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Συγχαρητήρια, πήρες καλό βαθμό στην εξέταση ελληνικών!

Συγχαρητήρια, πήρες καλό βαθμό στην εξέταση ελληνικών!
Congratulations, you got a good grade on the Greek exam!

Breakdown of Συγχαρητήρια, πήρες καλό βαθμό στην εξέταση ελληνικών!

καλός
good
σε
on
παίρνω
to get
η εξέταση
the exam
ο βαθμός
the grade
τα ελληνικά
the Greek language
συγχαρητήρια
congratulations
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Questions & Answers about Συγχαρητήρια, πήρες καλό βαθμό στην εξέταση ελληνικών!

Why is Συγχαρητήρια plural-looking, and is it singular or plural in meaning?

Συγχαρητήρια is grammatically plural (literally congratulations), and it’s the normal, most common way to say Congratulations! in Greek. Even though it’s plural in form, it functions as a fixed exclamation just like English congratulations.

Do I need the comma after Συγχαρητήρια?

The comma is optional but very common. It signals a pause between the exclamation and the rest of the sentence:

  • Συγχαρητήρια, πήρες… = Congratulations, you got… You could also write it as two sentences:
  • Συγχαρητήρια! Πήρες καλό βαθμό…
What tense is πήρες, and why is it used here?

πήρες is simple past (aorist) of παίρνω (to take / to get). Greek often uses παίρνω βαθμό literally to take a grade, meaning to get/receive a grade. The aorist is used for a completed event: you already received the result.

Why does Greek use παίρνω (to take) for grades instead of a verb like to get?

It’s an idiomatic collocation:

  • παίρνω βαθμό = get a grade
  • παίρνω καλό βαθμό = get a good grade Other verbs exist (e.g., έγραψα καλά = I did well on the exam), but παίρνω βαθμό is very standard.
Why is it καλό βαθμό and not something like an adjective ending in -η or -ο?

Because βαθμός (grade/mark) is masculine, so the adjective must agree:

  • masculine accusative singular: καλό βαθμό Base forms:
  • καλός (m), καλή (f), καλό (n)
What case is βαθμό, and why is it in that case?

βαθμό is accusative singular. It’s the direct object of πήρες (you got what? → a good grade). Greek marks direct objects with the accusative case.

What does στην mean exactly, and why is it one word?

στην is a contraction of σε + την:

  • σε = in / to / at / on (depending on context)
  • την = the (feminine accusative singular) So στην εξέταση means in the exam / on the exam. In English we often say on the exam, but Greek commonly uses σε/στην for this idea.
Why is it στην εξέταση (feminine)? What is the dictionary form?

The dictionary form is η εξέταση (the exam), which is feminine. That’s why the article is την (accusative feminine singular), giving στην εξέταση.

What does ελληνικών mean here, and why is it not ελληνικά?

Here ελληνικών means of Greek (language), i.e. a Greek exam / an exam in Greek.
Greek often uses the genitive plural of the language name to mean (class/exam) of X:

  • ελληνικά = Greek (language) (as a subject/name)
  • ελληνικών = of Greek (genitive plural, used in phrases like μάθημα ελληνικών = Greek class, εξέταση ελληνικών = Greek exam)
Is εξέταση ελληνικών literally exam of Greeks? How do I know it means the language?

It can look that way to learners, but in everyday Greek this is a set pattern: [noun] + [genitive plural of language] refers to the subject/language:

  • μάθημα αγγλικών = English class
  • τεστ γαλλικών = French test
    Context (and how common the pattern is) makes it clear it’s about the language, not people.
Why is ελληνικών genitive plural and not genitive singular?

Languages in Greek are often treated as a plural form when referring to the subject area (similar to mathematics in English being plural-looking). The genitive plural is the conventional way to express of (the subject) Greek:

  • ελληνικά (subject name) → ελληνικών (genitive plural: of Greek)
Can I omit ελληνικών and still sound natural?

Yes. If it’s clear from context, you can say:

  • Συγχαρητήρια, πήρες καλό βαθμό στην εξέταση!
    That means …in the exam, without specifying which subject.
Is πήρες informal? What would be a more formal version?

πήρες is neutral and very common in everyday speech. For a more formal tone you might use a more formal address (εσείς) and/or different phrasing:

  • Συγχαρητήρια, πήρατε καλό βαθμό στην εξέταση ελληνικών. (formal you)
    Or:
  • Σας συγχαίρω· επιτύχατε πολύ καλό βαθμό στην εξέταση ελληνικών. (more formal vocabulary)
Where is the word for you? Does Greek usually drop pronouns?

Greek often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person:

  • πήρες already means you (singular) got
    You could add εσύ for emphasis or contrast:
  • Συγχαρητήρια, εσύ πήρες καλό βαθμό… = Congratulations, YOU got a good grade… (emphatic)