective ήρεμος (calm) has:

Masculine: ήρεμος
Feminine: ήρεμη
Neuter: ήρεμο

The noun φωνή is feminine singular nominative, so the adjective must also be feminine singular nominative:

Η φωνή (feminine)
είναι ήρεμη (feminine form of the adjective)

So you get: Η φωνή … είναι ήρεμη (The voice is calm).

What is the nuance of ήρεμη here? Is it “calm” or “quiet”? How does it compare to ήσυχη?

ήρεμη comes from ήρεμος and usually means:

calm, soothing, tranquil, peaceful

So Η φωνή του καθηγητή είναι ήρεμη suggests a soothing, relaxed way of speaking, not harsh or tense.

ήσυχος / ήσυχη / ήσυχο often means:

quiet, not noisy; also “peaceful” in the sense of not disturbed

Difference in this context:

ήρεμη φωνή → a tone that is calm, gentle, not agitated
ήσυχη φωνή → more like a quiet / low-volume voice

Both can overlap, but ήρεμη focuses more on emotional calmness and soothing quality.

What does και γι’ αυτό mean? Is it like “and because of that” or “therefore”?

και γι’ αυτό literally is and for this (reason).

και = and
για αυτό = for this / because of this
γι’ αυτό is just the contracted form (the α of για drops before a vowel).

As a connector, γι’ αυτό usually translates as:

that’s why
for that reason
therefore / so

So …είναι ήρεμη, και γι’ αυτό δεν φοβάμαι τόσο… ≈
…is calm, and that’s why I’m not so afraid in the exam.

Why is there an apostrophe in γι’ αυτό?

The full form is για αυτό (for this). In everyday Greek, when για comes before a word starting with a vowel (like αυτό), the α of για is often dropped and replaced by an apostrophe:

για αυτό → γι’ αυτό

This is called elision and is very common in Greek to make pronunciation smoother. Meaning stays the same.

Why is there a comma before και γι’ αυτό?

The comma separates two clauses:

Η φωνή του καθηγητή είναι ήρεμη
γι’ αυτό δεν φοβάμαι τόσο στην εξέταση

Even though και is “and,” here και γι’ αυτό introduces a result clause (and because of that / and therefore). It’s natural to mark this pause and logical connection with a comma:

…, και γι’ αυτό …

You will often see a comma before και γι’ αυτό when it means and therefore / and for that reason and starts a new clause.

What does δεν φοβάμαι τόσο mean exactly? How is it different from δεν φοβάμαι πολύ or δεν φοβάμαι καθόλου?

φοβάμαι = I am afraid / I fear
δεν φοβάμαι = I am not afraid
τόσο = so much / that much

So δεν φοβάμαι τόσο ≈ I’m not so afraid / I’m not that afraid.
It implies: I may still be a bit afraid, but not very much.

Compare:

δεν φοβάμαι πολύ = I’m not very afraid (similar meaning; focuses on not very)
δεν φοβάμαι τόσο = I’m not that afraid (often more comparative/relative, e.g. compared to usual)
δεν φοβάμαι καθόλου = I’m not afraid at all (no fear)

In this sentence, δεν φοβάμαι τόσο suggests the calm voice reduces, but does not completely erase, the fear.

Why is φοβάμαι used without εγώ? Where is the subject?

In Greek, the subject pronoun (εγώ = I) is usually dropped because the verb ending already shows the person:

φοβάμαι is 1st person singular (I am afraid).
Saying εγώ φοβάμαι is possible but not necessary; it adds emphasis (I am afraid as opposed to someone else).

So δεν φοβάμαι by itself clearly means I am not afraid from the verb ending -μαι.

What kind of verb is φοβάμαι? Why does it end in -μαι but mean “I fear”?

φοβάμαι is a middle/passive form that has an active meaning. This type of verb is very common in Greek.

Patterns:

Many verbs exist mainly in this -μαι form, but are translated actively:
- φοβάμαι = I fear / I am afraid
- θυμάμαι = I remember
- κοιμάμαι = I sleep

Grammatically, φοβάμαι is 1st person singular, present tense, middle/passive voice, but in usage it’s just the normal way to say I am afraid.

What does στην εξέταση mean, and why στην?

σε = in / at / on / to (very general preposition)
την = feminine singular accusative article (the)

In everyday speech, σε + την contracts to:

σε την → στην

So:

στην εξέταση = in the exam / at the exam

εξέταση (exam/test) is feminine, so you use την (→ στην with σε).
Case: accusative, because after σε we normally use the accusative form.

Is there a difference between στην εξέταση and στις εξετάσεις?

Yes:

στην εξέταση
- singular: in the exam (one specific exam)
στις εξετάσεις
- plural: in the exams / in examinations (e.g. an exam period or multiple tests)

In your sentence, στην εξέταση suggests one particular test the learner is going to take.

Why is the sentence Η φωνή του καθηγητή είναι ήρεμη, και γι’ αυτό δεν φοβάμαι τόσο στην εξέταση and not … δεν φοβάμαι τόσο πολύ or with a different word order?

Two points:

τόσο vs τόσο πολύ
- τόσο already means so much / that much.
- τόσο πολύ = so very much, stronger emphasis.
  Here, τόσο alone is enough to give the idea I’m not so (that) afraid.
Word order
- δεν φοβάμαι τόσο στην εξέταση (as in the sentence)
- δεν φοβάμαι τόσο στην εξέταση is a very natural order:
  - verb phrase: δεν φοβάμαι τόσο
  - then the context: στην εξέταση (in the exam).

You could also hear:

Στην εξέταση δεν φοβάμαι τόσο.
Δεν φοβάμαι τόσο πολύ στην εξέταση.

All are grammatical; the given word order is a neutral, common pattern.

What is the difference between καθηγητής and δάσκαλος?

Both can translate as teacher, but usage differs:

καθηγητής
- usually a secondary school or university teacher
- also a professor (especially at university)
- female: καθηγήτρια
δάσκαλος
- more commonly a primary school teacher
- female: δασκάλα

In the sentence, ο καθηγητής is likely a high school or university teacher whose voice is calm.