Uses of ΚΑΙ
We familiar with the use of και/ΚΑΙ to mean "and" in Greek, but this small word has a variety of other uses. Note that the spelling and pronounciation differs when the word is in front of a vowel sound and becomes just κι'/ΚΙ'.
Also/Too
In this context is και/ΚΑΙ used to denote something in addition to what already is, as shown in the examples below.
English | Lowercase | Uppercase |
---|---|---|
Maria came too | ήρθε κι' η Μαρία | ΗΡΘΕ ΚΙ' Η ΜΑΡΙΑ |
I want [one] too | θέλω κι' εγώ | ΘΕΛΩ ΚΙ' ΕΓΩ |
It rained here too | είχαμε κι' εδό βρόχες | ΕΙΧΑΜΕ ΚΙ' ΕΔΟ ΒΡΟΧΕΣ |
Both/All
και/ΚΑΙ here is used to indicate you are refering to not just one of an item.
English | Lowercase | Uppercase |
---|---|---|
Both of the children | και τα δύο παιδία | ΚΑΙ ΤΑ ΔΥΟ ΠΑΙΔΙΑ |
I want both [of the two] | θέλω κι' απο τα δύο | ΘΕΛΩ ΚΙ' ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΔΥΟ |
I see all three of the dogs | βλέπω και τα τρία σκύλοι | ΒΛΕΠΩ ΚΑΙ ΤΑ ΤΡΙΑ ΣΚΥΛΟΙ |
In Excess
With both time and numbered items και/ΚΑΙ can be used to show that something has gone beyond a certain point
English | Lowercase | Uppercase |
---|---|---|
He is over 30 | είναι τριάντε και | ΕΙΝΑΙ ΤΡΙΑΝΤΕ ΚΑΙ |
It's gone 2 o'clock | είναι δύο και | ΕΙΝΑΙ ΔΥΟ ΚΑΙ |
Other Uses
A couple of more idiosyncratic uses are:
English | Lowercase | Uppercase |
---|---|---|
There will be just us | θα είμαστε εμείς κι' εμείς | ΕΙΝΑΙ ΤΡΙΑΝΤΕ ΚΑΙ |
So what? (whatever!) | ε, και | Ε, ΚΑΙ |
They are one by one (i.e. hand picked/the best ones)1 | είναι ενας κι' ενας | ΕΙΝΑΙ ΕΝΑΣ ΚΙ' ΕΝΑΣ |