πόσο
Wordform Details
Translation: how muchhow many
Part of Speech: pronoun
Inflection Type:
neutersingularnominative/accusativeIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: πόσος
Translation: how much; how many (pronoun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek πόσος (pósos), which comes from Proto-Indo-European *kʷósos. This interrogative pronoun has been used to ask about quantity since ancient times. It's related to other interrogative words in Greek like πού (where), πότε (when), and πώς (how).
Mnemonics
- Think of 'pose a question about quantity' to remember πόσος asks 'how much/many'
- Associate with the English word 'posse' (a group) to remember it asks about numbers or amounts
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
Used frequently in everyday conversations, especially when shopping, ordering food, or discussing quantities. The word changes form based on the gender and number of the noun it refers to.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While πόσος is interrogative (asking 'how much/many'), τόσος is demonstrative (indicating 'this much/many' or 'that much/many').
Confused word:
Θέλω τόσα μήλα.
I want this many apples.
Notes: Both words change form based on gender and number: masculine (πόσος/τόσος), feminine (πόση/τόση), neuter (πόσο/τόσο), and their plural forms.
Mnemonic: πόσος starts with π like 'question' in English, while τόσος starts with τ like 'tell' - one asks, one tells.
Explanation: Both are interrogative pronouns, but πόσος asks about quantity ('how much/many'), while ποιος asks about identity ('who/which').
Confused word:
Ποιο βιβλίο διάβασες;
Which book did you read?
Notes: Both are common interrogative pronouns used in everyday Greek conversations.
Mnemonic: πόσος has the 'σ' (s) sound like in 'sum' or 'several' - it's about numbers and amounts.