Έχεις τηλέφωνο;

to have

Breakdown of Έχεις τηλέφωνο;

• το τηλέφωνο: the phone

Questions & Answers about Έχεις τηλέφωνο;

What does the verb form έχεις mean, and what are the basic present-tense forms of έχω?

έχεις = you have (2nd person singular). Basic present tense:

• εγώ: έχω — I have
• εσύ: έχεις — you have (singular)
• αυτός/αυτή/αυτό: έχει — he/she/it has
• εμείς: έχουμε — we have
• εσείς: έχετε — you have (plural/formal)
• αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά: έχουν(ε) — they have (the final -ε is optional in speech)

Do I need to say the subject pronoun εσύ?

No. Greek usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person. Έχεις τηλέφωνο; already means “Do you have a phone?” You’d add Εσύ only for emphasis: Εσύ έχεις τηλέφωνο; (Do you have a phone, as opposed to someone else?).

Why is there no article before τηλέφωνο?

Greek often omits the indefinite article with έχω when speaking generally about having something. Έχω/Έχεις τηλέφωνο; naturally means “I/you have a phone?” in the general, indefinite sense. With the definite article (το), Έχεις το τηλέφωνο; means “Do you have the phone (we’re referring to)?”

Can I say Έχεις ένα τηλέφωνο;? What’s the nuance?