Πας δουλειά ή σπίτι;

Are you going to work or home?

Breakdown of Πας δουλειά ή σπίτι;

• ή: or
• πάω: to go
• το σπίτι: the home
• η δουλειά: the work

Questions & Answers about Πας δουλειά ή σπίτι;

What exactly is the verb form Πας?

It’s the 2nd person singular present of the verb πάω/πηγαίνω (to go): “you go/you’re going.” In colloquial speech it’s the short form of πάω. A more neutral/explicit alternative is Πηγαίνεις.

Why is there no article before δουλειά and σπίτι?

With motion verbs like πάω, Greek often uses bare nouns to indicate destination, especially for places like work, home, school, church, etc. So πάω δουλειά = “I’m going to work,” πάω σπίτι = “I’m going home,” without an article.

Can I also say στη δουλειά or στο σπίτι?

Yes:

• Πας στη δουλειά; (to work/the workplace)
• Πας στο σπίτι; (to the house/home) Both are common. Bare nouns feel a bit more like “to work / home” as destinations; with στο/στη you’re explicitly saying “to the (specific) place.”

What cases are δουλειά and σπίτι in here?

Accusative singular, used as a destination (“accusative of goal”). δουλειά is feminine; σπίτι is neuter (neuter nominative = accusative in form).

Is it okay to drop the verb and just say Δουλειά ή σπίτι;?

Yes, very natural in speech and texting. The verb is understood from context.

Should Πας have an accent (like Πάς)?

No. In monotonic Greek, most monosyllables are unaccented. It’s Πας, not Πάς.

Why is ή accented?

ή with an accent means “or.” The accent distinguishes it from the letter η (eta). It’s one of the standard exceptions where a monosyllable gets an accent for disambiguation.

What does the semicolon at the end signify?

In Greek, the semicolon (;) is the question mark. So …; marks a question.

How do you pronounce the words?

• Πας: [pas]
• δουλειά: roughly [ðulˈja], like “thoohl-YAH” (δ = the th in “this”)
• σπίτι: [ˈspiti], “SPEE-tee”
• ή: [i], “ee”

Where is the subject “you”? Why is εσύ missing?

Greek is a pro‑drop language; the verb ending shows the subject. Εσύ can be added for emphasis: Εσύ πας δουλειά ή σπίτι;

How do I make this more polite/formal?

Use the 2nd person plural (polite you): Πάτε δουλειά ή σπίτι; or Πηγαίνετε στη δουλειά ή στο σπίτι;

Does the Greek present here mean both “Are you going (now)?” and “Do you go (habitually)”?

Yes. Context decides. Πας δουλειά; can mean “Are you headed to work (now)?” or “Do you go to work (in general)?”

Is there a nuance between πάω σπίτι and πάω στο σπίτι?

• πάω σπίτι ≈ “I’m going home” (destination “home” as a concept).
• πάω στο σπίτι ≈ “I’m going to the house/home” (more concrete; can be my house or a specific house). Both are commonly used for “going home.”

What about Πας για δουλειά; — is that different?

Yes. για adds purpose: Πας για δουλειά; ≈ “Are you going (in order) to work / for your shift?” Not just destination, but intent.

Is δουλειά the same as δουλεία?

No—be careful:

• δουλειά = work/job.
• δουλεία = slavery/servitude. They differ in spelling, stress, and meaning.

How would someone typically answer this question?

Short, natural answers:

• Δουλειά.
• Σπίτι. More complete:
• Πάω στη δουλειά.
• Πάω σπίτι. You can also add Ναι/Όχι if needed.

Can I flip the order: Σπίτι ή δουλειά πας;?

Yes, word order is flexible for focus/emphasis. Σπίτι ή δουλειά πας; is fine and puts “home or work” up front.

How would I say “Aren’t you going to work?” or make it more tentative?

• Negative: Δεν πας στη δουλειά;
• Polite/tentative: Μήπως πας στη δουλειά ή στο σπίτι; (softens the question: “By any chance…”)

Do I say στη δουλειά or στην δουλειά?

Standard is στη δουλειά (no final -ν). The -ν in στην is kept before vowels and certain consonants (κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, γκ, ντ, μπ, τσ, τζ). δουλειά starts with δ, so στη is usual.