Πας σπίτι τώρα;

Are you going home now?

Breakdown of Πας σπίτι τώρα;

• τώρα: now
• πάω: to go
• το σπίτι: the home

Questions & Answers about Πας σπίτι τώρα;

What verb form is Πας, exactly?

Πας is the 2nd person singular present indicative of πάω “to go.” The full present of πάω is:

• πάω (I go)
• πας (you go)
• πάει (he/she/it goes)
• πάμε (we go)
• πάτε (you plural/formal go)
• πάνε (they go)

With the synonymous verb πηγαίνω, the 2nd person would be πηγαίνεις.

How are yes/no questions formed in Greek, and what’s that semicolon-looking mark?

Greek keeps normal word order and uses intonation and the Greek question mark, which looks like a semicolon: ;

• Statement: Πας σπίτι τώρα.
• Question: Πας σπίτι τώρα; There’s no “do-support” like in English.

Where is the subject pronoun “you”? Why isn’t εσύ used?

Greek is a pro-drop language: the verb ending shows the subject, so πας already means “you (singular).” You add εσύ only for emphasis/contrast:

• Neutral: Πας σπίτι τώρα;
• Emphatic: Εσύ πας σπίτι τώρα; (YOU are going home now?)

Why is there no article before σπίτι?

When σπίτι means “home,” it’s used without an article and often without a preposition: πάω σπίτι, είμαι σπίτι. With an article or στο you refer to a specific house/place:

• Πας σπίτι; = Are you going home?
• Πας στο σπίτι; = Are you going to the house? (more concrete; often followed by a possessor, e.g., στο σπίτι σου)

Can I say Πας στο σπίτι τώρα; What nuance does στο add?

Yes. στο = σε + το (“to/at” + “the”). Πας στο σπίτι τώρα; highlights the destination as a specific location (“to the house”). Πας σπίτι τώρα; is the default idiomatic way to mean “going home (your home).”

Does σπίτι here automatically mean “your home”? How do I specify whose home?

With subject “you,” πας σπίτι is normally understood as “you’re going home (to your place).” To be explicit, add a possessive:

• Πας στο σπίτι σου τώρα; (your home)
• Πας στο σπίτι μου τώρα; (my place)
• Πας στο σπίτι της Μαρίας; (Maria’s house)

Where can I put τώρα, and does word order change the meaning?

τώρα can move, with small shifts in emphasis:

• Πας σπίτι τώρα; neutral.
• Τώρα πας σπίτι; emphasizes “now” (as opposed to earlier/later).
• Πας τώρα σπίτι; slight focus on “now” before “home.” Intonation usually carries the emphasis more than word order.

What’s the polite or formal way to ask this?

Use the 2nd-person plural:

• Πάτε σπίτι τώρα;
• Πηγαίνετε σπίτι τώρα; You can add εσείς for extra politeness/emphasis: Εσείς πάτε σπίτι τώρα;

How do I make the negative version, like “Aren’t you going home now?”

Use δεν before the verb:

• Δεν πας σπίτι τώρα; (Aren’t you going home now?) Remember: μην is for subjunctive/imperative, e.g., Μην πας σπίτι τώρα. (Don’t go home now.)

How do people typically answer this yes/no question?

• Ναι, πάω. (Yes, I am.)
• Όχι, δεν πάω. (No, I’m not.) Other natural replies: Σε λίγο. (In a bit.), Τώρα. (Right now.), Όχι, πάω στη δουλειά. (No, I’m going to work.)

How do I pronounce Πας σπίτι τώρα?

Approximate pronunciation (stress marked):

• Πας [pas]
• σπίτι [ˈspiti] (SPEE-tee; stress on the first syllable)
• τώρα [ˈtora] (TO-ra; stress on the first syllable) Whole sentence: [pas ˈspiti ˈtora]

What’s the difference between πάω and πηγαίνω? Which should I use?

Both mean “to go.” πάω is shorter and very common in everyday speech; πηγαίνω is fully standard and slightly more formal/explicit. In your sentence both are fine:

• Πας σπίτι τώρα;
• Πηγαίνεις σπίτι τώρα;

How would I ask “Will you go home now?” instead of “Are you going…?”

Use θα (future marker) + present:

• Θα πας σπίτι τώρα; (Will you go home now?) Compare: Πας σπίτι τώρα; (Are you going home now?/Are you about to go now?)

How do I say it about someone else: “Is he/she going home now?” or “Are they going home now?”

• 3rd singular: Πάει σπίτι τώρα;
• 3rd plural: Πάνε σπίτι τώρα; Add pronouns if needed: Αυτός/αυτή πάει σπίτι τώρα;, Αυτοί/αυτές πάνε σπίτι τώρα;

Why doesn’t Greek use a form like “are + going” (progressive)? Is Πας both “you go” and “you are going”?

Modern Greek uses a single present indicative for both English simple and progressive aspects. Πας can mean “you go” or “you are going,” with context/adverbs like τώρα clarifying immediacy.

Any colloquial alternatives to ask the same thing?

• Φεύγεις για σπίτι τώρα; (Are you leaving for home now?)
• Πας για σπίτι; (Heading home now?)
• Γυρνάς σπίτι τώρα; (Are you heading back home now?) All are casual and natural in conversation.