Questions & Answers about Όχι τώρα, πάω δουλειά.
Why is there no article or preposition before δουλειά? Shouldn’t it be στη δουλειά?
In everyday Greek, certain destination or activity nouns can appear bare after motion verbs like πάω to express destination or purpose. So πάω δουλειά is a colloquial, very common shorthand.
- Πάω δουλειά = I’m going to work (colloquial; destination/purpose understood)
- Πάω στη δουλειά = I’m going to the workplace (explicit destination; neutral)
- Πάω για δουλειά = I’m heading off to work / I’m leaving for work (focus on purpose)
All three are widely used; the bare-noun version is just more informal and compact.
Can I say πάω για δουλειά instead? What’s the nuance?
Yes. Πάω για δουλειά highlights the purpose (“for work”), often used when you’re leaving home to start a shift. Πάω στη δουλειά emphasizes the place (the workplace). Πάω δουλειά sits in between, and context supplies the rest.
Is πάω the same as πηγαίνω?
They’re near-synonyms in the present. Πάω is very common and slightly more colloquial; πηγαίνω can sound a bit more formal or neutral. Key principal parts:
- Present: πάω / πηγαίνω
- Aorist (simple past): πήγα
- Imperfect (used-to-go/was going): πήγαινα
- Future: θα πάω