Palabra Lexi · common words in Greek
How to say "night" in Greek
"Night" in Greek is νύχτα (níchta), pronounced NI-hta (stress on the syllable in capitals). It is a feminine noun (η νύχτα, plural οι νύχτες).
| Greek | νύχτα |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | níchta |
| Pronunciation | NI-hta |
| Meaning | night |
| Gender | feminine: η νύχτα |
| Plural | οι νύχτες |
| Frequency | #8 in the Palabra list of common Greek words |
Pronunciation is spelled out in English, one syllable at a time, with the stressed syllable in capitals; Greek marks that syllable with an accent in writing too. The speaker button uses your browser's built-in Greek voice. Gender and plural: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
How to pronounce νύχτα
Νύχτα is pronounced NI-hta, in IPA /ˈni.xta/. The stress falls on NI, the syllable in capitals. Greek shows this in writing: the accent mark sits on the stressed vowel.
- Χ is a rough h, like the ch in Scottish "loch".
Listen: normal and slow speed, in your browser's Greek voice. IPA: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
Is νύχτα masculine, feminine or neuter?
Νύχτα is feminine, so it takes the article η: η νύχτα. The plural is οι νύχτες. That fits the usual pattern: most nouns ending in -α and -η are feminine.
Example sentences
Μένουμε τρεις νύχτες.
We are staying three nights.
Καλή νύχτα
good night
"Night" in Greek: everyday use and word roots
Useful phrases
- Καληνύχτα.
Good night.
Word roots
- Ancient Greek: νύξ (nýx)
- English words from the same root: nyctophobia
Regional words and roots: Wiktionary and the Liddell–Scott Greek lexicon. Greek varies by region, so treat these as the most common patterns, not strict rules.
How to remember νύχτα
νύχτα [NI-hta] sounds like the English “nick the”. Picture this:
At night a thief tries to nick the moon, drags it down on a rope into his sack.
A sound-alike plus a vivid scene is the keyword method, a well-studied way to learn vocabulary. How it works.
Practice νύχτα
Two quick games, right here: no sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere.