How to Indicate Objects with the Help of Gestures

Learn how to indicate objects with the help of gestures

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 for something at a grocery store in Greek.

For example, "This, please." is

Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

Alex Asimakis is at a small grocery store.

After finding something he wants, he points at the item and asks for it.

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

αυτό (aftó)

"this"

αυτό

Ορίστε. (Oríste.)

"Here you are!"

Ορίστε.

Listen to the conversation.

Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

Ορίστε. (Oríste.)

Once more with the English translation.

Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

"This, please."

Ορίστε. (Oríste.)

"Here you are."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how Alex Asimakis says,

"This, please."

Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

First is αυτό (aftó), "this." Αυτό . Αυτό.

Αυτό (aftó) is the neuter singular form of the word for "this." If you don’t know the name of an item and consequently its gender, you can use αυτό (aftó).

It refers to something which is near the speaker. Alex uses it because he’s pointing at something which is near to him.

Last is παρακαλώ (parakaló), "please," in this context. Παρακαλώ . Παρακαλώ.

All together, it's Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

"This, please."

Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

Let’s take a closer look at the response.

Do you remember the waiter’s response,

"Here you are."

Ορίστε. (Oríste.)

Ορίστε (oríste), "here you are." Ορίστε . Ορίστε.

Ορίστε (Oríste) is from the verb ορίζω (orízo), "to define."

Note: ορίστε (oríste) is a shortened form of εσείς ορίστε (esís oríste), "you define," plural, as in "you all define." It's also the formal way to address a single person, as is the case here, where a clerk is addressing a customer.

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

Ορίστε (oríste) literally means "[you all] define," but it translates as "here you are" in this context.

Note: ορίστε (oríste) has multiple meanings depending on the situation.

For example, ορίστε; (oríste?), as a question, means "Pardon?" or "Excuse me?" if you didn't catch what someone said.

It can also mean "Go ahead." or "How can I help you?" in a shop or business.

Ορίστε. (Oríste.)

The pattern is

ITEM, παρακαλώ. ( parakaló.)

"ITEM, please."

ITEM, παρακαλώ.

To use this pattern, simply replace the ITEM placeholder with the thing you want.

Note: This pattern requires a demonstrative pronoun, which is determined by the location, gender and the number of the desired item.

Imagine you’d like something from across the room. The pronoun to indicate something far from the speaker is εκείνο (ekíno), "that." Εκείνο . Εκείνο.

Say

"That, please."

Ready?

Εκείνο, παρακαλώ. (Ekíno, parakaló.)

"That, please."

Εκείνο, παρακαλώ. (Ekíno, parakaló.)

The phrases Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.), and Εκείνο, παρακαλώ. (Ekíno, parakaló.) can be used to refer to an item without knowing its name in Greek.

If you don’t know the name of an item and consequently its gender, you can use these neuter pronouns.

For items that are plural, use αυτά (aftá), or "these," as the default. Αυτά.

Use εκείνα (ekína), or "those," for things that are far from you. Εκείνα.

Remember, these can be used to refer to an item without knowing its name and gender in Greek.

Again, the pattern is

ITEM, παρακαλώ. ( parakaló.)

"ITEM, please."

ITEM, παρακαλώ.

Let's look at some examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

“This, please.”

Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

Εκείνο, παρακαλώ. (Ekíno, parakaló.)

“That, please.”

Εκείνο, παρακαλώ. (Ekíno, parakaló.)

Αυτά, παρακαλώ. (Aftá, parakaló.)

“These, please.”

Αυτά, παρακαλώ. (Aftá, parakaló.)

Εκείνα, παρακαλώ. (Ekína, parakaló.)

“Those, please.”

Εκείνα, παρακαλώ. (Ekína, parakaló.)

Αυτό και εκείνο, παρακαλώ. (Aftó ke ekíno, parakaló.)

“This and that, please.”

Αυτό και εκείνο, παρακαλώ. (Aftó ke ekíno, parakaló.)

Did you notice how the last speaker used a different pattern?

Αυτό και εκείνο, παρακαλώ. (Aftó ke ekíno, parakaló.)

"This and that, please."

You can use the words αυτό (aftó) and εκείνο (ekíno) together.

Αυτό (aftó). "This." Αυτό.

Εκείνο (ekíno). "That." Εκείνο.

When requesting multiple items, you can join them with the conjunction, και (ke), meaning "and."

Και. "And." Και.

This pattern is:

ITEM και (ke) ITEM, παρακαλώ. (parakaló.)

"ITEM and ITEM, please."

Let’s review the new words.

εκείνο (ekíno)

"that"

εκείνο

αυτά (aftá)

"these"

αυτά

εκείνα (ekína)

"those"

εκείνα

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 "please?"

παρακαλώ (parakaló)

And how Alex says,

"This, please."

Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

Do you remember how the clerk says,

"Here you are."

Ορίστε. (Oríste.)

When you don't know the name of something, do you remember the word for "that?"

εκείνο (ekíno)

When you don’t know the name of something, do you remember the word for "these?"

αυτά (aftá)

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Alex . You're at the grocery store to buy some bread, but you don't know the word.

Instead you point at it and ask for "this," or αυτό (aftó).

Ready?

Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

Ορίστε. (Oríste.)

Listen again and repeat.

Αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Aftó, parakaló.)

Let's try another.

Imagine you're Jenny , and you see some small snacks you'd like to try.

Ask for 'these,' or αυτά (aftá).

Ready?

Αυτά, παρακαλώ. (Aftá, parakaló.)

Ορίστε. (Oríste.)

Listen again and repeat.

Αυτά, παρακαλώ. (Aftá, parakaló.)

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Martha , and you see a sandwich in the showcase far away.

Ask for 'that,' or εκείνο (ekíno).

Ready?

Εκείνο, παρακαλώ. (Ekíno, parakaló.)

Ορίστε. (Oríste.)

Listen again and repeat.

Εκείνο, παρακαλώ. (Ekíno, parakaló.)

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