γιατί

Greek

Etymology

From για (gia, “for”) + τί (tí, “what”). Compare similar constructions in the Romance languages: Italian perché, Spanish por qué, French pourquoi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʝaˈti/
• Rhymes: -i

Adverb

γιατί • (giatí)

1. (interrogative) why

   Γιατί είσαι εδώ;

   Giatí eísai edó?

   Why are you here?

   Ξέρεις γιατί δεν ήρθαν;

   Xéreis giatí den írthan?

   Do you know why they did not come?

Conjunction

γιατί • (giatí)

1. because

   Δεν πήγα, γιατί είμαι άρρωστος.

   Den píga, giatí eímai árrostos.

   I did not go, because I was sick.

Synonyms

• διότι (dióti)
• επειδή (epeidí)
• λόγω (lógo)
• (Cretan) γιάντα (giánta)
• (Maniot) ζατί (zatí)

Noun

γιατί • (giatí) n (indeclinable)

1. why, the reason why

   Θέλω να μάθω το γιατί.

   Thélo na mátho to giatí.

   I want to discover why.