είσαι Έλληνας;
eisai Ellinas?
To ask are you greek? In Greek, say είσαι Έλληνας, the informal question for a man.
είσαι Έλληνας asks whether someone is Greek by nationality.
Which one should you use?
Είστε Έλληνας is the formal way to ask, for a stranger or an older person, while Είσαι Έλληνας is informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word for Greek changes with the person you ask. For a woman, say είσαι Ελληνίδα.
How do you pronounce it?
Romanized it is eisai Ellinas?
When do people say it?
A man answers yes with Ναι, είμαι Έλληνας. and a woman says Ναι, είμαι Ελληνίδα.
Did you know?
- While Ναι means 'yes', it sounds almost identical to the English word 'nay', which historically meant 'no'.
- Depending on the region, some Greeks might accompany the answer Ναι with a slight upward nod of the head, which can be mistaken for a 'no' in some other cultures.
- The word Έλληνας is thought by some historians to be linked to the legendary figure 'Hellen', the mythical ancestor of all Greeks.
Examples in context
- Είσαι Έλληνας;Eísai Éllinas;Are you Greek?
Example conversation
A man and a woman are meeting at a cafe.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΣυγγνώμη, είσαι Έλληνας;Syngnómi, eísai Éllinas;Excuse me, are you Greek?
- Νίκος NikosΝαι, είμαι Έλληνας.Nai, eímai Éllinas.Yes, I am Greek.
- Κυριακή KyriakiΧαίρω πολύ!Chéro polý!Nice to meet you!
- Νίκος NikosΧαίρω πολύ και εγώ.Chéro polý kai egó.Nice to meet you too.
