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Questions & Answers about Ναι, έχω νερό.
Why is there a comma after Ναι?
Interjections like Ναι (Yes) are normally followed by a comma when they begin a sentence, marking a short pause. So Ναι, έχω νερό. is the standard punctuation.
Where is the subject I in Greek? Why isn’t εγώ written?
Greek is a pro‑drop language. The verb ending in έχω already shows first person singular (I), so the subject pronoun εγώ is usually omitted unless you want emphasis (e.g., Εγώ έχω νερό, meaning I, as opposed to someone else, have water).
How do I pronounce the sentence?
Roughly: (Neh, E-ho ne-RO)
- Ναι = [ne] (like English “ne” in “net” without the t)
- έχω = [ˈexo]; the letter χ is a throaty fricative, like the sound in Scottish “loch”
- νερό = [neˈro]; tap the ρ lightly; stress is on the final syllable
Why do έχω and νερό have accent marks but Ναι doesn’t?
Modern Greek uses one stress mark (τόνος) on stressed syllables of words with two or more syllables. έχω and νερό are disyllabic, so they take a stress mark. Ναι is monosyllabic and normally has no accent.
Why is there no article before νερό?
With mass/uncountable nouns used in a general or indefinite sense, Greek typically omits the article. έχω νερό corresponds to English I have water / I have some water.
When would I use το νερό instead?
Use the article when you mean specific, known water or water as a defined set:
- Έχω το νερό. = I have the (particular) water (e.g., the bottle we were talking about).
- Without the article (έχω νερό) = I have water (in general/available).
Can I say “a water” in Greek?
Yes, in service contexts Greeks say ένα νερό to mean a single serving (a bottle/glass) of water, just like ordering “a water.” More explicitly: ένα μπουκάλι νερό (a bottle of water) or ένα ποτήρι νερό (a glass of water).
How do I ask “Do you have water?” in Greek, and what punctuation do I use?
- Informal singular: Έχεις νερό;
- Formal or plural: Έχετε νερό; Greek uses the semicolon (;) as the question mark.
How do I say “No, I don’t have water”?
Όχι, δεν έχω νερό. The negation particle δεν goes before the verb. Because έχω starts with a vowel, δεν keeps the final -ν.
What is the full present tense of έχω (to have)?
- εγώ έχω = I have
- εσύ έχεις = you have (singular, informal)
- αυτός/αυτή/αυτό έχει = he/she/it has
- εμείς έχουμε = we have
- εσείς έχετε = you have (plural or formal)
- αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά έχουν(ε) = they have
What gender and case is νερό here?
νερό is neuter. In this sentence it’s the direct object, so it’s in the accusative case. For neuter nouns, nominative and accusative look the same in the singular (το νερό).
Can I change the word order, like Ναι, νερό έχω?
Yes. Greek word order is flexible. Ναι, έχω νερό is neutral. Ναι, νερό έχω puts focus on νερό (It’s water that I have). Context and intonation convey the nuance.
How do I say “Yes, I have it” referring to the water?
Use the neuter object pronoun το:
- Ναι, το έχω. (Yes, I have it.) If you mean a specific water previously mentioned (το νερό), το is the right pronoun.
Is there a difference between simply έχω and expressions like έχω να?
- έχω = have/possess (literal or figurative).
- έχω να
- verb often means have to/need to (colloquial obligation) or have the opportunity to, depending on context, e.g., Έχω να διαβάσω (I have to study).
Are there synonyms or related words for νερό I should know?
- νεράκι (diminutive) is very common and friendly; in practice it just means water, often a small serving.
- ύδωρ is archaic/formal (Ancient/learned). You’ll see it in compounds like υδρο- (hydro-), not in everyday speech.
Any spelling pitfalls with Ναι?
Yes. Ναι is spelled with αι, which here sounds like [e]. Don’t write ναί (no accent needed) and don’t confuse ναι (yes) with όχι (no).