There are two categories of articles. The definite and indefinite. Both definite and indefinite articles agree in the gender, the case and the number with the noun that they refer to.

The absence of an article will change the meaning of a sentence.

The definite article denotes a specific item.

Cases

singular	case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
	Nominative	Ο (O)	Η (Ei)	Το (To)
	Accusative	Το(ν) (To(n))	Τη(ν) (Tee(n))	Το (To)
	Genitive	Του (Tou)	Της (Tees)	Του (Tou)
Plural	Nominative	Οι (Ee)	Οι (Ee)	Τα (Ta)
	Accusative	Τους (Tous)	Τις (Tees)	Τα (Ta)
	Genitive	Των (Ton)	Των (Ton)	Των (Ton)

Attention! Do not confuse:

•  The accusative singular masculine Τον (ton) with the genitive plural Των (ton).

•  The genitive singular feminine Της (tees) with the accusative plural Τις (tees).

The final “ν“ (n) of the article is used when the following word starts with a vowel or the consonants: ξ,π,κ,τ,ψ,τς,τζ,γκ,ντ,μπ (x,p,k,t,ps,ts,j,g,d,b).

Ex:

Το σκυλί (To skeelee) the dog,Τον πελαργό (Ton pelargo) the stork, Στην Ελλάδα (Steen Ellada) in Greece, Στην τύχη (Steen teehee) at random, Στα βουνά (Sta vouna) in the mountains .

The ending of the noun as well as the article denote the gender of the noun. Do not be confused with the pronoun and the article

Ex:

Ο φίλος μου ο Γιώργος έχει μια γάτα (O filos mou o Giorgos exee mia gata).
My friend George has a cat.

Eχω μια τηλεόραση στο σπίτι (eho mia teeleorasee sto speetee)
I have a television at home.

Την (pronoun)  είδα την (article) ταινία (Teen eida teeteneia)
I saw the movie.

 

Uses of the definite article

•  Greek nouns are always preceded by a definite article.

Ex.
Ο πατέρας μου δεν είναι σπίτι (O pateras mou den eine speetee).
My father is not at home.

Ο αδελφός μου είναι άρρωστος (O athelfos mou einai arrostos).
My brother is ill.

 

• A definite article must be used with the words ,όλος(olos) whole, ολόκληρος (olokleiros) whole, αυτός (aftos) this,εκείνος (ekeenos) that in all genders

Ex.
Δεν μου άρεσε αυτό το φαγητό (Then mou arese afto to fageeto).
I didn’t like this food.

Όλη η ταινία ήταν κακή (Olee ee teneia eetan kakee).
The whole movie was bad.

Μου άρεσε εκείνο το πουκάμισο (Mou arese ekeeno to poukameso).
I liked that shirt.

 

• With months, days, seasons, dates to denote a specific point in time.

Ex.
Την Παρασκευή δεν θα πάω στην δουλεία (Teen paraskevee then tha pao steen doulia).
Friday I won’t go at work.

Παντρεύομαι το φθηνόπορο (Padrevomai to ftheenoporo).
I am getting married in autumn.

 

• With general statements

Ex.
Το κάπνισμα σκοτώνει (To kapneesma skotonee).
Smoking kills.

 

Like always I will give you a quick exercise. Try to fill out the gaps with the proper definite article:

1. ___ σπίτι μου είναι πολύ μικρό.
2. Έφερες ___ μπλούζα που ζήτησα;
3. Κοίτα αυτά __ πουλία.
4. Επιτέλους ήρθε __ Γιάννης!
5. Μήπως είδες __ Νικολέτα;
6. __ Έλληνες είναι περίφανοι.

Good luck!