τονε
Wordform Details
Translation: himthe (masculine)
Part of Speech: pronoun
Inflection Type:
masculinesingularaccusative(colloquialform)Is Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: τον
Translation: the (article)
Etymology: Derived from Ancient Greek τόν (tón), the accusative singular masculine form of the definite article ὁ (ho). This form has remained relatively stable throughout the evolution of Greek, maintaining its function as the masculine accusative singular definite article.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'τον' as marking something you can touch or affect directly (accusative case).
- The 'o' in 'τον' can remind you it's for masculine nouns.
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
As in many languages with grammatical gender, the definite article in Greek changes form based on gender, case, and number. 'Τον' is specifically used before masculine nouns in the accusative case (direct object). Understanding when to use this form is essential for basic Greek grammar.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'τον' is the masculine accusative singular article, 'την' is the feminine accusative singular article.
This word:
Βλέπω τον σκύλο.
I see the dog (masculine).
Confused word:
Βλέπω την γάτα.
I see the cat (feminine).
Notes: Both are accusative articles but differ in the gender they mark.
Mnemonic: Think 'τον' for masculine objects and 'την' for feminine objects.
Explanation: While 'τον' is the masculine accusative singular article, 'το' is the neuter accusative (and nominative) singular article.
Confused word:
Αγόρασα το βιβλίο.
I bought the book (neuter).
Notes: Greek requires different article forms for each gender, even when they serve the same grammatical function.
Mnemonic: The 'ν' in 'τον' can remind you of the extra letter needed for masculine nouns.