Τρως πολύ ψωμί;

to eat

Breakdown of Τρως πολύ ψωμί;

• το ψωμί: the bread
• πολύς: much

Questions & Answers about Τρως πολύ ψωμί;

Why does the sentence end with a semicolon?

In Greek, the symbol that looks like a semicolon (;) is actually the question mark. The real Greek semicolon is a raised dot (·), called the άνω τελεία.

Why is there no subject pronoun? Where is “you”?

Greek is a “pro‑drop” language: subject pronouns are usually omitted because the verb ending shows the person. Τρως already means “you eat.” You can add εσύ for emphasis or contrast: Εσύ τρως πολύ ψωμί;

Does this mean “Do you eat a lot of bread (in general)?” or “Are you eating a lot of bread (now)?”

Both are possible. The Greek present can be habitual or ongoing. Context or adverbs clarify:

• Habitual: Συνήθως τρως πολύ ψωμί; (Do you usually eat a lot of bread?)
• Right now: Τώρα τρως πολύ ψωμί; (Are you eating a lot of bread now?)

How are yes/no questions formed in Greek?

Usually just by intonation (and the Greek question mark). The word order stays the same as in a statement:

• Statement: Τρως πολύ ψωμί.
• Question: Τρως πολύ ψωμί;

How do I conjugate the verb “to eat” in the present?

The common verb is τρώω. Present active:

• τρώω (I eat)
• τρως (you eat, sg.)
• τρώει (he/she/it eats)
• τρώμε (we eat)
• τρώτε (you eat, pl./polite)
• τρώνε / τρών (they eat)

Note: You may also see the more formal/literary τρώγω in some contexts.

Shouldn’t there be an accent on τρως?

No. In the monotonic system, monosyllabic words generally don’t take a stress mark. So τρως is correct (not “τρώς”). A few monosyllabic exceptions take accents, like ή (or), πού (where), πώς (how).

How do I pronounce the sentence?

Approximately: [tros poˈli psoˈmi]

• τρως = tros (single tapped r)
• πολύ = po-LI (stress on -λύ)
• ψωμί = pso-MI (initial ψ = “ps”; stress on -μί) Note: ο and ω are both pronounced “o” in Modern Greek.

Why is it πολύ and not πολλή/πολλοί etc.?

Because ψωμί is a neuter mass noun. As a quantifying adjective, πολύς/πολλή/πολύ agrees with the noun:

• πολύς χρόνος (much time, masc.)
• πολλή ζάχαρη (much sugar, fem.)
• πολύ ψωμί (much/a lot of bread, neut. mass)
• Plural countables: πολλά βιβλία (many books)

Is πολύ an adverb here or an adjective?

In πολύ ψωμί it functions as a quantifying adjective (“a lot of bread”). As an adverb it means “a lot/very,” e.g. Τρως πολύ. (You eat a lot.)

Why is there no article before ψωμί?

Mass nouns used in a general/indefinite sense often appear without an article. Τρως πολύ ψωμί; = “Do you eat a lot of bread (in general)?” Use the article to refer to specific bread: Τρως πολύ από αυτό το ψωμί; (Do you eat a lot of this bread?)

How do I say “many loaves of bread” instead of “a lot of bread”?

Use a countable noun and plural agreement:

• Τρως πολλά ψωμιά; (Do you eat many loaves?)
• A common word for “loaf” is καρβέλι: πολλά καρβέλια.

How do I say “too much bread”?

Use πάρα πολύ: Τρως πάρα πολύ ψωμί; (Are you eating too much bread?)
Plain πολύ means “a lot (of),” not necessarily “too much.”

How do I make it negative?

Add δεν before the verb: Δεν τρως πολύ ψωμί; = “Don’t you eat much bread?” or as a statement: Δεν τρως πολύ ψωμί. (You don’t eat much bread.)

What’s the past tense equivalent (“Did you eat a lot of bread?”)?

Use the aorist of “eat,” which is irregular: έφαγα.
Question: Έφαγες πολύ ψωμί; (Did you eat a lot of bread?)

Can I change the word order for emphasis?

Yes, Greek allows fronting for emphasis:

• Neutral: Τρως πολύ ψωμί;
• Emphatic on quantity: Πολύ ψωμί τρως; (lit. “A lot of bread you eat?”—often with a tone of surprise/reproach) Keeping πολύ next to ψωμί is the most natural.

Any quick spelling tips for these words?

• τρως uses ω (omega), not ο, and has no accent.
• τρώω (I eat) is written with a double ω because of contraction; it’s often pronounced as a long “o.”
• ψωμί starts with ψ (ps) and has ω; stress on the last syllable: ψωμί.