μεν...δε

Balanced Contrast in Formal Writing

Level 5Sounds Like men...de

Μεν and δε can balance two contrasting parts in careful or formal writing.

How It Works

Μεν and δε can balance two contrasting parts in careful or formal writing.

This learned connective pattern survives in Modern Greek and does not license Ancient Greek morphology. Δε here is a contrastive particle, not the shortened spelling of negative δεν.

GreekMeaning
Η λύση είναι μεν απλή, δύσκολη δε στην εφαρμογή.The solution is simple, but difficult to implement.
Ο Νίκος θέλει μεν να έρθει, δεν έχει δε χρόνο.Nikos does want to come, but has no time.
Το σπίτι είναι μεν μικρό, άνετο δε.The house is small, but comfortable.

Examples (3)

  1. Η λύση είναι μεν απλή, δύσκολη δε στην εφαρμογή.

    The solution is simple, but difficult to implement.

  2. Ο Νίκος θέλει μεν να έρθει, δεν έχει δε χρόνο.

    Nikos does want to come, but has no time.

  3. Το σπίτι είναι μεν μικρό, άνετο δε.

    The house is small, but comfortable.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

μεν...δεLevel 5Balanced Contrast in Formal Writing

Learn This First

Recognize the relation between contrasted clauses before reading a learned balanced connective pair.

Words in This Pattern

μενδε