Learn Hardcore Greek: Όλα τα ονόματα των εθελοντών θα γραφτούν σε μια λίστα πριν ξεκινήσει η εκδρομή. - All the volunteers’ names will be written on a list before the excursion starts.

Όλα τα ονόματα = literally “all the names”
- όλα = all (neuter plural)
- τα = the (neuter plural article)
- ονόματα = names (neuter plural of το όνομα)

If you said Όλα ονόματα, it would sound incomplete or unnatural — a bit like saying “all names” without “the” in a context where Greek expects definiteness.

Greek uses the definite article much more than English does, even in generic or general statements. So:

English: “All names will be written…”
Greek: Όλα τα ονόματα θα γραφτούν…

Why is it των εθελοντών and what case is that?

Των εθελοντών is in the genitive plural. It corresponds to English “of the volunteers”.

ο εθελοντής = the volunteer (nominative singular, masculine)
του εθελοντή = of the volunteer (genitive singular)
οι εθελοντές = the volunteers (nominative plural)
των εθελοντών = of the volunteers (genitive plural)

We use the genitive here to show possession or association:

τα ονόματα των εθελοντών = the names of the volunteers

So the structure is:

τα ονόματα (the names) + των εθελοντών (of the volunteers)

What exactly is θα γραφτούν? Why is it passive, and what is the base verb?

Θα γραφτούν is the future passive form of the verb γράφω (to write).

Base verb: γράφω = I write
Passive stem: γραφ-
Aorist passive participle: γράφτηκα = I was written / I got written
Future passive 3rd person plural: θα γραφτούν = they will be written

So:

θα γραφτούν = “will be written” (by someone, unspecified)

Greek uses the passive here in the same way English does:

English: “The names will be written on a list.”
Greek: Τα ονόματα θα γραφτούν σε μια λίστα.

You could theoretically say an active form like:

Θα γράψουμε τα ονόματα σε μια λίστα. = “We will write the names on a list.” But that changes the focus from the names (what happens to them) to the people doing the writing (“we”). In the original sentence, the doer is not important.

Why not θα γράψουν τα ονόματα instead of θα γραφτούν τα ονόματα?

Θα γράψουν τα ονόματα is grammatically possible but it changes the meaning:

Θα γράψουν τα ονόματα = “They will write the names.”
- active voice, focus on the people doing the writing.
Θα γραφτούν τα ονόματα = “The names will be written.”
- passive voice, focus on what happens to the names.

In the original sentence, the emphasis is on the result (names appearing on a list before the trip), not on who writes them. That’s why the passive θα γραφτούν is more natural.

How is θα γραφτούν pronounced, and where is the stress?

θα γραφτούν is pronounced approximately:

tha graf-TOON

Breakdown:

θα = /θa/ (like “th” in “think” + “a” as in “father”)
γραφτούν = /ɣrafˈtun/
- γρ = like a very soft “gr”
- α = “a” in “father”
- φ = “f”
- τ = “t”
- ου = “oo” as in “food”
- ν = “n”

The stress is on the last syllable: γραφτούν.

Why is it σε μια λίστα and not just σε λίστα?

In Greek, you normally use an article with singular countable nouns, even when English might drop “a” or “the”.

σε μια λίστα = on a list
- σε = in/on/at (depending on context)
- μια = a (feminine, unstressed form of μία)
- λίστα = list

If you said σε λίστα without μια, it would sound incomplete or almost technical, like “in list form” in some contexts. In everyday speech, you’d say:

σε μια λίστα (on a list)
or σε μια λίστα ονομάτων (on a list of names)

Note: μια and μία are the same word; μία is just the fully stressed form and is often used for emphasis or contrast. Here μια is perfectly normal.

What does πριν ξεκινήσει η εκδρομή mean grammatically, and why is ξεκινήσει in that form?

Πριν ξεκινήσει η εκδρομή literally means “before the trip starts”.

πριν = before
ξεκινήσει = (it) starts / (it) begins (subjunctive, aorist)
η εκδρομή = the trip / the excursion (subject)

After πριν, when referring to a specific future event, Greek typically uses the subjunctive form of the verb:

πριν + subjunctive: before (something) happens
ξεκινήσει is the aorist subjunctive 3rd person singular of ξεκινώ / ξεκινάω (to start, to set off).

So:

πριν ξεκινήσει η εκδρομή = before the trip (actually) begins (at that point in time).

Using the aorist subjunctive (ξεκινήσει) focuses on the moment the trip starts, not the ongoing process.

Why isn’t it πριν ξεκινάει η εκδρομή?

Πριν ξεκινάει η εκδρομή is not idiomatic in this future-time context.

Key point:
After πριν (before) referring to a future or specific event, modern Greek prefers subjunctive (να + subjunctive form) or simply the subjunctive form introduced directly (as here).

Correct / natural:
- πριν ξεκινήσει η εκδρομή
- (more explicit version) πριν να ξεκινήσει η εκδρομή (with να, often dropped in speech)
ξεκινάει is the present indicative (“is starting / starts”).
You’d use present indicative after πριν mainly in more general or timeless statements, often with πριν να
- present, but in everyday modern usage, the aorist subjunctive is much more common for “before it starts” in a specific-future sense.

So in this sentence, πριν ξεκινήσει is the natural choice.

Why is the order πριν ξεκινήσει η εκδρομή and not πριν η εκδρομή ξεκινήσει?

Both word orders are grammatically possible, but πριν + verb + subject is more common and sounds more natural in everyday Greek:

πριν ξεκινήσει η εκδρομή (most natural)
πριν η εκδρομή ξεκινήσει (possible, but more marked or stylistic)

Greek has relatively flexible word order; however, in subordinate clauses like this, it’s very common to put:

the subordinator first (πριν),
then the verb,
then the subject.

So the chosen order simply follows a typical pattern:

πριν (before) + ξεκινήσει (starts) + η εκδρομή (the trip).

Is εκδρομή feminine, and how do its forms work?

Yes, η εκδρομή is a feminine noun.

Basic forms:

η εκδρομή = the trip / excursion (nominative singular)
της εκδρομής = of the trip (genitive singular)
την εκδρομή = the trip (accusative singular)
οι εκδρομές = the trips (nominative plural)
των εκδρομών = of the trips (genitive plural)
τις εκδρομές = the trips (accusative plural)

In the sentence:

η εκδρομή is in the nominative because it is the subject of ξεκινήσει:
- ξεκινήσει ποιος/τι; → η εκδρομή (the trip starts)

What is the difference in meaning or nuance between ξεκινήσει (aorist subjunctive) and a present subjunctive form like ξεκινάει / ξεκινά in such time clauses?

In time clauses referring to a specific event, Greek generally prefers the aorist subjunctive to indicate the action as a single, complete event:

πριν ξεκινήσει η εκδρομή
= before the trip starts (viewed as a single point in time)

Using a present form in a subjunctive-like environment (e.g. with να) would present the action as ongoing or repeated:

πριν να ξεκινά η εκδρομή (theoretically) would sound unusual and, if used, might hint at something habitual or repeated, not a one-time future event.

So here, ξεκινήσει (aorist subjunctive) is appropriate because the sentence talks about a one-time future starting point (when the trip begins).