How to Order at a Restaurant

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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 order at a restaurant in Greek.

For example, "Excuse me, a menu, please." is

Συγγνώμη, ένα μενού, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna menú, parakaló.)

Pericles Asimakis , is at a restaurant with his wife.

He asks for a menu.

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

μενού (menú)

"menu"

μενού

αμέσως (amésos)

"right away"

αμέσως

Listen to the conversation.

Συγγνώμη, ένα μενού, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna menú, parakaló.)

Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.)

Once more with the English translation.

Συγγνώμη, ένα μενού, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna menú, parakaló.)

"Excuse me, a menu, please."

Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.)

"Yes, immediately."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how Pericles Asimakis asks for a menu?

"Excuse me, a menu, please."

Συγγνώμη, ένα μενού, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna menú, parakaló.)

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

Note, this expression can also be used as a mild apology, but here Pericles uses it to get the attention of the waiter who is nearby.

Next is the phrase ένα μενού (éna menú) meaning "a menu." Ένα μενού.

Let's start with μενού (menú), "menu." Μενού . Μενού

In Greek, all nouns have grammatical gender. They also are either singular or plural and have a case that depends on the role they are playing in the sentence.

Μενού (menú) is neuter singular.

It’s also in the accusative case, as it’s the object of a request:

a menu, please.

Because of this, some other words in the sentence will also be neuter, singular, and in the accusative.

Before this is the ένα (éna), "a," think of this like the English "a," as in a menu. Ένα . Ένα.

Ένα (éna) is also neuter singular, in the accusative case to agree with μενού (menú).

Last is παρακαλώ (parakaló), "please." Παρακαλώ . Παρακαλώ.

All together, it’s Συγγνώμη, ένα μενού, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna menú, parakaló.) "Excuse me, a menu, please."

Συγγνώμη, ένα μενού, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna menú, parakaló.)

Let’s take a closer look at the response.

Do you remember the waiter’s response,

"Yes, immediately."

Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.)

First is μάλιστα (málista), "indeed." Μάλιστα . Μάλιστα.

The waiter acknowledges Pericles by saying, Μάλιστα (Málista). "Indeed." Μάλιστα . Μάλιστα.

Next is αμέσως (amésos), "immediately." Αμέσως . Αμέσως.

All together, Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.), literally "indeed, immediately," but it translates as "Yes, immediately."

Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.)

The pattern is

Συγγνώμη, ITEM, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, ITEM, parakaló.)

"Excuse me, ITEM, please."

Συγγνώμη, ITEM, παρακαλώ.

To use this pattern, simply replace the ITEM placeholder with the object you are requesting.

Note: This pattern requires a noun phrase in which either a definite or indefinite article is followed by a noun. The gender and number of the article will depend on the noun that follows it.

Imagine you'd like to order "a coffee," έναν καφέ (énan kafé).

Καφέ (kafé), "coffee." Καφέ . Καφέ.

Note that καφές (kafés) is masculine singular, and in the accusative case.

Έναν (énan) is also masculine singular, and in the accusative case to agree with καφέ (kafé).

Έναν (énan). Think of this like "a," in English. Έναν . Έναν.

Say

"Excuse me, a coffee, please."

Ready?

Συγγνώμη, έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, énan kafé, parakaló.)

"Excuse me, a coffee, please."

Συγγνώμη, έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, énan kafé, parakaló.)

For this lesson, let’s review indefinite and definite articles for singular nouns in the accusative.

For masculine nouns in the accusative case, the corresponding indefinite article is έναν (énan) as in έναν καφέ (énan kafé), "a coffee."

For feminine nouns in the accusative case, the corresponding indefinite article is μια (mia) as in μια σαλάτα (mia saláta), "a salad."

For neuter nouns in the accusative case, the corresponding indefinite article is ένα (éna), as in ένα κέικ (éna kéik), "a cake."

For singular masculine nouns in the accusative case, the corresponding definite article is τον (ton), as in τον λογαριασμό (ton logariazmó), "the check."

For singular feminine nouns in the accusative case, there are two corresponding definite articles:

Την (tin) precedes feminine nouns starting with a vowel or one of the following consonants: κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ or one of the following double consonants: γκ, μπ, ντ, τσ, τζ, as in την πορτοκαλάδα (tin portokaláda), "the orangeade."

For all other cases, use τη (ti), as in τη σαλάτα (ti saláta.), "the salad."

For singular neuter nouns in the accusative case, the corresponding indefinite article is το (to), as in το τσάι (to tsái), "the tea."

Again, the key pattern is

Συγγνώμη, ITEM, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, ITEM, parakaló.)

"Excuse me, ITEM, please."

Συγγνώμη, ITEM, παρακαλώ.

Let's look at some examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Συγγνώμη, ένα μενού, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna menú, parakaló.)

“Excuse me, a menu, please.”

Συγγνώμη, ένα μενού, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna menú, parakaló.)

Συγγνώμη, έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, énan kafé, parakaló.)

“Excuse me, a coffee, please.”

Συγγνώμη, έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, énan kafé, parakaló.)

Συγγνώμη, ένα τσάι, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna tsái, parakaló.)

“Excuse me, a tea, please.”

Συγγνώμη, ένα τσάι, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna tsái, parakaló.)

Συγγνώμη, μια σαλάτα, παρακαλώ.(Signómi, mia saláta, parakaló.)

“Excuse me, a salad, please.”

Συγγνώμη, μια σαλάτα, παρακαλώ.(Signómi, mia saláta, parakaló.)

Συγγνώμη, τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, ton logariazmó, parakaló.)

“Excuse me, the check, please.”

Συγγνώμη, τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, ton logariazmó, parakaló.)

Did you notice how the last speaker replaced the indefinite article with a definite article?

Συγγνώμη, τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, ton logariazmó, parakaló.)

"Excuse me, the check, please."

Let’s start with the word λογαριασμό (logariazmó), "check" or "bill." Λογαριασμό . Λογαριασμό.

Λογαριασμό (Logariazmó) is masculine, singular and in the accusative case, so the article will agree with λογαριασμό (logariazmó).

Τον (ton), "the." Τον . Τον.

Τον (ton) is the accusative form of the masculine definite article ο (o), in order to agree with λογαριασμό (logariazmó).

When the speaker is referring to something specific, in this case the check, the definite article is used instead of the indefinite article.

Together, it’s τον λογαριασμό (ton logariazmó), "the check." Τον λογαριασμό.

All together, Συγγνώμη, τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, ton logariazmó, parakaló.) "Excuse me, the check, please." Συγγνώμη, τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ.

Let’s review the new words.

ένα τσάι (éna tsái)

"a tea"

ένα τσάι

μια σαλάτα (mia saláta)

"a salad"

μια σαλάτα

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 to say "menu?"

μενού (menú)

Do you remember how to say "a menu?"

ένα μενού (éna menú)

Do you remember how. Pericles says,

"Excuse me, a menu, please."

Συγγνώμη, ένα μενού, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna menú, parakaló.)

Do you remember how to say "immediately?"

αμέσως (amésos)

And how the waiter says,

"Yes, immediately."

Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.)

Do you remember how to say "coffee," when it is the object of a verb?

καφέ (kafé)

And how to say "a coffee?"

έναν καφέ (énan kafé).

Do you remember how to say "salad?"

σαλάτα (saláta)

And how to say "a salad?"

μια σαλάτα (mia saláta)

Do you remember how to say "tea?"

τσάι (tsái)

And how to say "a tea?"

ένα τσάι (éna tsái)

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Martha Asimakis , and you’re at a restaurant. Get the waiter’s attention, and ask for a coffee, or έναν καφέ (énan kafé).

Ready?

Συγγνώμη, έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, énan kafé, parakaló.)

Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.)

Listen again and repeat.

Συγγνώμη, έναν καφέ, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, énan kafé, parakaló.)

Let's try another.

You want to eat something. Ask for a salad, or μια σαλάτα (mia saláta)

Ready?

Συγγνώμη, μια σαλάτα, παρακαλώ.(Signómi, mia saláta, parakaló.)

Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.)

Listen again and repeat.

Συγγνώμη, μια σαλάτα, παρακαλώ.(Signómi, mia saláta, parakaló.)

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Pericles Asimakis, and you'd like to order a tea, or ένα τσάι (éna tsái).

Ready?

Συγγνώμη, ένα τσάι, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna tsái, parakaló.)

Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.)

Listen again and repeat.

Συγγνώμη, ένα τσάι, παρακαλώ. (Signómi, éna tsái, parakaló.)

In this lesson, you learned how to order at a restaurant in Greek, an essential skill for dining at a restaurant.

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