English - Modern Greek

The cardinal numbers are divided in three categories:

• a) indeclinable cardinals
• b) declinable cardinals
• c) cardinals behaving as a noun

These forms are the same as of the indefinite article.

The accent on «μία» and «μία(ν)» reinforce the fact that either the noun is defining a specific part or is considered as general, e.g.: «μία καρέκλα» - only one chair and «μια καρέκλα» - whatever which chair.

Sometimes the alternative form «μίας» is used in the 2nd case feminine, but this does not apply the indefinite article

All numerals ending on 3 are declined in the same way. As said before the figures below 20 are written in one word, as «δεκατρείς» (with accent). 23, 33, etc. are separated words, «είκοσι τριες» and «τριάντα τρεις»

All numerals ending on 4 are declined in the same way, «είκοσι τέσσερις» and «τριάντα τέσσερις»

* The 4th case masculine has another form in which the accent shifts, «διακοσίους»

All completed hundreds of one word, including the declined figure 1,000, below, are declined in this way.

Starting at 1,999 the thousands are preceded by the cardinal numerals 2, 3, 4, etc., behaving as a noun.

The numerals «εκατομμύριο» - million, «δισεκατομμύριο» - billion en «τρισεκατομμύριο» - trillion are neuter nouns, conjugated as nouns ending on «-ο».

When ordinal numbers, with the accent on the last syllable, are formally used, the accent shifts to the penultimate syllable, e.g.: «η τετάρτη τάξη» - the fourth class.

The ordinal «δεύτερος» also has the alternative feminine form «δευτέρα», which comes from the katharevousa.

Ordinals are declinable adjectives on «–ος, -η, -ο», which are going hand in hand with the noun they modify.

Ordinals consisting of two words are declined both.

In written language ordinals are denoted in a special way:

• ο 20ός αιώνας - The 20th century («εικοστός» is shortened to «20ός»)
• του 33ου κεφαλαίου - of the 33rd chapter («τριακοστού τρίτου» is shortened to «33ου»)

Ordinals, numerals indicating multiplication and proportional or relative numbers, like adjectives, can be placed before or behind the accompanying noun. In particular, the ordinal numbers that represent a title of a king, patriarch or pope as well as chapters or scenes in a play or movie: George II - «Ο Γεώργιος ο Δεύτερος», Chapter 5 - «Κεφάλαιο Πέμπτο», Scène 3 - «Σκηνή Τρίτη».

The neuter ordinals are also used to denote parts, usually consisting of a definite article + a cardinal + an ordinal, possibly followed by a clause in the 2nd case.

Most of the numerals are ordinarily preceding the noun or adjective when available. When a cardinal and an ordinal precede a noun together, usually the cardinal takes priority, although vice versa is possible as well.

Pairs of cardinal numbers can be represented in two ways. To repeat a numeral means e.g. one by one or two by two. Various numerals are expressing an estimate, although in such terms the inflectable numerals have to adjust to gender, number and case of the accompanying noun. Hence the word «κάνα» may be preceded the numeral alternatively, in case of a noun in the plural.

When denoting hours and data the feminine singular form of the cardinal numbers is used, apart from at the first of the month in which the feminine singular ordinal number is employed. Years are indicated by cardinal numerals, generally in the neuter singular form of the definite article.

As pointed out in the above sentences the masculine, feminine and neuter forms «τρεισήμισι», «τεσσερηήμισι», «τριάμισι» and «τεσσεράμισι» are distinctive in gender, but not in cases. The same applies for «δεκατρεισήμισι» and «δεκατεσσερήμισι».

The other forms such as «δυόμισι», «πεντέμισι», «εξήμισι», «εφτάμισι», «οχτώμισι», «εννιάμισι», «δεκάμισι», «ενδεκάμισι», «δωδεκάμισι» are indeclinable, just like the remaining forms as «δεκαπεντέμισι», «δεκαεξήμισι» etc.

So all these forms are modifying plural nouns, except «ενάμισης», when used in the 1st case masculine.

When there is talk of the with * marked multiplication (on top of this page) we are dealing with the words simple «απλός», double - «διπλός» etc.

This also includes the word «μονός» and is used for beds and hotelrooms:

• ένα απλό εισιτήριο - a single ticket (ticket)
• ένα μονό δωμάτιο - a single room
• ένα διπλό κρεβάτι - a double bed

These words get the suffix «-πλός» and are declined as an adjective on «-ός», «-ά» and «-ό»:

• απλός - single
• διπλός - double
• τριπλός - triple
• τετραπλός - quadruple
• πενταπλός - fivefold
• εξαπλός - sixfold
• etc.

** Proportional or relative numbers express how many times more or less a thing is compared to the other thing. They get the ending «-πλάσιος" and are also declined as the adjectives on «-ος», «-α» and «-ο»:

• διπλάσιος - double
• τριπλάσιος - triplicate
• τετραπλάσιος - fourfold
• δεκαπλάσιος - decuple, tenfold
• etc.

*** The collective numbers are two groups of feminine nouns:

• The first group is formed with the suffix «-άδα», for a collection of a definite number:

• η δυάδα - a group of two (a pair)
• η τριάδα - a group of three (a trio)
• η τετράδα - a group of four (a quaternion)
• η πεντάδα - a group of five (a five)
• η δωδεκάδα - a dozen

• The second group is getting «-αριά» as a suffix for a global collection of an estimated number, whilst normally preceded by the indefinite determiner «-καμιά»:

• καμιά πενταριά - about five
• καμιά δωδεκαριά - around a dozen
• καμιά εικοσαριά - approximately twenty

There are two alternative ways to denote plus. The same applies for minus, but in addition for minus there is another more informal way.

When multiplying the feminine numerals of the figures to be multiplied, are used, whether or not accompanied by a female article.

Alternatively the neuter forms can be used, with or without the word «επί».

Eventually «ίσον» can be omitted in the whole activity.

When dividing the word «διά» is used. The alternative way with the preposition «σε», in combination with the definite article preceding the figure to be divided, is also possible:

• 2 + 4 = 6 - δύο και or συν τέσσερις [ίσον] έξι
• 6 - 4 = 2 - έξι πλην or μείον τέσσερις or τέσσερις από έξι [ίσον] δύο
• 4 x 3 = 12 - τέσσερις οι τρεις or τέσσερα [επί] τρία [ίσον] δώδεκα
• 30 : 3 = 10 - τριάντα διά τρία or το τρία στο τριάντα [ίσον] δέκα

Percentages are expressed with the part of speech «τοις εκατό» - «επτά τοις εκατό» - seven percent, or in the spoken language with «στα εκατό» - «επτά στα εκατό». There are several ways to denote decimals:

• Decimal units of currency, such as 5,25 are denoted as follows:

• πέντε και είκοσι πέντε

• Other decimals are expressed as follows:

• πέντε είκοσι πέντε or πέντε κόμμα είκοσι πέντε

The numerical representation of cardinals is in Modern Greek, as everywhere in Europe the same, with an exception in English in which one million is 1,000,000, whereas in Greek it is 1.000.000.