How to say “How are you?” and “I am fine” in Greek. Lesson 30.

How to say “How are you?” and “I am fine” in Greek.

Lesson 30.

            There are several ways to say “How are you” and “I am fine” in Greek. Today

            we will learn some of them.

1.      The most popular way to say “How are you?” is:

Τι κάνεις; (How do you do?)

Κάνεις is the second singular person of the verb κάνω (I make, I do).

We can informally say to one person: Τι κάνεις;

And if we want to be polite or if we talk to many people we can say:

Τι κάνετε;

2.      Also we can informally say to one person:

Πώς είσαι; (How are you?)

And if we want to be polite or if we talk to many people:

Πώς είστε;

           

Ø  We can use the formal versions of the first two ways when we talk to

elders and generally when we want to be polite.

            Informal ways we can use with our friends:

3.      Όλα καλά;

Καλά is an adverb and it means “fine, good, well” and όλα here means

“everything”. So “Όλα καλά;” means “Is everything ok?”

We can use it when we talk to one person or to many.

4.      Τι γίνεται;

Γίνεται is the third singular person of the verb γίνομαι (become, take place, happen). So “Τι γίνεται;” is something like “what’s up?” and we can use it when we talk to one person or to many.

5.      Πώς πάει;

Πάει is the third singular person of the verb πάω/πηγαίνω (I go), so “Πώς πάει;” means “How is it going?/ What’s up?” and we can use it when we talk to one person or to many.

Answers:  

1.      Είμαι καλά, ευχαριστώ./ Καλά είμαι, ευχαριστώ.

I am fine, thanks.

2.      Καλά.

Fine.

3.      Πολύ καλά.

Very well.

4.      Μια χαρά.

Very well/ Great.

5.      Έτσι κι έτσι.

So so.

6.      Καλούτσικα.

Not so bad.

7.      Όχι και τόσο καλά.

Not so good.

8.      Δεν είμαι καλά.

I am not fine.

9.      Χάλια.

Rotten/ Very bad.

Ø  If we want to say “and you?”, we can informally say to one person:

Εσύ; And if we want to be polite or if we talk to many people we can say Eσείς;

Eίμαι καλά, ευχαριστώ. Εσείς;

Όλα καλά, εσύ;

Μια χαρά, εσύ;

Καλά, εσύ;

   

Greek feminine nouns ending in –η (eta) Lesson 28.

Greek feminine nouns ending in –η (eta)

Lesson 28.

                *We will devide them in smaller groups. The nouns belonging to the same group

                have the same declension.

1.       Feminine nouns ending in –η. Example: η λίμνη (the lake). The feminine nouns

ending in eta, which in Nominative Singular are stressed in the second from the end syllable, maintain the accent mark in the second from the end syllable in all

cases in Singular and in Plural, except for Genitive Plural. In Genitive Plural the

accent mark goes to the last syllable.

Ενικός αριθμός                                                       Πληθυντικός αριθμός

Ονομαστική: η λίμνη                                           οι λίμνες

Γενική:           της λίμνης                                       των λιμνών

Αιτιατική:     τη λίμνη                                           τις λίμνες

Κλητική:        -    λίμνη                                           -    λίμνες

Feminine nouns belonging to this group:

η λάσπη: mud

η στάχτη: ash, cinder

η μύτη: nose

η ζώνη: belt, zone

η στέγη: roof

η παλάμη: palm

η πλάτη: back, η ωμοπλάτη: shoulderblade

η φήμη: fame, rumor

η τέχνη: art, craft

η μάχη: battle, fight

2.       Feminine nouns ending in a stressed eta (ή). These nouns maintain the accent mark in the last syllable in all cases in Singular and in Plural.

Ενικός αριθμός                                                       Πληθυντικός αριθμός

Ονομαστική: η βροχή (rain)                                              οι βροχές                                          

Γενική:           της βροχής                                      των βροχών

Αιτιατική:     τη βροχή                                          τις βροχές

Κλητική:        -    βροχή                                          -    βροχές

Feminine nouns belonging to this group:

η ψυχή: soul

η αρχή: beginning, principle, authority

η διακοπή: interruption, suspension

η εποχή: epoch, era, season

η αλλαγή: change

η μηχανή: machine

η σκεπή: roof

η ακτή: coast, sea-shore

η κορυφή: peak, top

η φωνή: voice

η αυλή: yard

η στολή: uniform, livery

η κλωστή: thread

η αδελφή/ αδερφή: sister

η γραμμή: line, row

3.       The feminine nouns ending in eta, whose the last consonant before the vowel eta is σ (sigma), ξ (ksi) or  ψ(psi) have in Singular the same with the former feminine nouns declension, but in Plural their declension is different.

The feminine nouns ending in –ση, -ξη, -ψη, which in Nominative Singular are stressed in the third from the end syllable, maintain the accent mark in the third from the end syllable in all cases in Singular and in Genitive Plural. In Nominative, Accusative and Vocative Plural the accent mark goes to the second from the end syllable.

Ενικός αριθμός                                                              Πληθυντικός αριθμός

Ονομαστική: η τηλεόραση                                               οι τηλεοράσεις

Γενική:         της τηλεόρασης                                              των τηλεοράσεων

Αιτιατική:   την τηλεόραση                                               τις τηλεοράσεις

Κλητική:       -    τηλεόραση                                 -    τηλεοράσεις

Feminine nouns belonging to this group:

η συνέντευξη: interview

η διεύθυνση: address, administration

η άσκηση: exercise, practice

η ερώτηση: question

η απάντηση: answer, response

η διαφήμιση: ad, advertising

η κυβέρνηση: government

η πρόσκληση: calling, invitation

η συζήτηση: discussion, debate

η απόδειξη: proof, receipt

η έναρξη: beginning, start

η ανακάλυψη: discovery

η επίσκεψη: visit

η κατάληψη: conquest, occupation

4.       Feminine nouns ending in ση, -ξη, -ψη, which in Nominative Singular are stressed in the second from the end syllable. These nouns maintain the accent mark in the second from the end syllable in all cases in Singular and in Plural, except for Genitive Plural. In Genitive Plural the accent mark is in the third from the end syllable.

Ενικός αριθμός                                                              Πληθυντικός αριθμός

Ονομαστική: η λέξη (word)                                              οι λέξεις

Γενική:           της λέξης                                         των λέξεων

Αιτιατική:     τη λέξη                                                             τις λέξεις

Κλητική:         -   λέξη                                                -   λέξεις

Feminine nouns belonging to this group:

η τάξη: class, order

η σκέψη: thought, consideration

η γνώση: knowledge

η θέση: place, position, seat

η στάση: stop, posture, attitude

η λήξη: end, termination, conclusion

η πράξη: act, action

Exceptions:

The feminine nouns η πόλη (city), η τίγρη (tiger), η δύναμη (strength) have the same declension with the feminine nouns ending in ση, -ξη, -ψη.

Eνικός αριθμός                                                       Πληθυντικός αριθμός

Ονομαστική: η πόλη                                            οι πόλεις

Γενική:         της πόλης                                           των πόλεων

Αιτιατική:    την πόλη                                           τις πόλεις

Κλητική:        -    πόλη                                              -  πόλεις

Eνικός αριθμός                                                       Πληθυντικός αριθμός

Ονομαστική: η δύναμη                                       οι δυνάμεις

Γενική:         της δύναμης                                     των δυνάμεων

Αιτιατική:    τη δύναμη                                        τις δυνάμεις

Κλητική:        -    δύναμη                                         -   δυνάμεις