This 13th lesson deals with the present tense in Greek. In addition I included a vocabulary list about survival and emergencies. I will try to give examples using both vocabulary and grammar. That way it will be easy for you to see the words when they are separate and when they are in a sentence. Going through the whole page should take about 30 min. Make sure to read the pronunciation and hear the audio as well. If you have any question about this course, please email me directly at Greek Classes.
Present
The present is one of the 3 tenses (past, present, and future) we will be discussing in the next 3 lessons. So it is recommended not to skip any of them because they are all related.
Below is a list of 15 sentences conjugated into the present tense. I focused on the examples you might come across or use very often. The table contains 3 columns (English, Greek, and Audio). Make sure you repeat each word after hearing it by either clicking on the audio button or by reading the pronunciation. That should help with memorization as well as improving your pronunciation.
Present Tense in Greek
Present
Greek
Audio
I see you
Σε βλέπω Se vlépo̱
I write with a pen
Γράφω με στυλό Gráfo̱ me styló
You love apples
Σου αρέσουν τα μήλα Sou arésoun ta mí̱la
You give money
Δίνεις λεφτά / χρήματα Díneis leftá / chrí̱mata
You play tennis
Παίζεις τέννις Paízeis ténnis
He reads a book
(Αυτός) διαβάζει ένα βιβλίο (Af̱tós) diavázei éna vivlío
He understands me
(Αυτός) με καταλαβαίνει (Af̱tós) me katalavaínei
She has a cat
(Αυτή) έχει μία γάτα (Af̱tí̱) échei mía gáta
She knows my friend
(Αυτή) ξέρει τον φίλο μου / Αυτή ξέρει την φίλη μου (Af̱tí̱) xérei ton fílo mou / Af̱tí̱ xérei ti̱n fíli̱ mou
We want to learn
Θέλουμε να μάθουμε Théloume na máthoume
We think Spanish is easy
Πιστεύουμε ότι τα Ισπανικά είναι εύκολα Pistév̱oume óti ta Ispaniká eínai éf̱kola
You (plural) work here
Εσείς δουλεύετε εδώ Eseís doulév̱ete edó̱
You (plural) speak French
Εσείς μιλάτε γαλλικά Eseís miláte galliká
They drive a car
Οδηγούν ένα αμάξι / αυτοκίνητο Odi̱goún éna amáxi / af̱tokíni̱to
They smile
Χαμογελούν Chamogeloún
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact me If you simply want to ask a question, please Greek contact form on the header above.
Survival Expressions
Below is a list of 28 words related to survival expressions such as emergencies, and calling for help. If you can memorize them by heart, you will be able to communicate better when in distress or when providing help to someone else who is in need.
Survival Expressions in Greek
Accident
ατύχημα atýchi̱ma
Allergy
αλλεργία allergía
Ambulance
ασθενοφόρο asthenofóro
Asthma
άσθμα ásthma
Danger
κίνδυνος kíndynos
Doctor
γιατρός giatrós
Headache
πονοκέφαλος ponokéfalos
Heart attack
καρδιακή προσβολή kardiakí̱ prosvolí̱
Help me
βοηθήστε με voi̱thí̱ste me
Hospital
νοσοκομείο nosokomeío
Medicines
φάρμακα fármaka
Pharmacy
φαρμακείο farmakeío
Poison
δηλητήριο di̱li̱tí̱rio
Police
αστυνομία astynomía
Stomach ache
στομαχόπονος stomachóponos
Stroke
εγκεφαλικό enkefalikó
Daily Conversation in Greek
Finally, here are some common sentences to strengthen your conversation skills. For a complete list of commonly used sentences, please visit our Greek Phrases page. Enjoy!
Πού βρίσκεται το πλησιέστερο φαρμακείο; Poú vrísketai to pli̱siéstero farmakeío?
You look beautiful! (to a woman)
Είσαι πολύ ωραία! Eísai polý o̱raía!
You have a beautiful name
Έχεις ωραιο όνομα Écheis o̱raio ónoma
This is my wife
Αυτή είναι η σύζυγός μου Af̱tí̱ eínai i̱ sýzygós mou
This is my husband
Αυτός είναι ο σύζυγός μου Af̱tós eínai o sýzygós mou
Fun Facts
Language Quote: ❝To have another language is to possess a second soul.❞ ‒Charlemagne
Congratulations! You finished your 13th lesson in Greek about the present tense, and survival expressions. Are you ready for the next lesson? We recommend Greek Lesson 14. You can also simply click on one of the links below or go back to our Learn Greek homepage.