δεν

See also: Appendix:Variations of "den"

Greek

Alternative forms

• δε (de)

Etymology

Inherited from Byzantine Greek δέν (dén), from Ancient Greek οὐδέν (oudén, “in no way”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈðen/

Particle

δεν • (den) (negating particle)

1. not

   Δεν ήρθα χθες στο γραφείο. ― Den írtha chthes sto grafeío. ― I didn't come to the office yesterday.

   Δεν έρχεσαι μαζί μας; ― Den érchesai mazí mas? ― Won't you come with us?

2. not even, only just, hardly (with stress on the negative aspect of a statement in an expression with verb repetition expressing doubt)

   Είναι δεν είναι 20 χρονών. ― Eínai den eínai 20 chronón. ― S/he is only just/hardly 20 years old.

   Πήρε δεν πήρε εκατό ευρώ. ― Píre den píre ekató evró. ― He didn't even get one hundred euros.

Usage notes

• This form is used when the following letter is a vowel or a plosive consonant (κ, τ, π, ξ, ψ, γκ, ντ, μπ). Elsewhere δε (de) may be used.
• δεν (den) and δε (de) are used with indicative verb forms, but μην (min) and μη (mi) are used with subjunctive verbs and imperatives.

Synonyms

• μην (min), μη (mi)

Further reading

• δεν, δε, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
• δεν, δε - Charalambakis, Chistoforos et al. (2014) Χρηστικό λεξικό της νεοελληνικής γλώσσας (Christikó lexikó tis neoellenikís glóssas) [A Practical Dictionary of Modern Greek] (in Greek) Athens: Academy of Athens. (online since 2023 - abbreviations - symbols)