Learn Hardcore Greek: Αυτό το μπουφάν είναι κατάλληλο για το βουνό. - This jacket is suitable for the mountain.

Αυτό το μπουφάν puts the focus a bit more on “this” (as opposed to another jacket).
Το μπουφάν αυτό can sound a bit more like you’re talking about “this particular jacket”, often when it has already been mentioned or is clearly identified in the context.

Both are very natural in everyday Greek.

What exactly does κατάλληλο mean here? Is it just “good”?

Κατάλληλο means suitable, appropriate, fit for a purpose.

So:

κατάλληλο για το βουνό = suitable/appropriate for the mountain (for mountain use, mountain conditions).

It’s more specific than καλό (“good”):

καλό για το βουνό = good for the mountain (it works, it’s fine).
κατάλληλο για το βουνό = designed or well-suited for the mountain (the right type of jacket, with the right features).

So κατάλληλο implies that it meets the requirements of that environment or purpose.

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

Because adjectives in Greek agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe.

The noun το μπουφάν is neuter singular nominative.
The adjective κατάλληλος has three main gender forms:
- masculine: κατάλληλος
- feminine: κατάλληλη
- neuter: κατάλληλο

So for το μπουφάν (neuter), you must use κατάλληλο:

ο καιρός είναι κατάλληλος (masc: ο καιρός)
η μέθοδος είναι κατάλληλη (fem: η μέθοδος)
το μπουφάν είναι κατάλληλο (neut: το μπουφάν)

What gender is μπουφάν, and how does it decline?

Μπουφάν is neuter. It’s also indeclinable, meaning its form does not change in different cases.

Singular:

το μπουφάν (nom./acc.)
του μπουφάν (gen.)

Plural:

τα μπουφάν (nom./acc.)
των μπουφάν (gen.)

So you say:

Αυτό το μπουφάν είναι καινούριο. – This jacket is new.
Το φερμουάρ του μπουφάν είναι χαλασμένο. – The zipper of the jacket is broken.

Many foreign loanwords in Greek that end in a consonant (like -ν) behave this way: they are neuter and indeclinable.

Why is it για το βουνό and not something like στο βουνό?

Because για here expresses purpose (“for”), not location.

για το βουνό = for the mountain (for use in the mountains / for mountain conditions).
στο βουνό = on/in the mountain (location: where something/someone is).

Compare:

Αυτό το μπουφάν είναι κατάλληλο για το βουνό.
This jacket is suitable for the mountain (purpose).
Φοράω αυτό το μπουφάν στο βουνό.
I wear this jacket on the mountain (place where the action happens).

With κατάλληλος, Greek typically uses για + accusative to express “suitable for X”:

κατάλληλο για παιδιά – suitable for children
κατάλληλο για το χειμώνα – suitable for winter

Why is it το βουνό (singular “the mountain”) if the meaning is more like “in the mountains”?

Greek often uses the singular with the definite article to talk about a place in a general or generic sense:

το βουνό can mean “the mountain” as a specific object, but in contexts like this it often means “the mountain environment / mountains” in general.
Similarly:
- πάω στο βουνό – I go to the mountains.
- πάω στη θάλασσα – I go to the sea / seaside.

So κατάλληλο για το βουνό is naturally understood as “suitable for the mountains” (for mountain conditions), not just one specific mountain.

Could I say Αυτό το μπουφάν είναι καλό για το βουνό? What’s the difference from κατάλληλο?

Yes, you can say:

Αυτό το μπουφάν είναι καλό για το βουνό.

The difference is nuance:

καλό = good, nice, of good quality, or it works fine.
κατάλληλο = suitable, appropriate, the right kind for the purpose.

So:

καλό για το βουνό: It’s a good jacket for the mountain (you can use it there without a problem).
κατάλληλο για το βουνό: It’s specifically the right type of jacket for mountain conditions (e.g. warm enough, windproof, etc.).

In advertising or recommendations, κατάλληλο sounds a bit more technical/precise.

How do you pronounce Αυτό το μπουφάν είναι κατάλληλο για το βουνό?

Approximate pronunciation (in IPA):

Αυτό – [afˈto]
- The φτ is like “ft” in after.
το – [to]
μπουφάν – [buˈfan]
- μπ at the beginning of a word is pronounced like b in bag.
- Stress on the last syllable: μπουφάν.
είναι – [ˈine] (EE-neh)
κατάλληλο – [kaˈtalʲo] or [kaˈtalilo] (depending on speaker), with stress on τά: κατάλληλο.
για – [ʝa], similar to “ya” in yard, but with a softer “y”.
το – [to]
βουνό – [vuˈno]
- β is like English v.
- Stress on the last syllable: βουνό.

Main stress pattern: af-TO to bu-FAN i-NE ka-TÁ-li-lo ya to vu-NÓ.

Why do we use the definite article το both with μπουφάν and βουνό?

Greek uses the definite article much more frequently than English.

Το μπουφάν – “the jacket”
- We are talking about a specific jacket (this one here), so the definite article το is natural.
- The phrase Αυτό το μπουφάν (this jacket) requires the article in Greek.
το βουνό – “the mountain / the mountains” (in a generic sense)
- Greek often uses the definite article with general categories or typical environments:
  - το βουνό, η θάλασσα, το σχολείο, etc.
- Here, το βουνό is understood as “the mountain environment”.

In English we often drop “the” in such generic uses, but in Greek the article usually stays.