Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| εμφανίζω | emfanízo | /eɱ.faˈni.zo/ |
| εμφανίζομαι | emfanízomai | /eɱ.faˈni.zo.me/ |
| καταφτάνω | kataftáno | /ka.taˈfta.no/ |
| αναφαίνομαι | anafaínomai |
The Greek forms provided focus on the concepts of arriving, appearing or showing up.
What does it mean word for word?
In the form εμφανίζομαι, the suffix -μαι indicates that it is a middle or passive voice form, which is how the intransitive verb 'to appear' is constructed from the transitive verb 'to show'.
Which one should you use?
εμφανίζω and εμφανίζομαι deal with appearing or showing, while καταφτάνω specifically means to arrive or reach a destination. αναφαίνομαι is another way to express appearing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
καταφτάνω is an informal or colloquial way to say one has arrived or reached a destination. If you are using imperative commands, Έλα is the most common informal way to say 'come', whereas Ελάτε is the formal plural imperative form.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form εμφανίζομαι is a reflexive/middle voice form used for the intransitive meaning 'to appear'.
How do you pronounce it?
emfanízo is pronounced /eɱ.faˈni.zo/. It has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- While Έλα means 'come', it is the standard way to answer the phone in very informal settings among close friends, acting as a 'Hello'.
- The word εμφανίζω shares its root with the English word 'phenomenon', both relating to the act of appearing or becoming visible.
- In Greek, Έλα is frequently used to urge someone to hurry up or to prompt a speaker to continue their story, even if no one is actually moving.
Examples in context
- Ελάτε στην εκδήλωση μαςCome to our event.
- Έλα στο σπίτι μουCome to my house.
- Ελάτε στο πάρτι μαςCome to our party.
- Έρχεσαι αύριο στην παραλία;Are you coming to the beach tomorrow?
Example conversation
Kostas and Anastasia are discussing a digital presentation.
- Κώστας KostasΠώς θα εμφανίζω τις διαφάνειες τώρα;Pos tha emphanizo tis diafaneis tora?How will I display the slides now?
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΠάτα το κόκκινο κουμπί, Κώστα.Pata to kokkino koumpi, Kosta.Press the red button, Kostas.
- Κώστας KostasΤώρα εμφανίζω τη σελίδα σωστά;Tora emphanizo ti selida sosta?Am I showing the page correctly now?
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΝαι, τα βλέπουμε όλα καθαρά.Nai, ta vlepoume ola kathara.Yes, we see everything clearly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “come” translations and entries εμφανίζω, εμφανίζομαι, καταφτάνω, αναφαίνομαι, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
