Inflection of Greek numerals

This chapter tells you about the inflection of Greek numerals.
Greek inflects some (but by far not all) cardinal numbers.
Here you will learn which numerals to inflect and how to do that.


Facts to know about the Greek "zero":

The numeral of zero in Greek is of neuter gender.
Here you have to remember an additional form for the Genitive singular: μηδευός.
Please take a close look at the following examples for the use of the zero in Greek:

Examples the the usage of "zero" in Greek:
Ο κωδικός για την Ελλάδα είναι:
μηδέν μηδέν τρία μηδέν
The area code for Greece is:
zero zero three zero
Ο Ολυμπιακός κέρδισε ένα - μηδέν. Olympiakos won one to zero.
Για να με καλέσεις πάρε πρώτα το μηδέν. To call me on the phone, firstly press "zero".

The numeral "one" inflects like the undefined article:

The numeral "one" inflects like the undefined article.
Please take a look at the following table:

Inflection of the numeral "one" in Greek:

(m) (f) (n)
Nom. ένας μια, μία ένα
Gen. ενός μιας, μίας ενός
Acc. έναν μια, μία ένα

The inflected Greek numerals behave like the Greek adjectives:
They adopt to the noun that they refer to in case (Nom., Gen., etc.), number (singular or plural) and gender (male, female or neuter).


Which Greek numerals inflect?

The numerals "three" and "four" in Greek also inflect.
Please, learn the following forms by heart:

Inflection of the Greek numeral 3

(m) (f) (n)
Nom. τρεις τρεις τρία
Gen. τριών τριών τριών
Acc. τρεις τρεις τρία

 
Inflection of the Greek numeral 4

(m) (f) (n)
Nom. τέσσερις τέσσερις τέσσερα
Gen. τεσσάρων τεσσάρων τεσσάρων
Acc. τέσσερις τέσσερις τέσσερα

It might be interesting to read through some examples for the use of those numerals:

Examples for the use of the numerals three and four:
Έχω έναν γιό. I have one son.
Έχω τρεις κόρες. I have three daughters.
Θα ήθελα τέσσερις μπανάνες. I would like four bananas.
Χθες κοιμήθηκα μόνο τέσσερις ώρες. Yesterday I only slept four hours.

Please note that all numerals containing one, three or four, also inflect.


Exception: The numeral eleven does not inflect!

Please, be aware that the upon mentioned rule has one exception:
The numeral eleven does not inflect.
The same is true for all numbers that contain eleven (e.g. 111, 211 etc.).

Examples Usage of inflected numerals from ten onwards:
Στο ψυγείο είναι έντεκα μπύρες. There are eleven beers in the fridge.
Στο ψυγείο είναι δεκατρείς μπύρες. There are thirteen beers in the fridge.
Στο ψυγείο είναι δεκατέσσερις μπύρες. There are fourteen beers in the fridge.

Moreover all numerals under thousand and based on hundred inflect.
Please, look at the following example:

Example: the inflection of the numeral 300

(m) (f) (n)
Nom. τριακόσιοι τριακόσιες τριακόσια
Gen. τριακοσίων τριακοσίων τριακοσίων
Acc. τριακόσιους τριακόσιες τριακόσια

But - please note:
The numeral 100 itself does not inflect.

The next numeral that inflects is the million.
Here you only have to learn neuter forms:

(Neuter! only) inflection of the numeral "million"
Nom. εκατομμύριο
Gen. εκατομμυρίου
Acc. εκατομμύριο


 

“Teaches you Greek so much faster than with regular learning methods – in only 17 minutes per day!”

 
Fast and highly efficient learning method:
You can have your first conversation after 3 hours and become fluent after 50 hours – for PCs, smartphones and tablets!
 
learn Greek
 
Learn Greek »

 
That's how the Greek course differs from other language courses:
Recommended learning time: only a quick 17 minutes per day.
At any time – any place – on any device.
With the award-winning long-term memory learning method, you'll always remember Greek.
With the novel superlearning technology, you'll learn 32% faster and become particularly receptive.
Learning Greek has never been easier:
All exercises are automatically presented to you by the course every day.
As a result, you learn Greek with a natural flow.
A vast variety of learning methods guarantees fun and success while learning and motivates you to continue learning Greek every day.

Learn Greek now »

 
 
 
Cover: How to learn any language in just 7 weeks
Free extra: “How to learn any language in just 7 weeks”

Learn all the tricks that will help you to learn any language quickly and efficiently—much faster than you could have ever imagined!

Read now for free »
 
 

 

Free Greek trial version

 
Test the Greek course for free and get lots of study tips as well.