Counting in Greek: Basic Numbers (1-10)
The foundation of Greek counting begins with these essential numbers:
- 1 – ένα (éna)
- 2 – δύο (dýo)
- 3 – τρία (tría)
- 4 – τέσσερα (téssera)
- 5 – πέντε (pénte)
- 6 – έξι (éxi)
- 7 – επτά (eptá)
- 8 – οκτώ (októ)
- 9 – εννέα (ennéa)
- 10 – δέκα (déka)
Numbers 11 - 99 in Greek
The numbers 11-19 follow a pattern similar to English, with some unique characteristics:
- 11 – έντεκα (éndeka) – literally “one and ten”
- 12 – δώδεκα (dódeka) – “two and ten”
- 13 – δεκατρία (dekatría) – “ten-three”
The tens follow their own pattern:
- 20 – είκοσι (íkosi)
- 30 – τριάντα (triánta)
- 40 – σαράντα (saránta)
- 50 – πενήντα (penínta)
- 60 – εξήντα (exínta)
- 70 – εβδομήντα (evdomínta)
- 80 – ογδόντα (ogdónta)
- 90 – ενενήντα (enenínta)
To form numbers between the tens (like 21, 22, etc.), simply combine the tens with the units 1-9: είκοσι ένα (íkosi éna) for 21.
Hundreds in Greek (100-999)
The hundreds follow a regular pattern:
- 100 – εκατό (ekató)
- 200 – διακόσια (diakósia)
- 300 – τριακόσια (triakósia)
- 400 – τετρακόσια (tetrakósia)
- 500 – πεντακόσια (pentakósia)
- 600 – εξακόσια (exakósia)
- 700 – επτακόσια (eptakósia)
- 800 – οκτακόσια (oktakósia)
- 900 – εννιακόσια (enniakósia)
For numbers like 325, combine the hundreds, tens, and units: τριακόσια είκοσι πέντε (triakósia íkosi pénte).
The Number 1000
One thousand in Greek is χίλια (chília). This number held particular significance in ancient Greek culture, often appearing in mythology and historical accounts. The word “chiliad,” meaning a group of 1000, derives from this Greek root.
