Day 14 of 25: Negation in Greek

Topic: negation with δεν, μην, κανείς, τίποτα; the difference between δεν and μην.

Level: A2. Context: everyday Greek in Cyprus — cafés, shops, work, renting a home, chatting with friends and neighbours.

1. What you need to learn

Word	Meaning	When it is used	Example
δεν	not	To negate ordinary facts and actions — in the present, past and future	Δεν μιλάω καλά ελληνικά. — I don't speak Greek well.
μην	not / don't	For prohibitions, advice, requests, and after certain expressions of wish, fear or necessity	Μην καπνίζετε εδώ. — Don't smoke here.
κανείς	nobody; anybody	In negative sentences it usually means "nobody"	Δεν είναι κανείς στο σπίτι. — There's nobody at home.
τίποτα	nothing; anything	In negative sentences it usually means "nothing"	Δεν θέλω τίποτα. — I don't want anything.

Key idea: δεν negates a fact or an action, while μην is used more when we say "don't do", "you shouldn't", "so that... not", "better not".

2. Negation with δεν

Δεν is placed before the verb and means "not".

Greek	English translation
Δεν μένω στη Λευκωσία.	I don't live in Nicosia.
Δεν έχω αυτοκίνητο.	I don't have a car.
Δεν πίνω καφέ το βράδυ.	I don't drink coffee in the evening.
Δεν δουλεύω την Κυριακή.	I don't work on Sunday.
Δεν πήγα στην παραλία χθες.	I didn't go to the beach yesterday.
Δεν θα έρθω αύριο.	I won't come tomorrow.

Word order

The usual pattern is:

Subject + δεν + verb + the rest of the sentence

Εγώ δεν καταλαβαίνω. — I don't understand.

Η Μαρία δεν είναι εδώ. — Maria isn't here.

Ο Αντρέας δεν έχει χρόνο. — Andreas doesn't have time.

3. Negation with μην

Μην is used when we forbid, advise against or ask someone not to do something.

Situation	Example	Translation
Prohibition	Μην μπαίνετε εδώ.	Don't come in here.
Advice	Μην πίνεις πολύ καφέ.	Don't drink too much coffee.
Request	Μην αργήσεις, σε παρακαλώ.	Don't be late, please.
Warning	Μην πας εκεί το βράδυ.	Don't go there in the evening.
Instruction	Μην ξεχάσετε το διαβατήριο.	Don't forget your passport.

Important: in negative commands you use μην, not δεν. The correct form is Μην μιλάς! — Don't talk!

4. The difference between δεν and μην

δεν	μην
Negates a fact	Forbids or advises against doing something
Δεν καπνίζω. — I don't smoke.	Μην καπνίζεις εδώ. — Don't smoke here.
Δεν έρχομαι σήμερα. — I'm not coming today.	Μην έρθεις αργά. — Don't come late.
Δεν μιλάει αγγλικά. — He / she doesn't speak English.	Μην μιλάς τόσο γρήγορα. — Don't speak so fast.
Δεν αγοράζω τίποτα. — I'm not buying anything.	Μην αγοράσεις τίποτα ακριβό. — Don't buy anything expensive.

5. Κανείς — nobody / anybody

Κανείς in a negative sentence usually means "nobody". For the feminine you use καμία, and for the neuter κανένα.

Form	Gender	Example	Translation
κανείς	masculine	Δεν ήρθε κανείς.	Nobody came.
καμία	feminine	Δεν βλέπω καμία φίλη μου.	I don't see any of my friends.
κανένα	neuter	Δεν έχω κανένα πρόβλημα.	I don't have any problem.

Δεν ξέρω κανέναν εδώ. — I don't know anybody here.

Δεν υπάρχει κανείς στο γραφείο. — There's nobody in the office.

Δεν τηλεφώνησε κανείς. — Nobody called.

Δεν είδα κανέναν στην καφετέρια. — I didn't see anybody at the café.

6. Τίποτα — nothing / anything

Τίποτα in negative sentences usually means "nothing".

Greek	English translation
Δεν θέλω τίποτα.	I don't want anything.
Δεν αγόρασα τίποτα.	I didn't buy anything.
Δεν κατάλαβα τίποτα.	I didn't understand anything.
Δεν έφαγα τίποτα το πρωί.	I didn't eat anything in the morning.
Δεν έχει τίποτα στο ψυγείο.	There's nothing in the fridge.

Note: Greek regularly uses double negation. Δεν ξέρω τίποτα literally reads like "I don't know nothing" — and that is exactly correct in Greek.

7. Common mistakes

Mistake	Correct	Why
Δεν μιλάς! meaning "Don't talk!"	Μην μιλάς!	A prohibition needs μην.
Μην έχω χρόνο. meaning "I don't have time"	Δεν έχω χρόνο.	This is a fact, so it needs δεν.
Δεν θέλω κάτι meaning "I don't want anything"	Δεν θέλω τίποτα.	For "anything / nothing" we use τίποτα.
Δεν ήρθε κάποιος meaning "Nobody came"	Δεν ήρθε κανείς.	For "nobody" we use κανείς.

8. Useful phrases for Cyprus

Situation	Greek phrase	Translation
At a café	Δεν θέλω ζάχαρη, ευχαριστώ.	I don't want sugar, thanks.
At a shop	Δεν χρειάζομαι σακούλα.	I don't need a bag.
At work	Δεν μπορώ να έρθω στη συνάντηση.	I can't come to the meeting.
On public transport	Μην κλείνετε την πόρτα, παρακαλώ.	Don't close the door, please.
With the landlord	Δεν λειτουργεί το κλιματιστικό.	The air conditioning isn't working.
With friends	Μην αργήσεις!	Don't be late!

9. Quick practice

Exercise 1. Choose: δεν or μην.

1. ___ έχω χρόνο σήμερα.

2. ___ πας εκεί μόνος σου.

3. ___ καταλαβαίνω αυτή τη λέξη.

4. ___ μιλάτε δυνατά.

5. ___ θα έρθουμε αύριο.

Answers:

1. Δεν έχω χρόνο σήμερα. — I don't have time today.

2. Μην πας εκεί μόνος σου. — Don't go there on your own.

3. Δεν καταλαβαίνω αυτή τη λέξη. — I don't understand this word.

4. Μην μιλάτε δυνατά. — Don't speak loudly.

5. Δεν θα έρθουμε αύριο. — We won't come tomorrow.

Exercise 2. Translate into Greek.

1. I don't know anything.

2. Nobody came.

3. Don't buy this.

4. I don't live in Limassol.

5. Don't forget the keys.

Possible answers:

1. Δεν ξέρω τίποτα.

2. Δεν ήρθε κανείς.

3. Μην αγοράσεις αυτό.

4. Δεν μένω στη Λεμεσό.

5. Μην ξεχάσετε τα κλειδιά.

10. Short summary

If you want to say...	Use	Example
"I don't..."	δεν	Δεν ξέρω. — I don't know.
"Don't do..."	μην	Μην τρέχεις. — Don't run.
"Nobody"	κανείς	Δεν είναι κανείς εδώ. — There's nobody here.
"Nothing"	τίποτα	Δεν θέλω τίποτα. — I don't want anything.

Main rule of the day: δεν — for negating a fact, μην — for a prohibition, request or advice not to do something.