ντε

Greek

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /de/

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish ده (de, “now then!”).

Particle

ντε • (nte)

1. go on! (emphatic interjection exhortative, for a variety of emotions)

   Πήγαινε ντε, τι περιμένεις; (exhortative)

   Pígaine nte, ti periméneis?

   Go then, what are you waiting for?

   Καλά ντε, μη φωνάζεις. (irritation)

   Kalá nte, mi fonázeis.

   OK then, do not shout.

   Γιατί αγόρασες μελιτζάνες; — Για να φτιάξω μουσακά, ντε! (explanatory, confirmation)

   Giatí agórases melitzánes? — Gia na ftiáxo mousaká, nte!

   Why did you buy aubergines? — To make moussaka of course.

   and see expressions

2. giddyup! (especially to animals)

   Ντε, γαϊδαράκο μου, ντε!

   Nte, gaïdaráko mou, nte!

   Move, my little donkey, move!

Derived terms

(expressions)

• άντε ντε (ánte nte, “go for it!”) (emphatic, exhortative)
• έλα ντε (éla nte, “really!”) (surprise)
• ντε και καλά (nte kai kalá, “absolutely”) (emphatic)
• ντε και σώνει (nte kai sónei, “absolutely”) (emphatic)

Related terms

• άντε (ánte, “go! proceed!”, interjection) (also exhortative)

Etymology 2

Transliteration of non-Greek words with letters of the Greek alphabet.

Particle

ντε • (nte)

1. transliteration of the Latin preposition dē (“from”) in the Greek alphabet

   (for stereotyped expressions)

   ντε φάκτο, ντε γιούρε ― nte fákto, nte gioúre ― de facto, de jure

2. transliteration of the French preposition de (“of, from”) in the Greek alphabet

   (preposition for stereotyped terms)

   φον ντε τεν ― fon nte ten ― fond de teint

   (particle for family names)

   Σαρλ ντε Γκωλ ― Sarl nte Gkol ― Charles de Gaulle

3. transliteration of the French numeral deux (“two”) in the Greek alphabet

   (for stereotyped terms)

   ντε πιες ― nte pies ― deux-pièces

Usage notes

Especially for Latin, the original script in Latin alphabet is more common.