Chapter 1:
PWS SAS LENE;/What's your
name?
The statement above literaly means "how are you called". therfore: pwV
means "how". It can also, however, mean "what".
This, along with the word Ti(what?) is
one of the most important words in any language, if you are going to ask a question.
Notice that the english semicolon (;) is used as the greek question mark, many times
do new learners confuse themselves because they do not realize that a statement, written, is
a question.
Phrases & Expressions
Here are some phrases that you should learn:
Kalhmera!(Kalimera) - Good morning!
Kalhspera!(Kalispera) - Good evening!
Kalh nucta!(Kali Nuchta) - Good night!
Geia saV!(Ya sas)* - Hello! & Goodbye!(Lit. Health to you all!) (more formal)
Geia sou!(Ya soo)* - Hi! & See ya!(Lit. Health to you!) (less formal)
PwV sas lene;(Pos sas lene?) - What's your name? (Lit. How are you called?)
Me lene ...(Me lene ...)** - My name is ...(Lit. I'm called ...)
Apo pou eiste;(apo poo iste?) - From where are you? (Lit. from where you are?)
Vocab. for this phrase:
apo - from
pou - where
eiste - you (pl.) are
eiste is the plural, second person form of the word
eimai, I am. Greek verbs conjugate, or change their endings in order to show
who is doing the action, in this case, who is being. Here is the conjugation of the word eimai
, learn it by heart.
Singular:
eimai(eeme) - I am
eisai (eese)- You are
einai(eene) - He, She, or It is
Plural:
eimaste(eemaste)- We are
eiste(eeste) - You (all) are
einai(eene) - They are
Continuing...
eimai apo ... (eeme apo ...) - I'm from ...
(Ellada- Greece
Gallia - France
Ispania - Spain
Italia - Italy
Germania - Germany
Elbetia - Switzerland
Souhdia - Sweden
Leukwsia - Cyprus
Agglia - England)
*Geia saV is the plural form of the word
Geia sou, in greek, as in many other languages, the plural of most greetings is used when you
do not know the person you are speaking to, or if he or she is older than you. Otherwise, it is used to adress many people at once,
such as a group of people.
Vocabulary
eimai, eisai...etc.etc. - I am, you are ...etc. etc.
pws; - how? or what?
ti; - what?
pou - where?
poia (poia) - which?
apo- from
kalhmera- good morning
kalhspera- good evening
kalh nucta- good night
geia saV- hello (formal/plural)
geia sou- hi (informal/singular)
mono(mono) - only
tora(tora) - now
alla(alla) - but (conj.)
oci(ochi) - no
nai(ne) - yes
kai(ke) - and..
den(den) - not (used before verb)
to meroV(meros) - place (n.)*
h polh(poli) - town (f.)*
kala(kala) - nice, good, wonderful
Agglika(agglika) - English (lang.)
Italika(italika) - Italian (lang.)
Ellhnika(ellinika) - Greek (lang.)
Ellada- Greece
Gallia - France
Ispania - Spain
Italia - Italy
Germania - Germany
Elbetia - Switzerland
Souhdia - Sweden
Leukwsia - Cyprus
Agglia - England
Dialogues
Jean Pierre, a tourist from France, meets Nikos Papadoulos, a native greek from Athens,
in Cyprus on a business trip.
NikoV: Geia sav! PwV saV lene;
Tzean: Me lene Tzean Pier.
NikoV: Apo poia meroV eiste;
Tzean: Eimai apo Gallia, eiste apo..;
NikoV: Eimai apo Ellada, apo Aqhna
Tzean: Einai kala polh;
NikoV: Nai kai oci.
Tzean: Aa...geia sou NikoV!
NikoV:Geia sou!
