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Definition 2024

εσύ

See also: ΕΣΥ

Greek

Greek phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on usefulness, simplicity and commonness.

For other Greek entries on this topic, see Basic.

Alternative forms

(contraction) 'σύ ‎('sý)

Pronoun

εσύ • ‎(esý) m ‎(strong personal pronoun)

you (2nd person singular, nominative and vocative)

Usage notes

This is an informal 2nd person pronoun, used with children, friends and relatives. The plural formal form εσείς ‎(eseís) is used to strangers and those to whom it is thought that deference or respect is due.

Related terms

Personal and possessive pronouns

number		singular					plural
		1st	2nd	3rd m	3rd f	3rd n	1st	2nd	3rd m	3rd f	3rd n
nominative	English	I	you	he	she	it	we	you	they	they	they
	strong ¹	εγώ ³	εσύ ³	αυτός	αυτή	αυτό	εμείς ³	εσείς ³	αυτοί	αυτές	αυτά
	weak ²			τος	τη	το			τοι	τες	τα
genitive	English	my	your	his	her	its	our	your	their	their	their
	strong	εμένα	εσένα	αυτού	αυτής	αυτού	εμάς	εσάς	αυτών	αυτών	αυτών
	weak *	μου	σου	του	της	του	μας	σας	τους	τους	τους
accusative	English	me	you	him	her	it	us	you	them	them	them
	strong	εμένα ⁴	εσένα ⁴	αυτόν ⁵	αυτήν ⁵	αυτό	εμάς ⁴	εσάς ⁴	αυτούς	αυτές	αυτά
	weak	με	σε	τον	την	το	μας	σας	τους	τις / τες ⁶	τα
vocative	English		you					you
vocative	strong		εσύ					εσείς
* The possessive pronouns are the same as the genitive form of the weak personal pronoun. 1. Strong or emphatic personal pronouns are used to emphasise and are pronounced with greater stress. They can be used independently of a verb or other word. 2. Weak or clitic personal pronouns are monosyllabic. They will be dependent upon another word. 3. In colloquial speech nominative forms may lose their initial ε, the use of an apostrophe in the written form is optional. e.g. ήρθα 'γώ (I came) 4. Accusative forms lose their initial ε when following από or για, no apostrophe is used. The plural forms become monosyllabic and therefore lose the accent. e.g. για μας (for us) 5. The final ν is optional, often being used before a following vowel. 6. τις is used before a verb, τες after a verb. e.g. Αν τις* δεις, πες τες να έρθουν.* (If you see them, tell them to come.)