How to Say "Dark" in Greek - How To Say Guide

σκοτεινός

skoteinós

In Greek, the adjective for dark is σκοτεινός (skoteinós).

The word σκοτεινός is an adjective used to describe something that is having an absolute or relative lack of light.

Meaning: having an absolute or relative lack of light (adj)

Which one should you use?

Use the adjective σκοτεινός to describe a quality of an object or place, whereas the noun σκοτάδι refers to the state of darkness itself.

The adjective σκοτεινός must agree in gender with the noun it describes. The feminine form is σκοτεινή and the neuter form is σκοτεινό.

skoteinós

While σκοτεινός describes light, Greeks use a different root for 'dark' when referring to hair or skin colors, usually preferring σκουρός.
The word 'skotos' from which σκοτεινός derives is also the root of several scientific terms in English related to darkness and shadow, such as 'scotoma'.
The word σκοτεινός is derived from the Ancient Greek word σκότος, which meant both 'darkness' and 'mist'.

Ο δρόμος ήταν σκοτεινός.
The street was dark.
This sentence illustrates the use of σκοτεινός to describe a street.
Tatoeba #5402561 by Zeus, translation #5318465 by Hybrid
Το σκοτάδι έπεσε πάνω στην πόλη καθώς έδυσε ο ήλιος.
Darkness fell upon the city as the sun set.

Eleni and Nikos are looking for a light switch in a room.

Ελένη Eleni

Είναι πολύ σκοτεινός ο χώρος εδώ.
Eínai polý skoteinós o chóros edó.
The space here is very dark.
Νίκος Nikos

Ναι, δεν βλέπω τίποτα.
Ne, den vlépo típota.
Yes, I cannot see anything.
Ελένη Eleni

Βρήκα τον διακόπτη!
Vríka ton diakópti!
I found the switch!
Νίκος Nikos

Τέλεια, άναψέ το τώρα.
Téleia, ánapsé to tóra.
Great, turn it on now.

Sources

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