Learn how to ask "How do you read it?"
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| In the previous lessons, we introduced you to some phrases you can use when in Greece, and this is the last lesson of the series we dedicated to learning from people around you. Today, we are going to cover "How do you read this?" |
| In Greek, people say Πώς διαβάζεται αυτό; (Pós diavázete aftó?), which literally means "How is this read?" |
| Πώς διαβάζεται αυτό; (Pós diavázete aftó?) |
| Let's break it down by syllable: Pos dia-va-ze-te af-to? |
| Now let's hear it once again, Πώς διαβάζεται αυτό; (Pós diavázete aftó?) |
| The first word πώς (pós) means "how." Next, we have διαβάζεται (diavázete), which in English literally means "it's read." Διαβάζεται (Diavázete) is another passive third person singular form, in this case, of the verb διαβάζω (diavázo) - "to read." Then, we have the demonstrative pronoun αυτό (aftó), which in English is "this." |
| Let's break it down by syllable and hear it one more time, af-to. |
| αυτό (aftó) |
| And, all together, we have Πώς διαβάζεται αυτό; (Pós diavázete aftó?) |
| If you are pointing at something, probably at a book, a newspaper, or simply a street sign, you might also like to ask, "How do you pronounce this?." In Greek, people would ask Πώς προφέρεται αυτό; (Pós proférete aftó?), which literally means "How is this pronounced?" Πώς (Pós) is the Greek word for "how," and προφέρεται (proférete) is the passive third person singular form meaning "it's pronounced." Αυτό (Aftó) is, as we already know, "this." |
| Let's break it down by syllable: Pos pro-fe-re-te af-to? |
| Now let's hear it once again, Πώς προφέρεται αυτό; (Pós proférete aftó?) |
| After you have learned the reading and the pronunciation, you will probably want to know about the meaning. So why don't you try to ask, Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?) - "What does it mean?" |
| Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?) |
| Let's break it down by syllable: Ti si-me-ni? |
| Now let's hear it once again, Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?) |
| The first word τι (ti) means "what." Next, we have σημαίνει (siméni), which in English means "it means." |
| So, all together, we have Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?) Literally, this means "What does it mean?" |
| Okay, to close out today's lesson, we'd like for you to practice what you've just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for shouting it out loud. You'll have a few seconds before I give you the answer, so Καλή τύχη (kalí týchi), which means "good luck!" in Greek. |
| "How do you read this?" - Πώς διαβάζεται αυτό; (Pós diavázete aftó?) |
| Πώς διαβάζεται αυτό; (Pós diavázete aftó?) |
| Πώς διαβάζεται αυτό; (Pós diavázete aftó?) |
| "How is this pronounced?" - Πώς προφέρεται αυτό; (Pós proférete aftó?) |
| Πώς προφέρεται αυτό; (Pós proférete aftó?) |
| Πώς προφέρεται αυτό; (Pós proférete aftó?) |
| "What does it mean?" - Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?) |
| Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?) |
| Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?) |
| All right, that's going to do it for today! |
| Remember to stop by GreekPod101.com and pick up the accompanying PDF. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. Αντίο! (Antío!) |
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