How to Ask for Clarification

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Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do Greek by GreekPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask for clarification in Greek.

For example, "Excuse me, can you repeat that?" is

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

Jenny Asimakis meets her neighbor, Giannis Nikiforou , for the first time in the lobby of their building.

Giannis introduces himself but Jenny doesn’t catch his name and asks for clarification.

Before you hear the conversation, let's preview some of its key components,

να το επαναλάβεις (na to epanalávis)

"to repeat it"

να το επαναλάβεις

Listen to the conversation, and focus on Jenny 's request.

Ready?

Χαίρω πολύ. Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Héro polí. Íme o Yánis. )

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Íme o Yánis.)

Once more with the English translation.

Χαίρω πολύ. Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Héro polí. Íme o Yánis.)

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

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Íme o Yánis.)

"I'm Giannis."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how Giannis introduces himself?

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

Χαίρω πολύ. Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Héro polí. Íme o Yánis. )

First is χαίρω πολύ (héro polí). "Nice to meet you." Χαίρω πολύ.

First is χαίρω (héro), "[I] am glad." Χαίρω . Χαίρω.

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

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

Next 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 (íme) is also the dictionary form of the verb "to be." Είμαι

Next is ο Γιάννης (o Yánis). "Giannis." Ο Γιάννης.

Let’s start with the name Γιάννης (Yánis). "Giannis." Γιάννης . Γιάννης.

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

Before this is ο (o). Think of it like "the" in English. Ο . Ο.

Ο (o) is also masculine, singular, nominative to agree with Γιάννης.

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

Together, it's Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Íme o Yánis.) "I'm Giannis."

All together, Χαίρω πολύ. Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Héro polí. Íme o Yánis.)

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

Χαίρω πολύ. Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Héro polí. Íme o Yánis.)

Jenny can’t catch his name.

Do you remember how she asks,

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

First is συγγνώμη (signómi), literally "apology," but translates as "pardon," or "excuse me," in this context. Συγγνώμη . Συγγνώμη.

Note: συγγνώμη (signómi) is appropriate for both informal and formal situations.

Next is μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις (borís na to epanalávis), "you can repeat." Μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις.

This starts with μπορείς (borís), "[you] can." Μπορείς . Μπορείς.

Note: "you" is understood from the context.

Μπορείς (borís) is from the verb, μπορώ (boró), "to be able." Μπορώ.

Next is να το επαναλάβεις (na to epanalávis), which means something like "you repeat" in this context. να το επαναλάβεις.

Last is αυτό (aftó), literally "this," but translates as "that" in this context. Αυτό . Αυτό.

All together, Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?) Translating as, "Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό;

Finally, do you remember how Giannis says,

"I'm Giannis."

Hint, you’ve heard it before.

Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Íme o Yánis.)

"I'm Giannis."

Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Íme o Yánis.)

In this lesson, you learned how to ask for clarification in an informal situation:

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

To ask for clarification in a formal situation:

Με συγχωρείτε, μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό; (Me sinhoríte, boríte na to epanalávete aftó?)

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Με συγχωρείτε, μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό; (Me sinhoríte, boríte na to epanalávete aftó?)

Note the two changes in the formal form.

First, με συγχωρείτε (me sinhoríte) replaces συγγνώμη (signómi).

Με συγχωρείτε (me sinhoríte), "Excuse me," formal form. Με συγχωρείτε . Με συγχωρείτε.

Second, μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε (boríte na to epanalávete) replaces μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις (borís na to epanalávis).

Μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε (boríte na to epanalávete), literally "can [you all] to it repeat," translates as "can you repeat" when using formal Greek. Μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε.

Note, the second person plural is used for formal situations when addressing a single person.

Let’s look at the expressions once more.

Listen and repeat, or speak along.

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi.)

“Excuse me.”

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi.)

Μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

“Can you repeat that?”

Μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

“Excuse me, can you repeat that?”

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

“Excuse me.” (polite)

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

Μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό; (Boríte na to epanalávete aftó?)

“Can you repeat that?” (polite)

Μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό; (Boríte na to epanalávete aftó?)

Με συγχωρείτε, μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό; (Me sinhoríte, boríte na to epanalávete aftó?)

“Excuse me, can you repeat that?” (polite)

Με συγχωρείτε, μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό; (Me sinhoríte, boríte na to epanalávete aftó?)

Δεν καταλαβαίνω. (Den katalavéno.)

“I don't understand.”

Δεν καταλαβαίνω. (Den katalavéno.)

Μπορείς να μιλάς πιο αργά; (Borís na milás pio argá?)

“Can you speak more slowly?”

Μπορείς να μιλάς πιο αργά; (Borís na milás pio argá?)

Did you notice the new expressions we used?

Δεν καταλαβαίνω. (Den katalavéno.)

"I don't understand."

First is δεν (den), "not." Δεν . Δεν.

Next is καταλαβαίνω (katalavéno) "[I] understand." Καταλαβαίνω . Καταλαβαίνω.

Literally, Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den katalavéno) means "Not [I] understand," but it translates as "I don’t understand." Δεν καταλαβαίνω.

Μπορείς να μιλάς πιο αργά; (Borís na milás pio argá?)

"Can you speak more slowly?"

First is μπορείς (borís), "[you] can." Μπορείς.

Next is να μιλάς (na milás), meaning something like "speak" in this context. να μιλάς.

Next is πιο (pio), "more". Πιο . Πιο.

And last is αργά (argá), "slowly". Αργά . Αργά.

All together, μπορείς να μιλάς πιο αργά; (borís na milás pio argá?). "Can you speak more slowly?" Μπορείς να μιλάς πιο αργά;

Let’s review the key vocabulary.

μιλάς (milás)

"[you] speak"

μιλάς

πιο (pio)

"more"

πιο

αργά (argá)

"slowly"

αργά

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,

"Excuse me."

συγγνώμη (signómi)

Do you remember how to say "that?"

Literally, "this."

αυτό (aftó)

And how to say "[you] can?"

μπορείς (borís)

Do you remember how Jenny asks,

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Remember she uses informal Greek.

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

Do you remember how to say

"Nice to meet you."

Χαίρω πολύ. (Héro polí.)

Do you remember how Giannis says,

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

Χαίρω πολύ. Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Héro polí. Íme o Yánis. )

Χαίρω πολύ. Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Héro polí. Íme o Yánis.)

Do you remember how to say, "you speak?"

μιλάς (milás)

And how to say, "more?"

πιο (pio)

Do you remember how to say, "slowly?"

αργά (argá)

And how to say,

"Can you speak more slowly?"

Μπορείς να μιλάς πιο αργά; (Borís na milás pio argá?)

Do you remember the formal way to say

"Excuse me."

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

And the formal way to ask

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Με συγχωρείτε, μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό; (Me sinhoríte, boríte na to epanalávete aftó?)

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Alex Asimakis . Giannis introduces himself, but you can’t catch his name.

Ask him to repeat it using informal Greek.

Ready?

Χαίρω πολύ. Είμαι ο Γιάννης. (Héro polí. Íme o Yánis. )

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

Listen again and repeat.

Συγγνώμη, μπορείς να το επαναλάβεις αυτό; (Signómi, borís na to epanalávis aftó?)

Let's try another.

Imagine you're Giannis . Martha Asimakis introduces herself, but you can’t catch her name.

Use formal Greek.

Ready?

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

Συγγνώμη, μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό; (Signómi, boríte na to epanalávete aftó?)

Listen again and repeat.

Συγγνώμη, μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε αυτό; (Signómi, boríte na to epanalávete aftó?)

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Giannis . Ask Jenny Asimakis to speak more slowly.

Ready?

Χαίρω πολύ. Είμαι η Τζένη Ασημάκη. (Héro polí. Íme i Jenni Asimáki.)

Μπορείς να μιλάς πιο αργά; (Borís na milás pio argá?)

Listen again and repeat.

Μπορείς να μιλάς πιο αργά; (Borís na milás pio argá?)

This is the end of this lesson.

In this lesson, you learned how to ask for clarification in Greek. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of getting clarification on things when you're speaking Greek.

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

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