πώς είσαι, φίλε μου;
pós eísai, fíle mou?
To ask how are you, my friend? In Greek, say πώς είσαι, φίλε μου.
What does it mean word for word?
πώς είσαι means how are you and φίλε μου means my friend, literally friend of me.
Which one should you use?
πώς είσαι asks about how someone is. Τι κάνεις, φίλε μου uses the more common everyday question, how are you doing. Τι λέει, φίλε μου is a casual, slangy version, like what's up, my friend.
How does it change in a sentence?
φίλε is the vocative form of the word for friend, used when you address someone directly. είσαι is the informal singular, so this phrase is for one person you know well.
How do you pronounce it?
Romanized it reads pós eísai, fíle mou, with the accent marks showing the stressed syllables.
Did you know?
- The concept of friendship in Greece is often expressed through the word φιλία, which shares a root with the English word 'philosophy', literally meaning the 'love of wisdom'.
- While φίλε μου is a warm way to address a companion, in many parts of Greece, people may call a total stranger φίλε or even αδερφέ (brother) to create an instant sense of rapport.
- The word φίλε comes from the root meaning 'to love', linking the concept of friendship directly to affection.
Examples in context
- Γεια σου! Πώς είσαι, φίλε μου;Ya sou! Pós íse, fíle mou;Hello! How are you, my friend?
- Πώς είσαι, φίλε μου. Τι νέα;Pós íse, fíle mou? Ti néa;How are you, my friend? What's new?
Example conversation
Anastasia meets Dimitris at a cafe.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΓεια σου, Δημήτρη! Πώς είσαι, φίλε μου;Geia sou, Dimitri! Pos eisai, file mou?Hello, Dimitris! How are you, my friend?
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΕίμαι πολύ καλά, Αναστασία. Εσύ;Eimai poly kala, Anastasia. Esy?I am very well, Anastasia. And you?
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΚι εγώ είμαι καλά, ευχαριστώ.Ki ego eimai kala, efcharisto.I am also well, thank you.
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΧαίρομαι πολύ για αυτό!Charomai poly gia auto!I am very glad about that!
