πεινάς;
peinás?
The Greek for are you hungry? Is πεινάς, a single verb used with one person you know well.
πεινάς asks one person whether they want to eat. Πεινάς καθόλου means are you hungry at all.
Which one should you use?
To a group or to one person you address formally, ask πεινάτε. Another formal option is Έχετε πείνα, literally do you have hunger.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb is πεινάω, which on its own means I am hungry. πεινάς is its second person singular form, you are hungry.
How do you pronounce it?
Romanized as peinás?, with the stress on the last syllable.
When do people say it?
To answer yes, say Ναι, πεινάω. To answer no, say Όχι, δεν πεινάω.
Did you know?
- The Greek word for hunger πείνα is the root of the English word 'penury' meaning extreme poverty. Both terms link the physical state of hunger to a lack of financial resources.
- Greek has a specific distinction between πείνα meaning hunger and λιγούρα meaning a craving or a light appetite for a specific treat.
- The verb πεινάω is one of a few Greek verbs that can end in either -άω or -ώ without changing its meaning. You will see both πεινάω and πεινώ in writing, and both are correct.
Examples in context
- Πεινάς;pinas;Are you hungry?
Example conversation
Maria and Nikos are deciding what to do in the afternoon.
- Μαρία MariaΝίκο, πεινάς;Niko, pinas;Nikos, are you hungry?
- Νίκος NikosΝαι, πεινάω πολύ.Ne, pinao poli.Yes, I am very hungry.
- Μαρία MariaΘέλεις να πάμε για φαγητό;Theleis na pame gia fagito;Do you want to go for food?
- Νίκος NikosΕντάξει, ας πάμε.Entaxei, as pame.Okay, let's go.
