Learn Hardcore Greek: Η σιωπή στο γραφείο το βράδυ είναι απόλυτη. - The silence at the office in the evening is absolute.

So η σιωπή = the silence, with η agreeing in gender, number, and case with σιωπή.
ο is for masculine nouns, το for neuter, so they wouldn’t match σιωπή.

How do I know that σιωπή is feminine?

You usually learn the gender together with the noun, but there are some patterns:

Many abstract nouns ending in -η (like αγάπη, ειρήνη, σιωπή) are feminine.
In a dictionary, you’ll see it listed as η σιωπή to show its article and gender.

So the ending -ή is a strong hint that it’s feminine, but you should still memorize it.

What does στο mean exactly, and why not σε το?

στο is a contraction of:

σε (in, at, to) +
το (the, neuter singular accusative)

So:

σε το γραφείο → στο γραφείο = in/at the office

Greek almost always contracts σε + το/τον/την in everyday language:

σε το → στο
σε τον → στον
σε την → στη(ν)

So στο γραφείο is the natural form; σε το γραφείο sounds overly formal or wrong in modern standard speech.

Why do we say στο γραφείο and not something like “in office” without το?

Greek uses the definite article much more than English. In many places where English has no article, Greek has ο/η/το:

στο γραφείο = literally in the office
But in English, we often just say at the office or in the office, without stressing the.

In Greek, στο γραφείο is the normal way to say “at/in the office.”
Saying just σε γραφείο would usually mean “in an office (any office)” and feels incomplete in this kind of sentence.

Why is it το βράδυ with το? In English we just say “at night,” not “at the night.”

Again, this is the Greek definite article being more frequent than in English.
Expressions of time often use the article:

το πρωί = in the morning
το μεσημέρι = at noon
το βράδυ = in the evening / at night

In English these are mostly bare (“morning,” “evening”), but in Greek they usually appear with το.
You could say just βράδυ in some contexts, but το βράδυ is the standard, neutral way to say “in the evening / at night.”

Can I change the order of στο γραφείο το βράδυ? For example, say το βράδυ στο γραφείο?

Yes. Both are grammatically correct:

Η σιωπή στο γραφείο το βράδυ είναι απόλυτη.
Η σιωπή το βράδυ στο γραφείο είναι απόλυτη.

The difference is slight and mostly about emphasis or rhythm:

στο γραφείο το βράδυ: grouped as “in the office at night.”
το βράδυ στο γραφείο: emphasizes “at night, in the office (as opposed to some other time).”

In everyday speech, both orders are natural.

Why is the adjective απόλυτη at the end, and not before σιωπή, like “absolute silence”?

There are two different structures:

Attributive adjective (like English “absolute silence”):
- Greek: η απόλυτη σιωπή
- Structure: article + adjective + noun
Predicate adjective with the verb “to be” (as in the sentence you have):
- Greek: Η σιωπή … είναι απόλυτη. = “The silence … is absolute.”
- Structure: noun (subject) + είναι
  - adjective

In your sentence, είναι is present, so απόλυτη is a predicate adjective, describing the subject via the verb “to be.” That’s why it comes after είναι, not directly before σιωπή.

Why does απόλυτη end in -η and not -ος or -ο?

Adjectives in Greek must agree with the noun in:

Gender
Number
Case

σιωπή is:

Feminine
Singular
Nominative (subject of the sentence)

So απόλυτη is also put in the feminine, singular, nominative form:

Masculine: απόλυτος
Feminine: απόλυτη
Neuter: απόλυτο

Since it describes η σιωπή, you need απόλυτη.

Could I say Η σιωπή στο γραφείο το βράδυ είναι απόλυτος or απόλυτο?

No, that would be incorrect, because απόλυτος/απόλυτο don’t agree in gender with η σιωπή.

απόλυτος → masculine
απόλυτη → feminine
απόλυτο → neuter

The subject η σιωπή is feminine, so the adjective must be απόλυτη:

✅ Η σιωπή … είναι απόλυτη.
❌ Η σιωπή … είναι απόλυτος.
❌ Η σιωπή … είναι απόλυτο.

What is the difference between σιωπή and ησυχία? Could I say Η ησυχία στο γραφείο το βράδυ είναι απόλυτη?

Yes, that sentence is grammatically fine, but there is a nuance:

σιωπή = silence: no sound at all, a stronger sense of complete absence of noise
ησυχία = quiet, tranquility: low noise level, calm, peace

So:

Η σιωπή … είναι απόλυτη. = “The silence ... is absolute.” (emphasizes total silence)
Η ησυχία … είναι απόλυτη. sounds a bit less natural because ησυχία already suggests a calmer, softer idea; pairing it with απόλυτη intensifies it, but σιωπή is the more typical match with απόλυτη here.

Why is the verb είναι in the present tense? Could I use ήταν instead?

είναι is present tense:

είναι απόλυτη = “is absolute” (now, or generally)

If you want to talk about a past situation, you can use the past tense ήταν:

Η σιωπή στο γραφείο το βράδυ ήταν απόλυτη.
= “The silence in the office at night was absolute.”

So it’s just a question of time reference: present (είναι) vs past (ήταν).

How do you pronounce σιωπή and what does the ιω represent?

σιωπή is pronounced roughly: syo-PEE (stress on the last syllable).

Breakdown:

σ = s
ι
- ω together (ιω) after σ are pronounced like yo (the ι palatalizes the consonant)
π = p
ή = stressed i sound (“ee”)

So: σ-ιω-πή → syo-PEE.