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Questions & Answers about Συγγνώμη, μιλάτε αγγλικά;
Why does the sentence end with a semicolon (;)—is that a question mark in Greek?
Yes. In Greek, the question mark looks like the English semicolon: ; So αγγλικά; signals a question.
Why is αγγλικά not capitalized?
Names of languages and nationalities are written in lowercase in Greek. So αγγλικά (English) is lowercase, unlike English where “English” is capitalized.
Why is αγγλικά plural and why is there no article?
- Greek typically uses the neuter plural for languages after verbs like μιλάω/μιλώ: μιλάω αγγλικά = “I speak English.”
- No article is used in this pattern. You’d only use the article when the language is the subject or is mentioned as a school subject, e.g. Τα αγγλικά είναι δύσκολα. (“English is difficult.”)
What does μιλάτε tell me about the “you”?
Μιλάτε is 2nd person plural present (“you [plural] speak”) and is also the polite form when speaking to one person. Informal singular is μιλάς: Μιλάς αγγλικά;
Is the comma after Συγγνώμη necessary?
It’s standard and natural to put a comma after an interjection like Συγγνώμη (“Excuse me”), but you’ll also see it without a comma in casual writing.
What’s the difference between Συγγνώμη and Με συγχωρείτε?
Both can mean “excuse me” or “sorry.”
- Συγγνώμη is very common and neutral.
- Με συγχωρείτε (literally “forgive me”) is a bit more formal/polite, especially to get someone’s attention or to apologize to a stranger.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
- Συγγνώμη ≈ “see-gh-NÓ-mee” (stress on -νώ-). The γ is a soft voiced sound (like the g in Spanish “amigo”), and the γγν cluster flows together like “ghn.”
- μιλάτε ≈ “mee-LÁ-te” (stress on -lá-).
- αγγλικά ≈ “ang-glee-KÁ” (ng as in “sing” + hard g; stress on -κά-). Tip: The accent mark in Greek shows the stressed syllable.
Why is it spelled συγγνώμη with double γ? Is συγνώμη (single γ) wrong?
The traditional spelling is συγγνώμη (from a historical prefix that doubled the γ). In modern usage, συγνώμη with one γ is also widely seen and accepted; both forms are understood.
Can I say αγγλική instead of αγγλικά after μιλάτε?
No. After “speak,” Greek uses the neuter plural: μιλάω/μιλώ + [language in neuter plural], e.g. μιλάτε αγγλικά. The adjective αγγλική would require a noun, e.g. (την) αγγλική γλώσσα, which sounds formal here.
Is the word order fixed? Could I say Αγγλικά μιλάτε; or Μιλάτε αγγλικά, συγγνώμη;?
Word order is flexible for emphasis:
- Αγγλικά μιλάτε; puts focus on “English.”
- Keeping Συγγνώμη first is more natural; moving it to the end is possible but less typical. The original Συγγνώμη, μιλάτε αγγλικά; is the most neutral.
What are other natural ways to ask this?
- Ξέρετε αγγλικά; (Do you know English?)
- Καταλαβαίνετε αγγλικά; (Do you understand English?)
- Μπορείτε να μιλήσετε αγγλικά; (Can you speak English?)
- Softener: Μιλάτε καθόλου αγγλικά; (Do you speak any English at all?)
How would someone typically answer?
- Ναι, μιλάω/μιλώ λίγο. (Yes, a little.)
- Ναι, βεβαίως. (Yes, of course.)
- Όχι, συγγνώμη. (No, sorry.)
- Λίγο. (A little.)
- Καθόλου. (Not at all.)
Where is the stress in each word?
Exactly where the accent marks are:
- συγγνώμη (on -νώ-)
- μιλάτε (on -λά-)
- αγγλικά (on -κά-) Hitting these stresses is important for natural pronunciation.
Can I drop Συγγνώμη and just ask Μιλάτε αγγλικά;?
Yes. It’s still polite, but Συγγνώμη helps to get attention and softens the request, especially with strangers.
Can I use λέω instead of μιλάω (e.g., Λέτε αγγλικά;)?
No. Λέω means “to say/tell.” To ask about someone’s ability to speak a language, use μιλάω/μιλώ: Μιλάτε αγγλικά;