Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| μάτι | máti | /ˈma.ti/ | colloquial, neuter |
| οφθαλμός | ofthalmós | /o.fθalˈmos/ | masculine |
| όμμα | ómma | neuter, poetic | |
| ομμάτιον | ommátion | neuter |
The word refers to the organ of sight. In everyday conversation, you will most often use μάτι or its plural form μάτια to refer to a person's eyes.
Which one should you use?
There are several ways to refer to the eye depending on the context. μάτι is the common, everyday word used in most situations. οφθαλμός is a formal or medical term used in scientific or professional contexts. όμμα is a poetic or archaic term used in literature. ομμάτιον is another form of the word.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use μάτι for general, colloquial speech. Use οφθαλμός when you need to be formal or are speaking in a medical or technical capacity. Use όμμα only when aiming for a poetic effect in writing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word μάτι is a neuter noun. Its plural form is μάτια, which is typically used when referring to both eyes in a general sense.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
When do people say it?
The word is used in several common Greek idioms, such as 'giving the evil eye' or 'turning a blind eye'.
Did you know?
- In Greek culture, saying someone has 'bad eyes' or giving the 'evil eye' is a serious belief in the κακό μάτι, which can be warded off with specific charms or gestures.
- The common word μάτι is actually a diminutive, meaning it originally translates to 'little eye' in Ancient Greek.
- While μάτι is the standard word, the term οφθαλμός is the direct ancestor of the English medical term 'ophthalmology'.
Examples in context
- Ο Τομ κοίταξε στα μάτια τη Μαίρη.Tom looked Mary in the eye.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the plural form μάτι in the context of looking someone in the eye.Tatoeba #5433366 by Zeus, translation #1164448 by CK
- Ποιος με μάτιασε;Who gave me the evil eye?This sentence demonstrates a common idiomatic expression involving μάτι and the 'evil eye'.Tatoeba #9226310 by Nylez, translation #9700470 by Nylez
- Η κυβέρνηση πρέπει να πάψει να κάνει τα στραβά μάτια στην ανάπτυξη.The government has to stop turning a blind eye to the development.This sentence illustrates an idiom using μάτι related to 'turning a blind eye'.Tatoeba #9099770 by Nylez, translation #9462670 by Nylez
- Έχει ένα μπλε μάτι.He/She has a blue eye.
- Παρακαλώ, κλείστε τα μάτια σας.Please close your eyes.
- Δες πώς λάμπει το μάτι του.See how his/her eye shines.
- Κλείσε το ένα μάτι και κοίτα αυτό!Close one eye and look at this!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anastasia is telling Kostas about a small injury.
- Κώστας KostasΚώστα, έχω κάτι μέσα στο μάτι μου.Kosta, echo kati mesa sto mati mou.Kostas, I have something in my eye.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΤι έγινε. Χρειάζεσαι βοήθεια;Ti egine? Chreiaseis voitheia?What happened? Do you need help?
- Κώστας KostasΝαι, με πονάει πολύ το μάτι.Nai, me ponae poly to mati.Yes, my eye hurts a lot.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΈλα να το δω πιο κοντά.Ela na to do pio konta.Come let me see it closer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eye” translations and entries μάτι, οφθαλμός, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries μάτι, οφθαλμός, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
