Μάντεψε τη λέξη.

Μάντεψε is the imperative form, used to give a command or instruction. More specifically, it is the second-person singular imperative of μαντεύω (to guess).

So it is what you say to one person: Μάντεψε! = Guess!

In this sentence, it is the natural form for a game instruction like Guess the word.

Because λέξη is the direct object of the verb.

• η λέξη = the word as the subject
• τη λέξη = the word as the object

Here, the person is being told to guess the word, so Greek uses the accusative form of the article:

• nominative: η λέξη
• accusative: τη λέξη

English does not change the, but Greek does.

τη is a shortened form of την.

In Modern Greek, the final -ν in την is often dropped before many consonants. Since λέξη starts with λ, it is very common to say:

τη λέξη

You may also see την in writing or careful speech, but τη λέξη is completely normal and standard here.

Because for this noun, the nominative and accusative singular look the same.

So you get:

• η λέξη = the word (subject)
• τη λέξη = the word (object)

The noun itself stays λέξη; the article shows the case change.

This is very common in Greek. Often, the article is what makes the case most obvious.

Yes, λέξη is a feminine noun.

You usually learn Greek nouns together with their article:

• η λέξη = the word

That article η tells you the noun is feminine. In the sentence τη λέξη, the article changes case, but it still shows feminine gender.

For English speakers, this can feel strange because words like word are not masculine or feminine in English. In Greek, though, every noun has grammatical gender, and it does not necessarily match anything logical in meaning.

A rough pronunciation is:

MAN-de-pse ti LEK-see

More closely in IPA: [ˈman.de.pse ti ˈlek.si]

A few useful points:

• Μάντεψε has the stress on ΜΑΝ
• λέξη has the stress on ΛΕ
• ψ sounds like ps
• ξ sounds like ks
• η is pronounced like ee / i

So:

• Μάντεψε = MAN-de-pse
• λέξη = LEK-see

Yes. Μάντεψε is for one person, in an informal singular sense.

If you are speaking to:

• more than one person, or
• one person formally/politely,

you would usually say:

Μαντέψτε τη λέξη.

So:

• Μάντεψε τη λέξη. = Guess the word. (to one person, informal)
• Μαντέψτε τη λέξη. = Guess the word. (to multiple people, or formal singular)

Because that is a very natural word order for commands in Greek.

Μάντεψε τη λέξη is the neutral, normal way to say it: Verb + object

Greek word order is more flexible than English, so other orders are possible for emphasis, but this one is the most straightforward for an instruction.

For example, starting with τη λέξη would sound more marked or emphatic, not as neutral as the usual command form.

Normally, no. Μάντεψε λέξη does not sound right for Guess the word.

The article matters:

• τη λέξη = the word (a specific word)
• μια λέξη = a word (any word)

So:

• Μάντεψε τη λέξη. = Guess the word.
• Μάντεψε μια λέξη. = Guess a word.

If you mean a specific word in a game, puzzle, or exercise, τη λέξη is the correct choice.