How to Give Your Name

Dialogue

Want to Understand & Master the Greek Dialogue 100%?

Get a breakdown of the dialogue and translations instantly with the Premium line-by-line Audio. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.

Select your level

Or sign up using Facebook

By clicking Join Now, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and to receive our email communications, which you may opt out at any time.

Already a Member?

Vocabulary (Review)

Learn New Words FAST with this Lesson’s Vocab Review List

Get this lesson’s key vocab, their translations and pronunciations. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.

Select your level

Or sign up using Facebook

By clicking Join Now, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and to receive our email communications, which you may opt out at any time.

Already a Member?

Lesson Notes

Unlock In-Depth Explanations & Exclusive Takeaways with Printable Lesson Notes

Unlock Lesson Notes and Transcripts for every single lesson. Sign Up for a Free Lifetime Account and Get 7 Days of Premium Access.

Select your level

Or sign up using Facebook

By clicking Join Now, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and to receive our email communications, which you may opt out at any time.

Already a Member?

Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can Do Greek by GreekPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to give your name in Greek

For example, "I’m Martha Asimakis. Nice to meet you. "

Είμαι η Μάρθα Ασημάκη. Χαίρω πολύ! (Íme i Mártha Asimáki. Héro polí!)

Two passengers, Martha Asimakis and Panagiotis Papakonstantinou , are seated next to each other on a plane to Greece.

Before you hear their conversation, let’s preview some of its key components.

Χαίρω πολύ. (Héro polí.)

“Nice to meet you”

Χαίρω πολύ.

Είμαι ο/η (Íme o/i)

“I’m”

Είμαι ο/η

Listen to the conversation, and focus on Martha’s response.

Ready?

Γεια! Είμαι ο Παναγιώτης. Χαίρω πολύ. (Ya! Íme o Panayótis. Héro polí.)

Είμαι η Μάρθα. Χαίρω πολύ. (Íme i Mártha. Héro polí.)

Once more with the English translation.

Γεια! Είμαι ο Παναγιώτης. Χαίρω πολύ. (Ya! Íme o Panayótis. Héro polí.)

"Hi! I'm Panagiotis. Nice to meet you."

Είμαι η Μάρθα. Χαίρω πολύ. (Íme i Mártha. Héro polí.)

“I'm Martha. Nice to meet you!”

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how Martha Asimakis introduces herself?

"I'm Martha. Nice to meet you."

Είμαι η Μάρθα. Χαίρω πολύ. (Íme i Mártha. Héro polí.)

Let's start with the expression, Χαίρω πολύ (Héro polí), meaning "Nice to meet you." Χαίρω πολύ (Héro polí).

First is χαίρω (héro), literally "I'm glad." Χαίρω . Χαίρω.

Next is πολύ (polí), literally "very." Πολύ . Πολύ.

Together, it’s Χαίρω πολύ (Ηéro polí), literally, "I'm glad very," but translates as "Nice to meet you." Χαίρω πολύ. (Ηéro polí).

Note: Χαίρω (Ηéro) is an archaic form of χαίρομαι (hérome), also meaning "I'm glad."

This expression can be used in many contexts and is appropriate for both formal and informal situations.

Do you remember how Martha says,

"I'm Martha."

Είμαι η Μάρθα. (Íme i Mártha.)

First is είμαι (íme), "[I] am." Είμαι . Είμαι.

Note: είμαι (íme) is a shortened form of εγώ είμαι (egó íme), "I am." In Greek, εγώ, "I," is usually omitted, as it can be understood from context.

Είμαι is also the dictionary form of the verb "to be." Είμαι.

Next is the definite article η (i), Think of it like “the” in English. Η . H.

In Greek, all nouns have grammatical gender and case, and are either singular or plural. Μάρθα (Mártha) is feminine and singular, and in the nominative case — a fact which will determine the form of other words in the sentence.

Η (i) is also feminine, singular, nominative to agree with Μάρθα.

Note: in this phrase, the article η (i) does not have a corresponding English translation.

Next is the name, Μάρθα (Mártha). "Martha." Μάρθα . Μάρθα.

All together, it’s Είμαι η Μάρθα. (Íme i Mártha). Literally, “I’m Martha,” but translates as “My name is Martha.”

Είμαι η Μάρθα. (Íme i Mártha.)

The pattern is

Είμαι NAME. (Íme {NAME}.)

I'm NAME.

Είμαι NAME. (Íme {NAME}.)

To use this pattern, simply replace the NAME placeholder with your given name or given name and surname.

Note: this pattern requires a name preceded by the corresponding definite article.

Imagine you're Pericles . In Greek, Περικλής (Periklís). Περικλής . Περικλής.

Περικλής (Periklís) is masculine and singular.

For a male speaker, the corresponding definite article is ο (o). Ο . Ο.

Together, ο Περικλής (o Periklís). Ο Περικλής . Ο Περικλής.

Say,

"I'm Pericles."

Ready?

Είμαι ο Περικλής. (Íme o Periklís.)

"I'm Pericles."

Είμαι ο Περικλής. (Íme o Periklís.)

Unlike English, in Greek proper nouns are often preceded by a definite article.

The definite article is like the English "the," as in "the tree."

For this lesson, let’s review the Greek definite articles for singular nouns in the nominative case.

The masculine definite article in the nominative case is ο (o), as in ο Παναγιώτης (o Panayótis).

The feminine definite article in the nominative case is η (i), as in η Μάρθα (i Mártha).

The neuter definite article in the nominative case is το (to), as in το δέντρο (to déndro), "the tree."

Again, the key pattern is

Είμαι NAME. (Íme {NAME}.)

I'm NAME.

Είμαι NAME. (Íme {NAME}.)

Let's look at some more examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Γεια! Είμαι ο Παναγιώτης. Χαίρω πολύ! (Ya! Íme o Panayótis. Héro polí!)

“Hi! I’m Panagiotis. Nice to meet you!”

Γεια! Είμαι ο Παναγιώτης. Χαίρω πολύ! (Ya! Íme o Panayótis. Héro polí!)

Είμαι η Μάρθα Ασημάκη. (Íme i Mártha Asimáki).

“I’m Martha Asimakis.”

Είμαι η Μάρθα Ασημάκη. (Íme i Mártha Asimáki).

Είμαι ο Περικλής. Χαίρω πολύ! (Íme o Periklís. Héro polí!)

“I’m Pericles. Nice to meet you!”

Είμαι ο Περικλής. Χαίρω πολύ! (Íme o Periklís. Héro polí!)

Γεια! Είμαι η Χρυσή Παπαδοπούλου. (Ya! Íme i Hrisí Papadopoulou.)

“Hi! I'm Chrissi Papadopoulou.”

Γεια! Είμαι η Χρυσή Παπαδοπούλου. (Ya! Íme i Hrisí Papadopoulou.)

Λέγομαι Άννα-Μαρία. (Légome Ána-María.)

“My name is Anna-Maria.”

Λέγομαι Άννα-Μαρία. (Légome Ána-María.)

Did you notice how the last speaker uses a different sentence pattern?

She says,

Λέγομαι Άννα-Μαρία. (Légome Ána-María.)

"My name is Anna-Maria."

First is λέγομαι (légome), which literally means "I am called," but translates as "my name is." Λέγομαι . Λέγομαι.

Λέγομαι (légome) is the passive form of the verb λέω (léo), "I call," in this context. λέω (léo).

Next is the name Άννα-Μαρία (Ána-María). "Anna-Maria." Άννα-Μαρία . Άννα-Μαρία.

All together, Λέγομαι Άννα-Μαρία. (Légome Ána-María.) Literally, "I call myself Anna-Maria," but it translates as "My name is Anna-Maria." Λέγομαι Άννα-Μαρία.

The pattern is

Λέγομαι NAME. (Légome {NAME}.)

My name is NAME.

To use this pattern, simply replace the {NAME} placeholder with your given name or given and surname.

Note: this pattern requires a proper noun, and does NOT require a definite article.

Remember this pattern. You’ll need it for the practice section.

Let's review the key vocabulary.

Γεια (Ya). "Hi." Γεια . Γεια.

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how to say

"Nice to meet you."

Χαίρω πολύ. (Héro polí.)

And the Greek pronunciation of Martha’s name?

Μάρθα (Mártha).

Do you remember the corresponding article that precedes Μάρθα?

η (i).

Do you remember how Martha says,

"I'm Martha."

Είμαι η Μάρθα. (Íme i Mártha.)

Είμαι η Μάρθα. (Íme i Martha.)

And how Martha says,

"I'm Martha. Nice to meet you!"

Είμαι η Μάρθα. Χαίρω πολύ. (Íme i Mártha. Héro polí.)

Do you remember how Panagiotis says,

"Hi!"

Γεια! (Ya!)

Do you remember how Panagiotis says,

"Hi! I'm Panagiotis. Nice to meet you."

Γεια! Είμαι ο Παναγιώτης. Χαίρω πολύ. (Ya! Íme o Panayótis. Héro polí.)

Do you remember the Greek pronunciation of Anna-Maria’s name?

Άννα-Μαρία (Ána-María).

Άννα-Μαρία (Ána-María)

Do you remember how Anna-Maria Aslanidou says,

"My name is Anna-Maria."

Λέγομαι Άννα-Μαρία. (Légome Ána-María.)

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Pericles Asimakis . Περικλής Ασημάκης (Periklís Asimákis).

Respond by saying “I’m Pericles. Nice to meet you!”

Don't forget the corresponding article before the name.

Ready?

Γεια! Είμαι ο Παναγιώτης. Χαίρω πολύ. (Ya! Íme o Panayótis. Héro polí.)

Είμαι ο Περικλής. Χαίρω πολύ! (Íme o Periklís. Héro polí!)

Listen again and repeat.

Είμαι ο Περικλής. Χαίρω πολύ! (Íme o Periklís. Héro polí!)

Let's try another.

Imagine you're Anna-Maria . Άννα-Μαρία (Ána-María).

Include “Nice to meet you.”

Ready?

Γεια! Είμαι η Μάρθα. Χαίρω πολύ.(Ya! Íme i Mártha. Héro polí.)

Είμαι η Άννα-Μαρία. Χαίρω πολύ. (Íme i Ána-María. Héro polí.)

Listen again and repeat.

Είμαι η Άννα-Μαρία. Χαίρω πολύ. (Íme i Ána-María. Héro polí.)

Let's try one more.

Imagine you're Chrissi . Χρυσή (Hrisí).

Use the variation pattern and say, "My name is Chrissi. Nice to meet you."

Ready?

Γεια! Είμαι ο Παναγιώτης. Χαίρω πολύ. (Ya! Íme o Panayótis. Héro polí.)

Λέγομαι Χρυσή. Χαίρω πολύ! (Légome Hrisí. Héro polí!)

Listen again and repeat.

Λέγομαι Χρυσή. Χαίρω πολύ! (Légome Hrisí. Héro polí!)

Sometimes in casual situations, Greeks introduce each other by simply saying their first name.

For example, Chrissi Papadopoulou can simply say,

Χρυσή. (Hrisí)

"Chrissi."

Χρυσή. (Hrisí)

Well Done! This is the end of this lesson.

In this lesson, you learned how to give your name in Greek. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of introducing yourself.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

What's next?

Show us what you can do.

When you're ready, take your assessment.

You can take it again and again, so try anytime you like.

Our teachers will assess it, and give you your results.

Keep practicing — and move on to the next lesson!

Comments

Hide