DIALOGUE
Do you speak, write and read in Greek? In this dialogue Maria (M) and Eleni (E) provide common phrases to form your answers in Greek.
Greek phrase Pronunciation Translation
Μ: Τι μαθαίνεις TEE maTHEnis What do you learn
στο μάθημα των ελληνικών; STO MAthima TON elliniKON at the Greek class?
Ε: Διαβάζω βιβλία diaVAzo vivLEEa I read books
στα ελληνικά. STA elliniKA. in Greek.
Εσύ διαβάζεις eSEE diaVAzis Do you read
ελληνικά; eliniKA? Greek?
Μ: Εγώ διαβάζω λίγο, eYO diaVAzo LEEgo. I read a little.
Ο Πέτρος διαβάζει καλά. O Petros diaVAzi kaLA. Peter reads good.
Ε: Γράφεις ελληνικά; YRAfis elliniKA? Do you write in Greek?
Μ: Ναι, γράφω λέξεις NE, YRAfo LExis Yes, I write words
και φράσεις. KE PHRAsis. and phrases.
Εσύ γράφεις ελληνικά; eSEE YRAfis eliniKA? Do you write in Greek?
Ε: Ναι, γράφω. NE, GRAfo. Yes, I write.
Εσύ μιλάς ελληνικά; eSEE miLAS elliniKA? Do you speak Greek?
Μ: Ναι, μιλάω λίγα NE, miLAo LEEgo Yes, I speak a little
Greek. eliniKA. Greek.
Ο Πέτρος μιλάει O PEtros miLAi Peter speaks
καλά ελληνικά. kaLA eliniKA. good Greek.
BASIC VOCABULARY
Greek word Pronunciation Meaning
Το μάθημα των ελληνικών TO MAthima TON elliniKON Greek class
Εγώ μαθαίν-ω eYO maTHEno I learn
Εσύ μαθαίν-εις eSEE maTHEnis you learn
Εσύ μαθαίν-εις; eSEE maTHEnis? do you learn?
Το βιβλίο TO viVLEEo book
Τα βιβλία TA viVLEEa books
Στα ελληνικά STA elliniKA in Greek
Εγώ μιλ-άω miLAo I speak
Εσύ μιλ-άς miLAs you speak
Ο Πέτρος μιλ-άει O PEtros miLAi Petros speaks
Εγώ διαβάζ-ω eYO diaVAzo I read
Εσύ διαβάζ-εις eSEE diaVAzis you read
Εγώ γράφ-ω eYO YRAfo I write
Εσύ γράφ-εις eSEE YRAfis you write
Εσύ γράφ-εις; eSEE YRAfis? Do you write?
Η Μαρία γράφ-ει EE maREEA YRAfi Maria writes
Η λέξη EE LExi word
Οι λέξεις EE LExis words
Και KE and
Η φράση EE FRAsi phrase
Οι φράσεις EE FRAsis phrases
Λίγο, λίγα LEEyo, LEEya a little
Καλά kaLA good
Note the verb endings:
Εγώ μαθαίν-ω, εγώ διαβάζ-ω, εγώ γράφ-ω, εγώ έχ-ω, εγώ μιλά-ω. = I learn, I read, I write, I have, I talk.
Εσύ μαθαίν-εις, εσύ διαβάζ-εις, εσύ γράφ-εις, εσύ έχ-εις, εσύ μιλ-άς. = you learn, you read, you write, you have, you talk.
In Greek the verb endings indicate the person who undertakes the action. The ending -ω refers to I and the ending -εις to you (singular). Therefore, the personal pronoun (I, you, he, she, we, you, they) can be omitted.
GREEK WORDS USED IN ENGLISH
Γράφω is to be found in all English words that end in -graphy (lithography, iconography, calligraphy etc), as well as in words like graphic, grammar. In ancient Greek γράφω meant both I write and I design. Lexicon derives from the Greek word λέξη, which means word. The noun phrase is the transliteration in English of the Greek word η φράση. The verb μαθαίνω (I learn) and μάθημα (class, lesson) are to be found in the word Mathematics.
MAIN PHRASES
Try to understand the questions and the possible responses. Then choose which is your case and read it loud.
Μιλάς ελληνικά; Do you speak Greek?
- Μιλάω λίγα ελληνικά.
- Μιλάω καλά ελληνικά.
Γράφεις στα ελληνικά; Do you write in Greek?
- Γράφω λίγο στα ελληνικά.
- Γράφω καλά στα ελληνικά.
Διαβάζεις βιβλία στα ελληνικά; Do you read in Greek?
- Διαβάζω λίγο στα ελληνικά.
- Διαβάζω καλά στα ελληνικά.
PRONUNCIATION KEY
i (ill), ee (beer), e (energy), o (organ), oo (boot), y (yes), h (helium), th (theory), d (the). The capitalized syllables are accented.
The post Our Everyday Greek: This October we Speak, Write and Read in Greek appeared first on The National Herald.