Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Greek grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Γεια, εγώ είμαι εδώ τώρα.
Do I need the pronoun εγώ, or can I just say Είμαι εδώ τώρα?
You can (and usually should) drop εγώ. Greek is a pro‑drop language; the verb ending shows the subject. Είμαι εδώ τώρα is the neutral way to say it. Using εγώ adds emphasis or contrast: Εγώ είμαι εδώ τώρα = “I am here now (not someone else).”
How do you pronounce the whole sentence?
Roughly: “Ya, e-GÓ Í-me e-THÓ TÓ-ra.”
IPA: [ʝa, eˈɣo ˈime eˈðo ˈtora]
Tips:
- γ before e/i sounds like a soft y-ish sound [ʝ] (as in γεια = [ʝa] ≈ “ya”).
- γ before o/a/u is a voiced fricative [ɣ] (like Spanish g in “amigo”): εγώ [eˈɣo].
- δ is the voiced “th” in “this”: εδώ [eˈðo].
- ρ is a tapped r.
- ει and αι are digraphs: είμαι = [ˈime] (EE-meh).
Why does γεια sound like “ya” even though it starts with γ?
Before front vowels (e, i), γ is pronounced [ʝ], a soft palatal sound close to English y. In γεια, the sequence collapses to one syllable, so it’s pronounced [ʝa] ≈ “ya.” Etymologically, γεια is a shortened, colloquial form of υγεία (“health”).
Should I write Γεια or Γειά?
Write Γεια. In the modern (monotonic) system, monosyllables normally take no accent. You will see Γειά in the wild, but standard usage is γεια (lowercase) / Γεια (sentence-initial).
Is the comma after Γεια correct? Could I use an exclamation mark instead?
Yes, the comma is fine—it sets off the interjection. You can also write Γεια! as a standalone greeting. Both are common and correct depending on tone.
What’s the difference between Γεια, Γεια σου, and Γεια σας?
- Γεια: neutral “Hi/Hello/Bye.”
- Γεια σου: informal to one person.
- Γεια σας: polite/formal to one person or to more than one person. Other options: Χαίρετε (polite), Καλημέρα, Καλησπέρα, Καληνύχτα (time-of-day greetings).
Can I change the word order, like Τώρα είμαι εδώ or Εδώ είμαι τώρα?
Yes. Adverbs are flexible in Greek. Common, natural options:
- Είμαι εδώ τώρα (neutral)
- Τώρα είμαι εδώ (focus on “now”)
- Εδώ είμαι τώρα (slight focus on “here”) All mean the same in most contexts; word order mainly tweaks emphasis.
How do you conjugate είμαι (“to be”)?
Present:
- εγώ είμαι
- εσύ είσαι
- αυτός/η/ο είναι
- εμείς είμαστε
- εσείς είστε (also είσαστε)
- αυτοί/ές/ά είναι
Useful extras:
- Negative: δεν είμαι εδώ τώρα = “I’m not here now.”
- Simple past (imperfect meaning): ήμουν (also ήμουνα).
What do the accent marks (τόνοι) do in this sentence?
They mark stress:
- εγώ (stress on -γώ)
- είμαι (stress on εί-)
- εδώ (stress on -δώ)
- τώρα (stress on τό-) Stress placement is important for natural pronunciation and sometimes for meaning.
What’s the difference between εδώ and εκεί?
- εδώ = here (near the speaker).
- εκεί = there (away from the speaker). For extra emphasis:
- εδώ πέρα = right here (colloquial).
- εκεί πέρα = over there.
If I mean “I just arrived,” is Είμαι εδώ τώρα the best choice?
To emphasize arrival, Greeks more often say:
- Μόλις ήρθα. = “I just came.”
- Μόλις έφτασα. = “I just arrived.” You can still add location: Μόλις έφτασα, είμαι εδώ τώρα.
Can I say Εδώ είμαι or Γεια, εδώ είμαι τώρα? Does it sound natural?
Yes. Εδώ είμαι (“I’m here”) is very common, e.g., when someone calls your name. Γεια, εδώ είμαι τώρα also works if you’re both greeting and informing someone of your presence.
How would you transliterate the sentence into Latin letters?
Most helpful transliteration with stress marks: Geia, egó íme edó tóra. You’ll also see Yia for Γεια to reflect the “ya” sound. Transliteration is only a guide; rely on Greek spelling and audio for accuracy.
Why is είμαι spelled with ει for an “i” sound? Are there other ways to spell that sound?
Historical spelling. Modern Greek has several graphemes for the /i/ sound:
- ι, η, υ, ει, οι, υι
So είμαι uses ει
- μαι (where αι = /e/), yielding [ˈi.me]. Spelling must be learned word by word.
Could I use βρίσκομαι instead of είμαι here?
Not in this simple “I’m here now” sense. βρίσκομαι means “to be located/ to find oneself” and sounds more formal or specific: Βρίσκομαι στο γραφείο = “I’m (located) at the office.” For presence, είμαι εδώ is the natural choice.