εγώ

See also: ἐγώ

Greek

Alternative forms

• (contraction) 'γώ ('gó)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐγώ (egṓ, “I”), from Proto-Indo-European *éǵh₂.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /eˈɣo/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ε‧γώ

Pronoun

εγώ • (egó)  strong personal pronoun

1. I

   Εγώ πάλεψα με αίμα, δάκρυα και ιδρώτα …

   Egó pálepsa me aíma, dákrya kai idróta …

   I fought with blood, sweat and tears …

Usage notes

• May become the colloquial 'γώ ('gó) when following a vowel.

  Ξέρω ’γώ;

  Xéro ’gó;

  How should I know?

  (literally, “Do I know?”)

Related terms

    Personal and possessive pronouns

		1-s	2-s	3-ms	3-fs	3-ns	1-p	2-p	3-mp	3-fp	3-np
nominative	strong 1	εγώ 3	εσύ 3	αυτός	αυτή	αυτό	εμείς 3	εσείς 3	αυτοί	αυτές	αυτά
	weak 2			τος	τη	το			τοι	τες	τα
genitive	strong	εμένα / εμού	εσένα	αυτού	αυτής	αυτού	εμάς	εσάς	αυτών	αυτών	αυτών
	weak †	μου	σου	του	της	του	μας	σας	τους	τους	τους
accusative	strong	εμένα 4	εσένα 4	αυτόν 5	αυτήν 5	αυτό	εμάς 4	εσάς 4	αυτούς	αυτές	αυτά
	weak	με	σε	τον	την	το	μας	σας	τους	τις / τες 6	τα
vocative	strong		εσύ					εσείς
† These terms double as possessive pronouns. 1. Strong or emphatic personal pronouns are used to emphasise and are pronounced with greater stress. They can be used independently of a verb or other word. 2. Weak or clitic personal pronouns are monosyllabic. They will be dependent upon another word. 3. In colloquial speech nominative forms may lose their initial ε, the use of an apostrophe in the written form is optional.   e.g. ήρθα 'γώ (I came) 4. Accusative forms lose their initial ε when following από or για, no apostrophe is used. The plural forms become monosyllabic and therefore lose the accent.   e.g. για μας (for us) 5. The final ν is optional, often being used before a following vowel. 6. τις is used before a verb, τες after a verb.   e.g. Αν τις δεις, χαιρέτα τες. (If you see them, greet them.)

Noun

εγώ • (egó) n (indeclinable)

1. (psychology) ego

   Έχει ένα μεγάλο εγώ.

   Échei éna megálo egó.

   He has a big ego.

2. selfishness

Pontic Greek

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐγώ (egṓ, “I”), from Proto-Indo-European *éǵh₂. As Modern Greek εγώ (egó).

Noun

εγώ (egó)

1. I