πώς
Lemma: πώς
Translation: how; in what way; by what means (adverb)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek πῶς (pôs), which is related to the interrogative pronoun ποῖος (poîos, 'what kind of'). The word has maintained its interrogative function throughout Greek language history, serving as a fundamental question word for thousands of years.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'πώς' as the 'pow' in 'power' - it gives you the power to ask 'how' something works.
- The accent mark points upward like a question mark, reminding you that this is a question word.
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
A fundamental question word in Greek, used in everyday conversation. The accent mark is important as it distinguishes it from the conjunction 'πως' (that).
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'πώς' (with accent) is the interrogative adverb meaning 'how', 'πως' (without accent) is a conjunction meaning 'that'. The difference is only in the accent mark, but the grammatical function is completely different.
This word:
Πώς έφτασες εδώ;
How did you get here?
Confused word:
Νομίζω πως θα βρέξει.
I think that it will rain.
Notes: The accent mark in Greek often indicates emphasis, which makes sense for question words that are emphasized in speech.
Mnemonic: With accent (πώς) = question 'how?'; without accent (πως) = statement 'that'