Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| σε | se | [se] (narrow) |
| προς | pros |
In Greek, the translation of 'to' depends on whether you are describing a destination or a direction. The preposition σε is used to indicate movement in the direction of a place and specifically implies arriving at a destination. Additionally, the particle να serves as an infinitive marker, which is used when 'to' connects two verbs, such as in 'I want to eat'.
Which one should you use?
While both words relate to movement, σε often implies arriving at a destination, whereas προς emphasizes movement specifically in the direction of a target, similar to the English word 'towards'. Furthermore, do not confuse the prepositional 'to' with the infinitive marker 'to'. For the latter, Greek uses the particle να.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The preposition σε governs the accusative case. When expressing 'to' in the sense of an infinitive marker (for example, 'I want to see'), you must use the particle να instead of a preposition. For feminine plural nouns, the form στις is used instead of στο.
How do you pronounce it?
se
Did you know?
- In Modern Greek, the word σε can mean both 'to' and 'you'. This happens because the language developed two different words called σε: one acting as a preposition and the other as a pronoun.
- The preposition σε changes its form to στο when referring to a masculine or neuter destination. This is because it merges with the definite article 'the' to create a single word.
- In certain contexts, προς is used to express a relationship or attitude toward someone, rather than physical movement. It functions similarly to the English 'towards' in the phrase 'his attitude towards the law'.
Examples in context
- Θέλω να σε δω.I want to see you.Tatoeba #5506781 by Zeus, translation #257078 by CK
- Δε θα σε μηνύσω.I am not going to sue you.Tatoeba #7775597 by eypros, translation #7775431 by karloelkebekio
- Πήγαν σε ένα μπαρ.They went to a bar.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of σε to indicate a destination.Tatoeba #2632978 by Zeus, translation #2632977 by CM
- Πάω στον παππού μου.I'm going to my grandfather.
- Πηγαίνω στη θάλασσα.I'm going to the sea.
- Το βιβλίο είναι στο τραπέζι.The book is on the table.
- Δίνω τα κλειδιά στους φίλους μου.I'm giving the keys to my friends.
- Έρχομαι σε συνάντηση.I'm coming to the meeting.
- 484 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nikos and Maria are deciding where to go for lunch.
- Νίκος NikosΠάμε σε ένα εστιατόριο;Páme se éna estiatório?Shall we go to a restaurant?
- Μαρία MariaΝαι, προτιμώ να πάμε σε αυτό το μέρος.Nai, protimó na páme se aftó to méros.Yes, I prefer to go to this place.
- Νίκος NikosΕίναι πολύ μακριά από εδώ;Eínai polý makryá apó edó?Is it very far from here?
- Μαρία MariaΌχι, πάμε σε πέντε λεπτά.Óchi, páme se pénte leptá.No, we'll be there in five minutes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “to” translations and entries σε, προς, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries προς, σε, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
