Μιλάτε ελληνικά;
Milate ellinika?
To ask do you speak greek? In Greek, say Μιλάτε ελληνικά. This polite form suits strangers, elders and groups.
Use Μιλάτε ελληνικά when speaking to a stranger, an elder or a group of people to stay polite.
What does it mean word for word?
μιλάτε means you speak and ελληνικά means Greek, the language.
Which one should you use?
Ξέρετε Ελληνικά, do you know Greek, is another formal way to ask. Among friends you can say Μιλάς ελληνικά or Ξέρεις Ελληνικά.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal version uses the singular verb μιλάς instead of the polite or plural μιλάτε. The word for the language, ελληνικά, is a neuter plural and does not change.
How do you pronounce it?
Romanized it is Milate ellinika?
Did you know?
- While μιλάτε refers to the act of speaking, the related word λόγος used in discussions about language means both 'word' and 'reason' or 'logic'.
- The word ελληνικά is a direct link to the ancient people, as it is derived from the term 'Hellenes', the ancient name for the Greeks.
- While you are asking about the language, the word ελληνικά is actually a neuter plural noun. This means that in Greek, you are essentially asking if someone 'speaks the Greek things'.
Examples in context
- Συγγνώμη, Μιλάτε ελληνικά;Sygnómi, Miláte elliniká;Excuse me, do you speak Greek?
Example conversation
Anastasia meets Giorgos for the first time at a cafe.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΓεια σου, μιλάτε ελληνικά;Geia sou, miláte elliniká;Hello, do you speak Greek?
- Γιώργος GiorgosΝαι, μιλάω ελληνικά.Nai, miláo elliniká.Yes, I speak Greek.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΧαίρομαι πολύ, Γιώργο!Chaíromai polý, Giórgo!I am very glad, Giorgos!
- Γιώργος GiorgosΕπίσης, Αναστασία!Epísis, Anastasía!Likewise, Anastasia!
