Learn how to ask for directions
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Iro: I’m Iro. |
| Judith: Judith here. Absolute Beginner Season 1 Lesson 14 Are you Lost in Greece? Hello and welcome back to GreekPod101.com, the fastest, easiest and most fun way to learn Greek. I’m joined in the studio by... |
| Iro: Hello everyone. Iro here. |
| Judith: In this lesson, you will learn how to ask for directions. |
| Iro: This conversation takes place on a street Athens. |
| Judith: The conversation is between Ellie and two passer-bys. |
| Iro: The speakers don’t know each other. Therefore, they will be speaker formal or informal Greek according to their personal habits and age. |
| Judith: Let’s listen to the conversation. |
| DIALOGUES |
| Έλλη:Δεν καταλαβαίνω το χάρτη... Λοιπόν, πηγαίνω αριστερά και μετά δεξιά... Όχι.... |
| Έλλη:Συγνώμη κύριε, μήπως ξέρετε πού είναι η Ακρόπολη; |
| Άντρας 1:Όχι, λυπάμαι. Ρωτήστε κάποιον άλλο. |
| Έλλη:Ευχαριστώ. Συγγνώμη... |
| Άντρας 2:Ναι; Τι θέλεις, κορίτσι μου; |
| Έλλη:Μήπως ξέρετε πού είναι η Ακρόπολη; |
| Άντρας 2:Ναι, βέβαια. Α, έχεις και χάρτη. |
| Έλλη:Ναι, αλλά δεν καταλαβαίνω. |
| Άντρας 2:Είναι λίγο μακριά. Λοιπόν, πήγαινε ευθεία και στον πρώτο δρόμο κάνε δεξιά. |
| Άντρας 2:Μετά πήγαινε πάλι ευθεία και στο μουσείο κάνε αριστερά. |
| Άντρας 2:Ανεβαίνεις τα σκαλιά και είσαι εκεί... Κάνει πολλή ζέστη τώρα, μην πηγαίνεις στην Ακρόπολη τώρα. Πάμε σε μια καφετέρια... |
| Έλλη:Όχι. Ο φίλος μου με περιμένει. Ευχαριστώ πολύ! |
| Άντρας 2:Καλές διακοπές! |
| English Host: Let’s hear the conversation one time slowly. |
| Έλλη:Δεν καταλαβαίνω το χάρτη... Λοιπόν, πηγαίνω αριστερά και μετά δεξιά... Όχι.... |
| Έλλη:Συγνώμη κύριε, μήπως ξέρετε πού είναι η Ακρόπολη; |
| Άντρας 1:Όχι, λυπάμαι. Ρωτήστε κάποιον άλλο. |
| Έλλη:Ευχαριστώ. Συγγνώμη... |
| Άντρας 2:Ναι; Τι θέλεις, κορίτσι μου; |
| Έλλη:Μήπως ξέρετε πού είναι η Ακρόπολη; |
| Άντρας 2:Ναι, βέβαια. Α, έχεις και χάρτη. |
| Έλλη:Ναι, αλλά δεν καταλαβαίνω. |
| Άντρας 2:Είναι λίγο μακριά. Λοιπόν, πήγαινε ευθεία και στον πρώτο δρόμο κάνε δεξιά. |
| Άντρας 2:Μετά πήγαινε πάλι ευθεία και στο μουσείο κάνε αριστερά. |
| Άντρας 2:Ανεβαίνεις τα σκαλιά και είσαι εκεί... Κάνει πολλή ζέστη τώρα, μην πηγαίνεις στην Ακρόπολη τώρα. Πάμε σε μια καφετέρια... |
| Έλλη:Όχι. Ο φίλος μου με περιμένει. Ευχαριστώ πολύ! |
| Άντρας 2:Καλές διακοπές! |
| English Host: Now let’s hear it with the English translation. |
| Έλλη:Δεν καταλαβαίνω το χάρτη... Λοιπόν, πηγαίνω αριστερά και μετά δεξιά... Όχι.... |
| Judith:I don't understand the map... So, I go left and then right... No... |
| Έλλη:Συγνώμη κύριε, μήπως ξέρετε πού είναι η Ακρόπολη; |
| Judith:Excuse me, sir, perhaps you know where the Acropolis is? |
| Άντρας 1:Όχι, λυπάμαι. Ρωτήστε κάποιον άλλο. |
| Judith:No, I'm sorry. Ask someone else. |
| Έλλη:Ευχαριστώ. Συγγνώμη... |
| Judith:Thank you. Excuse me... |
| Άντρας 2:Ναι; Τι θέλεις, κορίτσι μου; |
| Judith:Yes? What do you want, my girl? |
| Έλλη:Μήπως ξέρετε πού είναι η Ακρόπολη; |
| Judith:Do you perhaps know where the Acropolis is? |
| Άντρας 2:Ναι, βέβαια. Α, έχεις και χάρτη. |
| Judith:Yes, of course. Ah, you have a map too. |
| Έλλη:Ναι, αλλά δεν καταλαβαίνω. |
| Judith:Yes, but I don't understand. |
| Άντρας 2:Είναι λίγο μακριά. Λοιπόν, πήγαινε ευθεία και στον πρώτο δρόμο κάνε δεξιά. |
| Judith:It's a bit far. So, go straight and at the first street turn right. |
| Άντρας 2:Μετά πήγαινε πάλι ευθεία και στο μουσείο κάνε αριστερά. |
| Judith:Then go straight again and at the museum turn left. |
| Άντρας 2:Ανεβαίνεις τα σκαλιά και είσαι εκεί... Κάνει πολλή ζέστη τώρα, μην πηγαίνεις στην Ακρόπολη τώρα. Πάμε σε μια καφετέρια... |
| Judith:You go up the stairs and you're there... It's very hot now, don't go to the Acropolis now. Let's go to a café... |
| Έλλη:Όχι. Ο φίλος μου με περιμένει. Ευχαριστώ πολύ! |
| Judith:No. My boyfriend is waiting for me. Thank you very much! |
| Άντρας 2:Καλές διακοπές! |
| Judith:Have a nice vacation! |
| POST CONVERSATION BANTER |
| Judith: So, if you’re lost in Greece, do not hesitate to ask for directions. |
| Iro: If you’re not confident about your Greek, ask the person if they speak English. "Μιλάτε αγγλικά;" most people are able to communicate in English. |
| Judith: If you speak to an adult, it’s better to use the formal address εσείς. However, don’t be surprised if they answer you informally using εσύ. |
| Iro: Sometimes people speak informally, not because they are rude, but because they are direct and want to communicate more quickly. When we talk to someone directly, we use expressions like "παιδί μου," "κορίτσι μου," "αγόρι μου," which are generally used with people we feel close to. |
| Judith: Sometimes older people call unfamiliar young people "κορίτσι μου" or "αγόρι μου" just because they want to communicate with this person more efficiently. There’s nothing to do with being rude or getting personal. |
| Iro: In some context however, it can be ironic or patronizing. Whatever the case, it is quite common for older people to give advice to younger people and treat them as their children. |
| Judith: Some are very friendly and curious and if you ask them for directions, they might start asking for the questions, like “where are you from?”, “how you like Greece?” and so on. However, if they get too friendly or if they start asking personal questions that make you uncomfortable, just end the conversation politely even if you have to interrupt them. |
| Iro: You could say something like "Λοιπόν, ευχαριστώ πολύ. Πρέπει να φύγω τώρα. Γεια σας!". |
| Judith: “Well, thank you very much. I need to go now. Bye.” |
| VOCAB LIST |
| Judith: Okay, let’s take a look at the vocabulary for this lesson. The first word we shall see is... |
| Iro: χάρτης |
| Judith: Map. |
| Iro: χάρτης |
| Judith: This word is masculine. Next. |
| Iro: αριστερά |
| Judith: Left. |
| Iro: αριστερά |
| Judith: Next. |
| Iro: δεξιά |
| Judith: Right. |
| Iro: δεξιά |
| Judith: Next. |
| Iro: κύριος |
| Judith: Mister. |
| Iro: κύριος |
| Judith: This word is masculine, obviously. Next. |
| Iro: ρωτώ |
| Judith: To ask. |
| Iro: ρωτώ |
| Judith: Next. |
| Iro: κάποιος |
| Judith: Someone. |
| Iro: κάποιος |
| Judith: Next. |
| Iro: άλλος |
| Judith: Other. |
| Iro: άλλος |
| Judith: Next. |
| Iro: μακριά |
| Judith: Far. |
| Iro: μακριά |
| Judith: Next. |
| Iro: ευθεία |
| Judith: Straight. |
| Iro: ευθεία |
| Judith: Next. |
| Iro: πρώτος |
| Judith: First. |
| Iro: πρώτος |
| Judith: Next. |
| Iro: δρόμος |
| Judith: Road. |
| Iro: δρόμος |
| Judith: This word is masculine. Next. |
| Iro: πάλι |
| Judith: Again. |
| Iro: πάλι |
| Judith: Next. |
| Iro: ανεβαίνω |
| Judith: “To ascend” or “go up”. |
| Iro: ανεβαίνω |
| Judith: Next. |
| Iro: σκαλί |
| Judith: Stair. |
| Iro: σκαλί |
| Judith: This one is neuter. |
| KEY VOCAB AND PHRASES |
| Judith: Let’s have a closer look at the usage for some of the words and phrase from this lesson. |
| Iro: The first word we’ll look at "Κύριε X" is how you say “mister” in Greek. The word "κύριε" is derived from "κύριος" and it’s used when you’re addressing someone directly. |
| Judith: Much like Πέτρος changes to Πέτρο when you’re addressing him, so "κύριος" changes to "κύριε." In fact, most words that end in -os change the ending to -e for this occasion. "φίλος" is another example. When you’re addressing someone as “my friend” you say... |
| Iro: "Κυρία X" is how you say “missus”. "Κυρία" does not change since feminine nouns generally don’t change in this situation. "Ρωτήστε" means “ask” as a command to several people or as a command to one person that you’re speaking formally with. It’s a form of "ρωτώ". |
| Judith: “To ask”. |
| GRAMMAR POINT |
| Judith: The focus of this lesson is the imperative. If you want to give a command or make a request in Greek, you need a special form called the imperative. You may know this form if you studies languages such as French, Spanish or Italian. |
| Iro: In Greek, the key ending for this form is the “epsilon”. |
| Judith: If you’re talking to one person informally, you take the verb stem that is everything except the final -ω and you simply add the “epsilon”. Note however that the stress occasionally changes. |
| Iro: Κάνε |
| Judith: Do. |
| Iro: Πήγαινε |
| Judith: “Go.” Also note the change in stress from πηγαίνω. |
| Iro: Παίζε |
| Judith: “Play.” For verbs that end in -άω, it’s even easier because you don’t add anything. You just take the verb stem. For example, you might tell a friend... |
| Iro: "Μίλα ελληνικά παρακαλώ" |
| Judith: Please speak Greek. |
| Iro: If you’re talking to more than one person or if you’re addressing someone formally, the ending is -ετε or -τε. |
| Judith: Can you give us some examples? |
| Iro: Κάνετε |
| Judith: “Do.” Talking to one person formally or to several people. |
| Iro: Πηγαίνετε |
| Judith: Go. |
| Iro: Παίζετε |
| Judith: Play. |
| Iro: Μιλάτε |
| Judith: Speak. |
| Iro: Don’t forget to add "παρακαλώ". |
| Judith: Please. |
| Iro: If you’re making a request. Otherwise, it might come out sounding too forceful. |
| Judith: Okay. That just about does it for today. |
| Iro: Attention iPhone, iPod or iPad users. Listen, tab and swipe your way to fluency with our Greek language apps. Grow your vocabulary and practice on the go with our Greek language applications. |
| Judith: Fun and easy to use. Greek apps are available on iTunes. |
| Iro: Visit our iPhone page on GreekPod101.com/iPhone to learn more. |
Outro |
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| Judith:So, see you next time! |
| Iro:Γεια σας! |
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