Ο παππούς μου πίνει μόνο νερό, αλλά η γιαγιά μου ζητάει πάντα λίγο παγωτό ή λεμονάδα το καλοκαίρι.

the water

Breakdown of Ο παππούς μου πίνει μόνο νερό, αλλά η γιαγιά μου ζητάει πάντα λίγο παγωτό ή λεμονάδα το καλοκαίρι.

• ή: or
• λίγος: little
• πίνω: to drink

Questions & Answers about Ο παππούς μου πίνει μόνο νερό, αλλά η γιαγιά μου ζητάει πάντα λίγο παγωτό ή λεμονάδα το καλοκαίρι.

Why are ο and η used before παππούς and γιαγιά? In English we usually just say my grandfather and my grandmother without thinking much about an article.

Greek normally uses the definite article with nouns much more often than English does.

So:

• ο παππούς μου = my grandfather
• η γιαγιά μου = my grandmother

This is completely normal Greek. The article shows the noun’s gender, number, and case:

• ο = masculine singular nominative
• η = feminine singular nominative

You will also see this with names and family words very often in Greek.

Why does μου come after the noun instead of before it?

In Greek, the unstressed possessive form μου usually comes after the noun.

So:

• ο παππούς μου = my grandfather
• η γιαγιά μου = my grandmother

This is the standard pattern. English says my + noun, but Greek often says the noun + my.

Other examples:

• το σπίτι μου = my house
• η αδερφή μου = my sister

Why is there no word for he or she before πίνει and ζητάει?