Learn how to lower the price of things you might want to buy in Greece
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| In Greece, haggling at the markets is very common. These little markets are temporary street markets where you can find everything, from food and clothes to antiquities. In these places, you will be able to use the Survival Phrases you will learn in this lesson. Don't be afraid to use your Greek when speaking to the merchants because they are very funny and they can be very friendly and kind to potential customers. Are you ready to have fun at the παζάρι (pazári) - "market?" |
| Upon entering a παζάρι (pazári), you will be struck by the variety of colorful stalls, and you will be immediately attracted by something that interests you. |
| Normally, if you are interested in buying something, you say, Συγγνώμη, πόσο κοστίζει αυτό; (Singnómi, póso kostízi aftó?) - "Excuse me, how much does this cost?." |
| Συγγνώμη, πόσο κοστίζει αυτό; (Singnómi, póso kostízi aftó?) |
| As soon as they tell you the price, you can start the bargaining to lower the price. Please note that this is very common at Greek markets, so don't be shy; try to say Μπορείτε να μου κάνετε καλύτερη τιμή; (Boríte na mu kánete kalíteri timí?) - "Can you give me a better price?." This literally translates as "Can you do a better price for me?" |
| So let's repeat the whole phrase one more time, Μπορείτε να μου κάνετε καλύτερη τιμή; (Boríte na mu kánete kalíteri timí?) |
| Μπορείτε να μου κάνετε καλύτερη τιμή; (Boríte na mu kánete kalíteri timí?) |
| Μπορείτε να μου κάνετε καλύτερη τιμή; (Boríte na mu kánete kalíteri timí?) |
| At this point, the merchant will start haggling and the final result is in your hands! |
| Another way to express the feeling that something is too expensive and you want to start haggling is with είναι πολύ ακριβό (íne polí akrivó); |
| είναι πολύ ακριβό (íne polí akrivó), which literally means "it is very expensive." |
| Είναι (Íne) means "it is," πολύ (polí) is "a lot or much or very," and finally we have ακριβό (akrivó), which is the adjective for "expensive." |
| Let's break down these words and hear them one more time. I-ne po-li a-kri-vo. |
| είναι πολύ ακριβό (íne polí akrivó). |
| Είναι πολύ ακριβό (Íne polí akrivó) is actually enough to get your point across when haggling, but to make sure the seller knows you mean business, it's best to add μπορείτε να μου κάνετε καλύτερη τιμή; (boríte na mu kánete kalíteri timí?). In other words, Είναι πολύ ακριβό, μπορείτε να μου κάνετε καλύτερη τιμή; (Íne polí akrivó, boríte na mu kánete kalíteri timí?) - "It's very expensive, can you give me a better price?." |
| Είναι πολύ ακριβό, μπορείτε να μου κάνετε καλύτερη τιμή; (Íne polí akrivó, boríte na mu kánete kalíteri timí?) |
| Let's imagine that you are at a παζάρι (pazári), you want to buy a bag, and you want to suggest your price to the merchant straightforward; in other words, you want to establish your own price as the one you will bargain for. The merchant has just told you that the bag costs fifteen euros. You desperately want that bag but it's too expensive and you want to try to suggest eight euros. |
| After Είναι πολύ ακριβό (Íne polí akrivó), you should say Οχτώ ευρώ! (Ohtó evró!) - "Eight euros!." When haggling, this is all you need to say to get your point across. If the merchant still refuses you, slowly walk away and in most cases they will give in. Οχτώ ευρώ! (Ohtó evró!) |
| Okay, to close out today's lesson, we'd like for you to practice what you've just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for shouting it out loud. You'll have a few seconds before I give you the answer, so Καλή τύχη (kalí týchi), which means "good luck!" in Greek. |
| "Excuse me, how much does this cost?" - Συγγνώμη, πόσο κοστίζει αυτό; (Singnómi, póso kostízi aftó?) |
| Συγγνώμη, πόσο κοστίζει αυτό; (Singnómi, póso kostízi aftó?) |
| Συγγνώμη, πόσο κοστίζει αυτό; (Singnómi, póso kostízi aftó?) |
| "It's very expensive, can you give me a better price?" - Είναι πολύ ακριβό, μπορείτε να μου κάνετε καλύτερη τιμή; (Íne polí akrivó, boríte na mu kánete kalíteri timí?) |
| Είναι πολύ ακριβό, μπορείτε να μου κάνετε καλύτερη τιμή; (Íne polí akrivó, boríte na mu kánete kalíteri timí?) |
| Είναι πολύ ακριβό, μπορείτε να μου κάνετε καλύτερη τιμή; (Íne polí akrivó, boríte na mu kánete kalíteri timí?) |
| "it is very expensive." - είναι πολύ ακριβό (íne polí akrivó). |
| είναι πολύ ακριβό (íne polí akrivó). |
| είναι πολύ ακριβό (íne polí akrivó). |
| "I'll give you eight Euros!" - Οχτώ ευρώ! (Ohtó evró!) |
| Οχτώ ευρώ! (Ohtó evró!) |
| Οχτώ ευρώ! (Ohtó evró!) |
| All right, that's going to do it for today! |
| Remember to stop by GreekPod101.com and pick up the accompanying PDF. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. Αντίο! (Antío!) |
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