Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| αυτό | aftó | /aˈfto/ | not translated, sometimes |
| το | to | /to/ | |
| τούτος | toútos | /ˈtutos/ |
The Greek language uses different forms for 'it' depending on whether you are referring to a general object or pointing specifically at something. το is the most frequent way to refer to 'it' when it functions as a direct object in a sentence. αυτό is used when you want to emphasize 'this specific thing' or use it as a demonstrative pronoun. τούτος functions as a way to say 'this one'.
Which one should you use?
While το is used for a general 'it', αυτό is used when you want to emphasize 'this specific thing' or 'it' as a demonstrative pronoun. In contrast, τούτος is a more emphatic, formal or archaic way to say 'this one' compared to the standard αυτό.
How does it change in a sentence?
The most common way to say 'it' as a direct object is the unstressed article το.
Did you know?
- Because Greek assigns gender to all nouns, το can only be used for 'it' if the object is grammatically neuter.
- In many cases, Greek speakers skip the word 'it' entirely. Because the verb ending already tells you who is doing the action, using a pronoun for 'it' can often feel redundant or unnecessary.
- The neuter 'it' form το is also used to refer to a group of mixed-gender people or objects as a single collective unit.
Examples in context
- Πώς θα το βρω;How will I find it?This sentence shows how to use το to ask about finding something.Tatoeba #5371703 by Zeus, translation #3439535 by CK
- Το είδε ο Τομ;Did Tom see it?This sentence shows how to use το to ask if someone saw something.Tatoeba #5422604 by Zeus, translation #5209853 by Airvian
- Θα το φάω εδώ.I'll eat it here.This sentence shows how to use το when talking about eating something.Tatoeba #5613027 by Zeus, translation #449107 by CK
- 936 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giorgos and Eleni are looking at a gift on the table.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΕίναι αυτό το δώρο σου;Einai afto to doro sou;Is this your gift?
- Ελένη EleniΝαι, το αγόρασα χθες.Nai, to agorasa chthes.Yes, I bought it yesterday.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΕίναι πολύ όμορφο αυτό.Einai poly omorfo afto.It is very beautiful.
- Ελένη EleniΕυχαριστώ, μου άρεσε πολύ.Efcharisto, mou arese poly.Thank you, I liked it a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “it” translations and entries αυτό, το, τούτος, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
