How to Order Multiple Items From a Menu

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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 two or more of something at a restaurant in Greek.

For example, "Two of these, please." is

Δύο απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Dío ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Martha Asimakis is at the restaurant with her husband.

The server is ready to take their order, and approaches them.

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

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?)

"Did you decide?"

Διαλέξατε;

δύο (dío)

"two"

δύο

Listen to the conversation.

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?)

Δύο απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Dío ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Once more with the English translation.

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?)

"Did you decide?"

Δύο απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Dío ap' aftó, parakaló.)

"Two of these, please."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how the server says,

"Did you decide?"

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?)

First is διαλέξατε (dialéxate), "[you] chose." Διαλέξατε . Διαλέξατε.

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

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

Διαλέξατε is from the verb διαλέγω (dialégo), the dictionary form of the verb meaning "to choose." Διαλέγω (Dialégo).

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?) literally "[You] chose?" but translates as "Did you decide?"

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?)

Let's take a closer look at the response.

Do you remember how Martha Asimakis says,

"Two of these, please."

Δύο απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Dío ap' aftó, parakaló.)

First is δύο (dío), "two." Δύο . Δύο.

Next is απ' αυτό (ap' aftó), "of these." Απ' αυτό.

Απ' αυτό is a contracted form of από αυτό (apó aftó).

Από (apó), "from." Από . Από.

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

The word αυτό (aftó), "this," can be used when the name of the thing, or things, is not known and is close to the speaker. Martha uses it because she's pointing at something on the menu near to her, and she doesn't know the Greek word for it.

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

All together, Δύο απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Dío ap' aftó, parakaló.) literally "Two from this, please," translates as "Two of these, please."

Δύο απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Dío ap' aftó, parakaló.)

The pattern is

QUANTITY απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (ap' aftó, parakaló.)

"QUANTITY of these, please."

QUANTITY απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ.

To use this pattern, simply replace the QUANTITY placeholder with the number of the item you're requesting.

Note: This pattern requires a number.

Imagine you'd like three of a thing you don't know the Greek word for.

"Three," τρία (tría). Τρία . Τρία.

Say

"Three of these, please."

Ready?

Τρία απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tría ap' aftó, parakaló.)

"Three of these, please."

Τρία απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tría ap' aftó, parakaló.)

The pattern, QUANTITY απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (ap' aftó, parakaló.) can be used to order an item without knowing its name, and consequently its gender, in Greek.

Again, the key pattern is

QUANTITY απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (ap' aftó, parakaló.)

"QUANTITY of these, please."

QUANTITY απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ.

Let's look at some examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Δύο απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Dío ap' aftó, parakaló.)

“Two of these, please.”

Δύο απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Dío ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Τρία απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tría ap' aftó, parakaló.)

“Three of these, please.”

Τρία απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tría ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Τέσσερα απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tésera ap' aftó, parakaló.)

“Four of these, please.”

Τέσσερα απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tésera ap' aftá, parakaló.)

Ένα απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Éna ap' aftó, parakaló.)

“One of these, please.”

Ένα απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Éna ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Δύο απ' αυτό και δύο απ' αυτό. (Dío ap' aftó ke dío ap' aftó.)

“Two of these and two of these.”

Δύο απ' αυτό και δύο απ' αυτό. (Dío ap' aftó ke dío ap' aftó.)

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

Δύο απ' αυτό και δύο απ' αυτό. (Dío ap' aftó ke dío ap' aftó.)

"Two of these and two of these."

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

Also, in colloquial Greek it's very common to drop παρακαλώ (parakaló), "please," at the end of the request.

All together, Δύο απ' αυτό και δύο απ' αυτό. (Dío ap' aftó ke dío ap' aftó.), literally "Two from this and two from this," but translates as "Two of these and two of these." Δύο απ' αυτό και δύο απ' αυτό.

You should be aware of this pattern, but you won't need it for this lesson.

Let's review the new words.

τέσσερα (tésera)

"four"

τέσσερα

τρία (tría)

"three"

τρία

ένα (éna)

"one"

ένα

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)

When you don't know the Greek word for something, how do you say "this?"

αυτό (aftó)

Do you remember how to say "two?"

δύο (dío)

And how Martha Asimakis says,

"Two of these, please."

Δύο απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Dío ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Do you remember how the server says,

"Did you decide?"

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?)

Do you remember how to say "three?"

τρία (tría)

And how to say "four?"

τέσσερα (tésera)

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Pericles Asimakis, and you're at a coffee shop with two friends.

Order "three," or τρία (tría) of an item.

Ready?

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?)

Τρία απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tría ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Listen again and repeat.

Τρία απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tría ap' aftá, parakaló.)

Τρία απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tría ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Let’s try another.

Imagine you're Pericles Asimakis , and you’re at the coffee shop with three friends. Order for all four or τέσσερα (tésera) people.

Ready?

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?)

Τέσσερα απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tésera ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Listen again and repeat.

Τέσσερα απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tésera ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Martha Asimakis , and you’re by yourself.

Order one of something by asking for "one," or ένα (éna) of something.

Ready?

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?)

Ένα απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Éna ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Listen again and repeat.

Ένα απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Éna ap' aftó, parakaló.)

In this lesson, you learned how to order two or more of something at a restaurant. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of dining at the restaurant. Let’s review.

Do you remember how to say "please?"

παρακαλώ (parakaló)

And how to say "a coffee?"

έναν καφέ (énan kafé)

Do you remember how to say,

"Excuse me, a coffee, please."

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

And do you remember how to say,

"Yes, right away."

Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.)

Imagine you're Jack Jones and you're at a restaurant with your friends, and you'd like to ask for a menu.

Do you remember how to say "a menu" in Greek?

ένα μενού (éna menú)

Now ask for a menu.

Ready?

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

Μάλιστα, αμέσως. (Málista, amésos.)

Listen again and repeat.

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

You're ready to make your order. You'd like to order three of one item.

Do you remember how to say "three" in Greek?

τρία (tría)

Respond to the server's approach.

Διαλέξατε; (Dialéxate?)

Τρία απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tría ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Listen again and repeat.

Τρία απ' αυτό, παρακαλώ. (Tría ap' aftó, parakaló.)

Well done! This is the end of the lesson and the Can order at a restaurant unit of this course.

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

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