How to Use Essential Social Expressions

Learn how to use essential social expressions

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 use essential social expressions in Greek.

For example, "Excuse me" is

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

Jenny Asimakis is on the train. A fellow passenger drops his wallet as he exits the train. Jenny picks up the wallet and chases after the man.

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

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

"Excuse me"

Με συγχωρείτε.

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló.)

"You're welcome."

Παρακαλώ.

Ευχαριστώ. (Efharistó.)

"Thank you."

Ευχαριστώ.

Δεν πειράζει. (Den pirázi.)

"It's alright."

Δεν πειράζει.

Listen to the following three short dialogues between Jenny and the man.

Ready?

Jenny is chasing the man on the platform with the wallet in her hand.

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

Ναι; (Ne?)

Jenny hands the wallet to the man.

Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ. (Efharistó pára polí.)

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló.)

Jenny turns to board the train, but the doors shut.

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi.)

Δεν πειράζει. (Den pirázi.)

Once more with the English translation.

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

"Excuse me."

Ναι; (Ne?)

"Yes?"

Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ. (Efharistó pára polí.)

"Thank you very much."

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló.)

"You're welcome."

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi.)

"I'm sorry."

Δεν πειράζει. (Den pirázi.)

"It's alright."

Let's break down the conversations.

First, do you remember how Jenny Asimakis says,

"Excuse me."

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

First is με (me), "me." Με . Με.

Next is συγχωρείτε (sinhoríte), "[you] excuse." Συγχωρείτε . Συγχωρείτε.

Συγχωρείτε is from the verb συγχωρώ (sinhoró), "to excuse" or "to forgive." Συγχωρώ.

All together, it’s Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.) “Excuse me.” Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

Note: This expression can also be used as a mild apology, but here Jenny uses it to get the attention of the person she’s chasing after.

Do you remember how the passenger acknowledges Jenny by saying,

"Yes?"

Ναι; (Ne?)

Ναι; (Ne?) "Yes?" Ναι; .

Ναι; (Ne?)

The second part of the conversation takes place after Jenny returns the passenger's wallet.

Do you remember how the passenger politely says,

"Thank you very much."

Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ. (Efharistó pára polí.)

First is ευχαριστώ (efcharistó), "thank you." Ευχαριστώ . Ευχαριστώ.

Next is πάρα πολύ (pára polí), "very much." Πάρα πολύ . Πάρα πολύ. You use this to add more emphasis to your appreciation.

All together, Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ. (Efharistó pára polí.) "Thank you very much."

Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ. (Efharistó pára polí.)

Do you remember how Jenny says,

"You're welcome."

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló.)

Παρακαλώ (Parakaló), "You're welcome," in this context. Παρακαλώ . Παρακαλώ.

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló.)

After the train doors shut and Jenny misses her train, do you remember how the passenger apologies to Jenny by saying,

"I'm sorry."

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi.)

Συγγνώμη (signómi), literally means "apology," but translates as "I'm sorry" in this context. Συγγνώμη .

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi.)

Do you remember how Jenny replies,

"It's alright."

Δεν πειράζει. (Den pirázi.)

First is δεν (den), "not." Δεν . Δεν.

Next is πειράζει (pirázi), "[it] matters." Πειράζει . Πειράζει.

Note: πειράζει (pirázi) is a shortened form of αυτό πειράζει (aftó pirázi), "it bothers."

In Greek, αυτό (aftó) is usually omitted, as it can be understood from context.

Πειράζει (pirázi) is from the verb πειράζω (pirázo), "to bother." Πειράζω.

All together, Δεν πειράζει (Den pirázi) literally translates as "[It] doesn’t bother [me]," but it translates as "It's alright."

Δεν πειράζει. (Den pirázi.)

This is a common phrase used to express that things are alright.

Let’s look at the expressions once more. Listen and repeat, or speak along.

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

“Excuse me.”

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

Ναι; (Ne?)

“Yes?”

Ναι; (Ne?)

Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ. (Efharistó pára polí.)

“Thank you very much.”

Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ. (Efharistó pára polí.)

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló.)

“You’re welcome.”

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló.)

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi.)

“I’m sorry.”

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi.)

Δεν πειράζει. (Den pirázi.)

“It’s alright.”

Δεν πειράζει. (Den pirázi.)

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how Jenny Asimakis says,

"Excuse me."

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

And how the passenger says,

"Yes?"

Ναι; (Ne?)

Do you remember how to say,

"Thank you."

Ευχαριστώ. (Efharistó.)

Do you remember how to say,

"Thank you very much."

Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ. (Efharistó pára polí.)

And how to say,

"You're welcome."

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló.)

Do you remember how the passenger says,

"I'm sorry."

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi.)

And how Jenny says,

"It's alright."

Δεν πειράζει. (Den pirázi.)

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Martha Asimakis , and you receive a popular Greek candy from your Greek teacher.

Say, "Thank you very much."

Ready?

Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ. (Efharistó pára polí.)

Παρακαλώ. (Parakaló.)

Listen again and repeat.

Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ. (Efharistó pára polí.)

Let's try another.

Imagine you're Pericles Asimakis , , and a passenger bumps into you.

Respond by saying, "It's alright."

Ready?

Συγγνώμη. (Signómi.)

Δεν πειράζει. (Den pirázi.)

Listen again and repeat.

Δεν πειράζει. (Den pirázi.)

Let's try one more.

Imagine you're Pericles Asimakis , and you see a man drop his wallet.

Get his attention.

Ready?

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

Ναι; (Ne?)

Listen again and repeat.

Με συγχωρείτε. (Me sinhoríte.)

Well done! This is the end of the lesson and the Can Use Essential Social Expressions unit of this course.

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