How to Ask About Well-Being

Learn how to ask about well-being

Dialogue

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Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do Greek by GreekPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask about well-being in Greek.

For example, "How are you?" is

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

Martha Asimakis is in the office breakroom.

She greets Christos Chalepas , a colleague, and asks about his well-being.

Before you listen to the conversation, let's preview some of its key components.

καλά (kalá)

"well"

καλά

Listen to the conversation and focus on the question.

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

Καλά είμαι, ευχαριστώ. (Kalá íme, efharistó.)

Once more with the English translation.

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

"How are you?"

Καλά είμαι, ευχαριστώ. (Kalá íme, efharistó.)

"I'm well, thank you."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how Martha asks,

"How are you?"

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

First is τι (ti), this literally means "what," but it translates as "how" in this context. Τι . Τι.

Next is κάνεις (kánis), "[you] do." Κάνεις . Κάνεις.

Note: κάνεις (kánis) is a shortened form of εσύ κάνεις (esí kánis), "you do."

In Greek, εσύ (esí), "you," is usually omitted, as it’s understood from context.

Κάνεις is from the verb κάνω (káno), the dictionary form of the verb "to do." Κάνω.

All together, Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?) literally means "What [you] do," but it translates as "How are you?"

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

Note: the question Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?) is for informal situations.

For formal situations, simply replace κάνεις with κάνετε (kánete), the formal form of "[you] do."

Τι κάνετε; (Ti kánete?) "How are you?" for formal situations. Τι κάνετε; (Ti kánete?)

Remember this variation. You'll see it again later.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the response.

Do you remember how Christos says,

"I'm well, thank you."

Καλά είμαι, ευχαριστώ. (Kalá íme, efharistó.)

First is καλά (kalá), "well." Καλά . Καλά.

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

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

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

Last is ευχαριστώ (efharistó), "thank you." Ευχαριστώ . Ευχαριστώ.

All together, Καλά είμαι, ευχαριστώ. (Kalá íme, efharistó.) literally means "Well [I] am, thank you," but it translates as "I'm well, thank you."

Καλά είμαι, ευχαριστώ. (Kalá íme, efharistó.)

Another way to ask about well being is Πώς τα πας; (Pós ta pas?)

"How are things going?" Πώς τα πας;

First is πώς (pós), "how." Πώς . Πώς.

Next is τα (ta), meaning something like “them” here.

Last is πας (pas), meaning something like "[you] go." Πας . Πας.

Πας is from the verb πάω (páo), the dictionary form of the word meaning "to go." Πάω.

All together, Πώς τα πας; (Pós ta pas?) literally means “How them [you] go,” but it translates as “How are things going?”

Let's look at some examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

Καλά είμαι, ευχαριστώ. (Kalá íme, efharistó.)

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

“How are you?”

Καλά είμαι, ευχαριστώ. (Kalá íme, efharistó.)

“I’m well, thank you.”

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

Είμαι πολύ καλά. (Íme polí kalá.)

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

“How are you?”

Είμαι πολύ καλά. (Íme polí kalá.)

“I’m very well.”

Τι κάνετε; (Ti kánete?)

Καλά είμαι. (Kalá íme.)

Τι κάνετε; (Ti kánete?)

“How are you?” (formal)

Καλά είμαι. (Kalá íme.)

“I’m well.”

Πώς τα πας; (Pós ta pas?)

Καλά είμαι. (Kalá íme.)

Πώς τα πας; (Pós ta pas?)

“How are you doing?”

Καλά είμαι. (Kalá íme.)

“I’m well.”

Τι κάνετε; (Ti kánete?)

Καλά είμαι. Εσείς; (Kalá íme. Esís?)

Τι κάνετε; (Ti kánete?)

“How are you?” (formal)

Καλά είμαι. Εσείς; (Kalá íme. Esís?)

“I’m well. And you?”

Did you notice how the last speaker added the word εσείς (esís)?

Καλά είμαι. Εσείς; (Kalá íme. Esís?)

"I'm well. And you?"

First is καλά είμαι (kalá íme), "I'm well." Καλά είμαι.

Next is εσείς (esís), literally "you," plural, as in "you all," but it's also the formal way to address a single person. Εσείς . Εσείς.

All together, Καλά είμαι. Εσείς; (Kalá íme. Esís?) literally "I'm well. You," but translates as "I'm well. And you?"

Καλά είμαι. Εσείς; (Kalá íme. Esís?)

You can use Εσείς; (Esís?) to reciprocate the question when someone asks you about your well being in a formal setting.

For example, if someone says,

Τι κάνετε; (Ti kánete?)

You can respond with,

Καλά είμαι. Εσείς; (Kalá íme. Esís?)

First, respond to the question. Then inquire about the other person’s well being with Εσείς; (Esís?) "And you?"

Note, as εσείς (esís), "you," is formal, this expression is appropriate for formal situations.

For informal situations use εσύ; (esí?). "And you?" Εσύ; (Esí?)

For example,

Καλά είμαι. εσύ; (Kalá íme. Esí?) “I’m fine. And you?” in an informal situation. Καλά είμαι. εσύ; (Kalá íme. Esí?)

Remember this pattern, Καλά είμαι. Εσύ; (Kalá íme. Esí?)

You’ll see it again later.

Let’s review the new words.

πολύ καλά (polí kalá)

"very well"

πολύ καλά

Εσύ; (esí?)

"And you?" in informal situations.

Εσύ;

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 "how," as in “how are you?”

τι (ti)

And do you remember how Martha Asimakis asks,

"How are you?"

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

And how to say "well"?

καλά (kalá)

And how to say

"I’m well"

καλά είμαι (kalá íme)

Do you remember how to say

"Thank you."

ευχαριστώ (efharistó)

Do you remember how Christos says,

"I'm well, thank you."

Καλά είμαι, ευχαριστώ. (Kalá íme, efharistó.)

Do you remember how to say, "And you?" in an informal situation?

Εσύ; (Esí?)

And how to say "very well?"

πολύ καλά (polí kalá)

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Christos , Martha ’s colleague. Ask Martha “How are you?” using informal Greek.

Ready?

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

Είμαι πολύ καλά. (Íme polí kalá.)

Listen again and repeat.

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

Let's try another.

Imagine you're Asimaki family's teacher, Anna-Maria Aslanidou , and you met Pericles Asimakis in the supermarket.

Ask Pericles “How are you?” using formal Greek.

Ready?

Τι κάνετε; (Ti kánete?)

Καλά είμαι. (Kalá íme.)

Listen again and repeat.

Τι κάνετε; (Ti kánete?)

Let’s try one more.

Jenny Asimakis, and you meet your friend at school. Using informal Greek respond by saying,

"I'm well. And you?"

Ready?

Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis?)

Καλά είμαι. Εσύ; (Kalá íme. Esí?)

Listen again and repeat.

Καλά είμαι. Εσύ; (Kalá íme. Esí?)

This is the end of this lesson.

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