Hey lovely Greek learners!
Greek preposition mistakes can confuse learners, but with the right guidance, you can avoid them and sound natural in Greek.
If you’ve already read my Ultimate Guide to Greek Prepositions, you know how powerful these tiny words are. They hold sentences together — but they also cause endless headaches for English speakers.
But even when you understand the basics, it’s easy to fall into a few common traps. Don’t worry — everyone makes these mistakes at first.
Let’s walk through the most common Greek Preposition Mistakes and how to fix them.
Common Greek Preposition Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
1. Translating word-for-word from English
Let’s start with the biggest trap. Many learners try to translate prepositions directly from English into Greek. This is one of the biggest Greek preposition mistakes. The problem is, Greek prepositions rarely match their English equivalents. So even if your sentence looks right, it often sounds unnatural — or worse, means something completely different.
Examples:
English: I depend on my friend
Greek: Εξαρτώμαι από τον φίλο μου (Exartóme apó ton fílo mou)
In English we say “depend on,” but in Greek the verb εξαρτώμαι takes από (“from”)
English: I’m thinking about the trip
Greek: Σκέφτομαι το ταξίδι (Skéftome to taxídi)
No preposition needed here — “σκέφτομαι” already includes the idea of “about.”
English: I’m dreaming about summer
Greek: Ονειρεύομαι το καλοκαίρι (Onirévome to kalokéri)
Again, no “about” — Greek uses a direct object.
English: I’m waiting for my teacher
Greek: Περιμένω τον καθηγητή μου (Periméno ton kathiyití mou)
The preposition “for” disappears — “περιμένω” stands alone.
English: I’m laughing at my mistake
Greek: Γελάω με το λάθος μου (Yeláo me to láthos mou)
English uses “at,” but Greek uses με (“with”).
Tip: Try not to think in English. Instead, think in Greek. Some verbs naturally take a preposition, while others don’t need one at all. Learning these patterns helps you avoid common Greek preposition mistakes.
2. Forgetting to adjust the article or noun case
Here’s something English speakers often miss: in Greek, prepositions are followed by a specific case — usually the accusative. That means the article and noun that come after the preposition must change form.
Now, this can be tricky because Greek loves contractions. For example, σε + το becomes στο (sto), and σε + την becomes στην (stin). These are just smoother ways to say the same thing — but the grammar underneath still matters.
Examples:
I’m going to the park
Wrong: Πηγαίνω σε το πάρκο
Correct: Πηγαίνω στο πάρκο (Piyéno sto párko)
I’m talking about my friends
Wrong: Μιλάω για το φίλους
Correct: Μιλάω για τους φίλους (Miláo gia tous fílous)
I’m sitting on the chair
Wrong: Κάθομαι σε η καρέκλα
Correct: Κάθομαι στην καρέκλα (Káthome stin karékla)
I’m going with my friend
Wrong: Πηγαίνω με η φίλη μου
Correct: Πηγαίνω με τη φίλη μου (Piyéno me ti fíli mou)
I live near the station
Wrong: Μένω κοντά ο σταθμός
Correct: Μένω κοντά στον σταθμό (Méno kondá ston stathmó)
As you can see, a single letter change in the article completely transforms the grammar. This is another Greek preposition mistake learners often make.
Tip: Don’t let contractions fool you — the article and noun still need to match the correct gender, number, and case. It’s one of those subtle grammar rules that instantly makes your Greek sound natural.
3. Verbs and adjectives that always take a certain preposition
Here’s another key pattern. Some verbs and adjectives in Greek are inseparable from a specific preposition. These are common Greek preposition mistakes if you forget the correct pairing.
Examples:
Εξαρτώμαι από κάποιον (Exartóme apó kápion) – I depend on someone
Ασχολούμαι με κάτι (Ascholúme me káti) – I deal with something
Φροντίζω για κάτι (Frondízo gia káti) – I care about something
Συμφωνώ με κάποιον (Simfonó me kápion) – I agree with someone
Tip:When you find a new verb, note which preposition it uses. Over time, these patterns will start to feel natural.
4. Thinking one preposition fits all — especially σε (se)
Here’s the thing: many learners assume σε (se) can handle every situation. And yes, it’s true — σε is one of the most common and flexible Greek prepositions. It can mean in, at, or to, depending on context.
If you want to dig deeper into how σε combines with articles (like στο, στην, στον), check out the Prepositional Article Guide.
Examples where σε works perfectly:
Μένω στην Κρήτη (Méno stin Kríti) – I live in Crete
Πηγαίνω στο καφέ (Pigaíno sto kafé) – I’m going to the café
Κάθομαι στο τραπέζι (Káthome sto trapézi) -I’m sitting at the table
So far, so good. However, this flexibility can backfire. Because learners get comfortable with σε, they start using it everywhere — even when Greek prefers a different preposition.
Examples where you need something else:
Μιλάω για αυτό (Miláo gia aftó) – I’m talking about this
Έρχεται από την Αθήνα (Érchete apó tin Athína) – She is coming from Athens
Δουλεύει με τη φίλη μου (Dulévi me ti fíli mou) – He is working with my friend
Φύγαμε χωρίς τις τσάντες μας (Fígame chorís tis tsándes mas) – We left without our bags
As you can see, Greek uses για, από, με, and χωρίς here — not σε — because each one expresses a different kind of relationship. Misusing σε in these cases is a very common Greek preposition mistake.
In other words, σε isn’t wrong, but it’s not universal. Once you start asking yourself what kind of connection you’re describing (direction, location, company, or cause), the right preposition becomes obvious.
5. Mixing up direction and location
Another common mistake comes from confusing motion with position. The difference might sound small, but in Greek, it changes the preposition entirely.
Example:
Πηγαίνω στην Αθήνα (Piyéno stin Athína) – I’m going to Athens
Μένω στην Αθήνα (Méno stin Athína) – I live in Athens
Έρχομαι από την Αθήνα (Érchome apó tin Athína) – I’m coming from Athens
The rule is simple:
- προς = toward (when emphasizing direction)
- σε = toward or at/in
- από = from or out of
Tip: Pay attention to whether the action involves movement or rest. Confusing these is a common Greek preposition mistake.
6. Confusing “by”
Here’s another subtle Greek preposition mistake. English often uses by for several different roles, but Greek splits those roles between από (apó) and με (me) (and sometimes a different construction). The error learners make is translating by literally without thinking which role it plays.
Example:
Agent in passive (who did it)
The book was written by the author
Wrong: Το βιβλίο γράφτηκε με τον συγγραφέα (To vivlío gráfthike me ton singraféa)
→ Correct Greek with με would imply the author co-wrote it with someone else.
Correct: Το βιβλίο γράφτηκε από τον συγγραφέα (To vivlío gráfthike apó ton singraféa)
→ Use από to mark the agent in passive constructions.
Tip: Ask yourself: does the sentence describe the source of something or the means of doing it? Use από for source, με for means.
7. Forgetting that prepositions can be abstract too
Prepositions don’t just show physical location. In Greek, they often express cause, comparison, or purpose. Understanding these abstract uses makes your language sound far more natural.
Example:
Έμαθα από το λάθος μου (Ématha apó to láthos mou) – I learned from my mistake
Είναι καλύτερος από μένα (Íne kaliteros apó ména) – He’s better than me
Δούλεψε για την οικογένειά του (Doúlépse yia tin ikoyéniá tou) – He worked for his family
Notice how από and για here have nothing to do with place — they show reason and purpose instead.
Tip: When you hear a preposition, don’t rush to translate it literally. Think about what relationship it shows.
8. Skipping practice
At this point, theory only gets you so far. The real magic happens when you start using prepositions naturally in conversation and writing.
Here are a few easy ways to practice:
a) Highlight prepositions when reading Greek texts — note which case follows.
b) Translate short English sentences into Greek.
c) Make flashcards with preposition + phrase (like σε → στο σχολείο / sto scholío).
d) Listen to songs, TV, or podcasts and jot down verb + preposition combos.
Try these examples:
I’m going to the café → Πηγαίνω στο καφέ (Pigaíno sto kafé)
I’m speaking with my teacher → Μιλάω με τον καθηγητή μου (Miláo me ton kathigití mou)
I came from the supermarket → Έρχομαι από το σούπερ μάρκετ (Érchome apó to soúper márket)
Over time, your ear will start catching these patterns automatically.
Quick checklist for mastering Greek prepositions
1. Start with the Most Common Ones
Focus first on: σε, με, για, από, χωρίς. Once you’re comfortable with these, gradually add the rest.
2. Always Check the Article and Noun Ending
Make sure the article and noun match the preposition’s case. This is crucial — a small mistake here can make a sentence sound off.
3. Avoid Translating Directly from English
Greek prepositions don’t always work like English ones. Instead of translating word-for-word, think about how the preposition functions in the sentence.
4. Memorize Fixed Combinations
Some verbs and adjectives are always paired with a certain preposition. Learning these combos will help you sound more natural.
5. Practice with Real Sentences
Using prepositions in real sentences is the fastest way to remember them. Try writing or speaking examples for each one, and pay attention to contractions.
Final Thought
Prepositions may be small, but they carry big meaning. Once you start noticing them in what you read and hear, you’ll begin to feel which one fits. Don’t aim for perfect grammar from day one — aim for familiarity. Every time you get it right, your Greek rhythm gets stronger.
Καλή συνέχεια!
