μεσάνυχτα
mesánychta/meˈsa.ni.xta/neuter, plural
The Greek word for midnight is μεσάνυχτα (mesánychta).
μεσάνυχτα refers specifically to 12 o'clock at night exactly.
Meaning: 12 o'clock at night exactly (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Because μεσάνυχτα is a neuter plural noun, you must use the neuter plural article τα when referring to the midnight or using it as a time marker, such as in τα μεσάνυχτα.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced mesánychta. It has four syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- In Greek folk traditions, the hour of μεσάνυχτα is often associated with the 'witching hour' and supernatural occurrences in regional folklore.
- The root word for 'night' in μεσάνυχτα is the same root found in the scientific term 'nyctophobia', the fear of the dark.
- Greek has a separate word for 'midnight' used in liturgical or formal contexts, μεσονύκτιον, which is singular and more archaic than μεσάνυχτα.
Examples in context
- Ο Τομ θα είναι σπίτι τα μεσάνυχτα.Tom will be home by midnight.This sentence shows how to use μεσάνυχτα to indicate a time by which someone will be home.Tatoeba #7765327 by eypros, translation #2542758 by CK
- Ποτέ δεν πηγαίνω για ύπνο πριν τα μεσάνυχτα.I never go to bed before midnight.This sentence shows how to use μεσάνυχτα to describe a time before which one does not go to bed.Tatoeba #5125911 by katkat, translation #2388109 by CK
- Η ζωή δεν είναι παραμύθι. Αν χάσεις το παπούτσι σου μεσάνυχτα, είσαι μεθυσμένος.Life is not a fairytale. If you lose your shoe at midnight, you're drunk.This sentence uses μεσάνυχτα to describe a specific moment in time during a hypothetical event.Tatoeba #3399065 by Zeus, translation #3399060 by Jesse
- Συνήθως κοιμάμαι μετά τα μεσάνυχτα.I usually go to sleep after midnight.
- Σήμερα πήγαμε για φαγητό μετά τα μεσάνυχτα.Today we went for dinner after midnight.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anastasia and Kostas are deciding when to meet for a late movie.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΘα τα λέμε τα μεσάνυχτα τότε;Tha ta leme ta mesanychta tote?Shall we meet at midnight then?
- Κώστας KostasΝαι, είναι η καλύτερη ώρα.Nai, einai i kalyteri ora.Yes, it is the best time.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΜην αργήσεις, θα είναι τα μεσάνυχτα!Min argiseis, tha einai ta mesanychta!Don't be late, it will be midnight!
- Κώστας KostasΜην ανησυχείς, θα είμαι εκεί.Min anisycheis, tha eimai ekei.Don't worry, I will be there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “midnight” translations and entries μεσάνυχτα, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
