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Το «α» ακούγεται καθαρά σε αυτή τη λέξη.

Το «α» ακούγεται καθαρά σε αυτή τη λέξη.
The “a” is heard clearly in this word.
FromLesson 100inHardcore Greek

Breakdown of Το «α» ακούγεται καθαρά σε αυτή τη λέξη.

αυτός
this
σε
in
η λέξη
the word
ακούγομαι
to be heard
καθαρά
clearly
το α
the “a”

Questions & Answers about Το «α» ακούγεται καθαρά σε αυτή τη λέξη.

Why is το used before α?
When Greek talks about a letter as a thing, it normally uses the neuter article το. So το α means the letter a. This is very natural in Greek, just like English can say the letter A.
Why is the letter α written between « »?
Those are Greek quotation marks. Here they show that we are referring to the letter itself, not using it as part of a normal word. It is similar to English writing the letter A or putting a letter in quotes.
What does ακούγεται mean here, and why does it look passive?
ακούγεται is the present tense, 3rd person singular, in the middle/passive form of ακούω. Literally, it means is heard, but in this kind of sentence it often sounds natural in English as can be heard or sounds. So the idea is that the a sound is clearly present in the word.
Why is καθαρά used instead of καθαρό?

Because καθαρά is an adverb, and it describes the verb ακούγεται. It tells us how the sound is heard: clearly / distinctly.
If Greek used καθαρό, that would be an adjective describing a noun, not the hearing of the sound.

How do you pronounce αυτή?

In αυτή, the spelling αυ is pronounced af because it comes before the voiceless consonant τ. So αυτή is pronounced roughly af-TEE.
This is a very important Greek spelling rule:

  • αυ → av before voiced sounds
  • αυ → af before voiceless sounds
Why does Greek say αυτή τη λέξη with both αυτή and τη? Isn’t that like saying this the word?

Yes, literally it is something like this the word, and that is normal in Modern Greek. Demonstratives like αυτός, αυτή, αυτό are very often used together with the definite article. So:

  • αυτή η λέξη = this word
  • σε αυτή τη λέξη = in this word

This is standard Greek structure, not a mistake or extra emphasis.

What case is αυτή τη λέξη, and why?

It is accusative singular feminine.

  • λέξη is a feminine noun
  • σε normally takes the accusative in Modern Greek
  • so both the demonstrative and the article match that pattern

That is why you get αυτή τη λέξη after σε.

Why is it τη λέξη and not την λέξη?

The full feminine accusative article is την, but in modern usage the final -ν is often dropped before many consonants. Since λέξη starts with λ, τη λέξη is the usual form.

So:

  • την = full form
  • τη = common shortened form before many consonants

Both come from the same article.

What does σε mean here? I thought it meant to.

σε is a very common Greek preposition with several meanings, depending on context. It can mean to, at, on, in.
Here, in σε αυτή τη λέξη, it means in: in this word.

Can I also say το άλφα instead of το α?

Yes. Both are possible.

  • το α = the letter a shown as a symbol
  • το άλφα = the name of the letter

In many contexts, either one works. το α feels a bit more visual, while το άλφα uses the letter’s spoken name.

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