Hi Terry,

Thank you for contacting us.

At the moment there is no slower audio version implemented in the slideshows, however, I've forwarded your feedback to the rest of the team for review.

Right now the only tip I can offer you is to study the lesson's vocabulary from the main page where we offer the slower speed button and practice a lot by hearing the slow audio and repeating it over and over. You can use the slideshow to study after you're more familiar and comfortable pronouncing the difficult words.

If pronunciation is a real issue for you and you'd like more guidance, you can consider our Premium Plus service where you can exchange your voice recordings with a tutor and receive better help on how to improve.

Kind regards,

Stefania

Team GreekPod101.com

I like the lesson slideshows for vocab practice but find that despite lots of practice I still stumble as I am unable to move my mouth at the same time as my brain and the course speaker. Even relatively easy words like βροχεροs still cause difficulties.

Any tips how to improve my practice?

Terry

Hi John,

All these expressions are to express a wish.

1. Εύχομαι, as the verb "to wish", needs an object which is usually a whole phrase:

Εύχομαι ειρήνη. I wish for peace.

Εύχομαι ειρήνη σε όλον τον κόσμο. I wish for world peace.

Εύχομαι να υπάρξει ειρήνη σε όλον τον κόσμο. I hope there will be world peace.

Εύχομαι να μάθω ελληνικά. I wish I can learn Greek.

Εύχομαι ο Γιάννης να μάθει ελληνικά. I wish John can learn Greek.

Εύχομαι ο Γιάννης να μπορέσει να μάθει ελληνικά. I wish John will be able to learn Greek.

Το εύχομαι! I hope so! Lit. I wish for that!

The verb in the phrase that follows (if there's any) should be in the subjunctive. But after εύχομαι, even a simple noun may follow. Or even a pronoun can precede it to refer to something mentioned before.

2. Μακάρι is an interjection, so it can be used even by itself, although a phrase or a whole clause may follow:

-Ελπίζω να περάσεις τις εξετάσεις. -Μακάρι! I hope you will pass the examinations. May it be so!

Μακάρι να υπάρξει ειρήνη στη Γη. May there be peace on Earth.

Μακάρι να μάθει ο Γιάννης ελληνικά. May John learn Greek. (lit. "May it be that John learn Greek." using the English subjunctive... which I hope I'm forming correctly as I'm not that comfortable using it :/)

Its meaning is close to "may it be (that) + English subjunctive..." Again, the verb in the phrase, should there be any, should be in the subjunctive.

3. Ας is a particle that is used before a verb in the subjunctive mood:

Ας φάμε. Let's eat.

Ας γίνει, Θεέ μου, ένα θαύμα! Oh God, let there be a miracle!

Ας υπάρξει επιτέλους ειρήνη στη Γη. Let there be peace on Earth finally.

Ας μάθει ο Γιάννης ελληνικά! Let it be that John learn Greek. (English subjunctive)

Its meaning is closest to "let's" or "let".

When we translate these phrases in Greek, it's common to just use the verbs "to wish" and "to hope" sometimes to make the sentence sound natural and not so formal in English.

For more examples, you can look up these words in the ΛΚΝ online dictionary:

http://www.greek-language.gr/greekLang/modern_greek/tools/lexica/triantafyllides/index.html

If you have any more questions, let me know.

Kind regards,

Stefania

Team GreekPod101.com

Please tell me the difference between

ευχομαι

μακαρι

ας (as in ας θελετε)

Ελένη γεια!

Μακάρι να μπορέσεις να επισκεφθείς την Αθήνα κάποια φορά:innocent:! Ίσως μέχρι τότε να μιλάς τέλεια ελληνικά:stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:! Σου το εύχομαι!

Stefania

Team GreekPod101.com

¨Οχι, δεν ¨εχω πάει στην Αθήνα....:disappointed: