Breakdown of Το ξυπνητήρι χτυπάει στις επτά κάθε πρωί.
σε
at
κάθε πρωί
every morning
το ξυπνητήρι
the alarm clock
χτυπάω
to ring
Questions & Answers about Το ξυπνητήρι χτυπάει στις επτά κάθε πρωί.
Why is it Το ξυπνητήρι and not Ο ξυπνητήριος or something else? What gender is ξυπνητήρι?
Ξυπνητήρι (alarm clock) is a neuter noun in Greek, so it takes the neuter definite article το.
- το ξυπνητήρι = the alarm clock
- Singular: το ξυπνητήρι
- Plural: τα ξυπνητήρια
Even though in English clock is not gendered, in Greek every noun has a grammatical gender. Here, you just have to memorize that ξυπνητήρι is neuter.
What does χτυπάει literally mean, and what is its base verb?
The base verb is χτυπάω / χτυπώ, which literally means to hit, to knock, to beat, or to ring (for phones, bells, alarms).
In this sentence:
- χτυπάει = it rings / it is ringing
Grammatically, χτυπάει is:
- 3rd person singular
- present tense
- he/she/it hits / knocks / rings
So Το ξυπνητήρι χτυπάει = The alarm clock rings (or goes off).
I also see χτυπά without -ει. What is the difference between χτυπάει and χτυπά?