να
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See also: ΝΑ and Appendix:Variations of "na"
Greek
Etymology 1
From Byzantine Greek να (na), from Ancient Greek ἵνα (hína).
Particle
να • (na)
- added before the dependent or present verb forms to form the different subjunctive moods, serving a variety of different clausal functions and to express imperatives, wishes or hypotheticals:
- Μπορώ να έχω...
- Boró na écho...
- Can I have...
- Θέλω να φύγω.
- Thélo na fýgo.
- I want to leave.
- Να μείνω ή να φύγω;
- Na meíno í na fýgo?
- Should I stay or should I go?
- Δε θέλω να τον βλέπω.
- De thélo na ton vlépo.
- I don't want to be seeing him.
- Δεν έχω όρεξη να κάθομαι εκεί επί ώρες.
- Den écho órexi na káthomai ekeí epí óres.
- I’m not in the mood to be sitting there for hours.
- Να προσέχεις τον εαυτό σου.
- Na prosécheis ton eaftó sou.
- Take care of yourself.
- Να ’χεις το νου σου.
- Na ’cheis to nou sou.
- Be aware/be on the lookout.
- Να είχαμε πέντε λεπτά ακόμα.
- Na eíchame pénte leptá akóma.
- If only we had five more minutes.
- used after the neuter definite article and before the second person singular of the present tense, it converts the clause to a noun phrase with the function of gerund:
- Το να κλέβεις τις ιδέες ενός είναι «λογοκλοπή», το να κλέβεις τις ιδέες πολλών είναι «επιστημονική έρευνα».
- To na kléveis tis idées enós eínai «logoklopí», to na kléveis tis idées pollón eínai «epistimonikí érevna».
- Stealing ideas from one person is “plagiarism”, stealing from many is “research”.
Related terms
Etymology 2
From Byzantine Greek να (na), from Ancient Greek ἤν (ḗn).
Particle
να • (na)
- used to show or point out someone or something: there, here
- when used with the hand gesture moutza, indicates of displeasure or anger:
- Να! Παρ’ τα!
- Na! Par’ ta!
- There! Take that!
- (vulgar) when used with a hand gesture pointing to own genitals, means "I don't give a shit":
- Κι εμένα, να!
- Ki eména, na!
- As for myself I don't give a shit!