Learn Hardcore Greek: Μπορείτε να περιμένετε ένα λεπτό, παρακαλώ;

Μπορείτε: “you can/are able to” (2nd person plural). Used both for addressing more than one person and as the polite singular form.
να: particle introducing a subordinate verb (subjunctive-like). It doesn’t mean “to” or “that” by itself.
περιμένετε: “wait” (2nd person plural). After να, it’s the form used for requests: “to wait.” The same spelling can also be indicative (“you (all) wait/are waiting”) or the plural imperative (“wait!”), so context matters.
ένα: “a/one” (neuter). In Greek, the indefinite article is the same as the number “one.”
λεπτό: “minute” (neuter). Also the word for a euro cent in other contexts.
παρακαλώ: “please.” Also used as “you’re welcome” and when answering the phone (“hello?”).
Final ;: in Greek, the semicolon character is the question mark.

Why does the sentence end with a semicolon instead of a question mark?

Modern Greek uses the semicolon (;) as the question mark. So ; in Greek is equivalent to “?” in English.

Is this phrasing formal or informal?

It’s polite/formal because of Μπορείτε (2nd person plural used as polite singular). Use it with strangers, in service situations, or when you want to be respectful.

How would I say it informally to one person I know?

Μπορείς να περιμένεις ένα λεπτό;
You can also use an imperative with “please”: Περίμενε ένα λεπτό, σε παρακαλώ.

How could I make it even more polite/soft?

Θα μπορούσατε να περιμένετε ένα λεπτό, παρακαλώ; (“Could you…?”)
Μήπως μπορείτε να περιμένετε ένα λεπτό; (adds tentativeness)
Σας παρακαλώ, μπορείτε να περιμένετε ένα λεπτό; (stronger “please” with σας)

Can I use the imperative instead of a question?

Yes:

Formal/plural imperative: Περιμένετε ένα λεπτό, παρακαλώ.
Informal singular: Περίμενε ένα λεπτό, σε παρακαλώ. The question with Μπορείτε να… sounds a bit softer/less direct, but both are polite with (σε/σας) παρακαλώ.

Why do we need να after Μπορείτε? Can I drop it?

Keep να. With μπορώ (“can”), Greek normally uses να + verb (e.g., μπορώ να περιμένω). Dropping να here is ungrammatical in modern usage.

Is να περιμένετε a subjunctive?

Modern Greek doesn’t mark a separate “subjunctive” form; instead, να + the verb is used for what corresponds to subjunctive functions (requests, purpose, etc.). So functionally, yes—να περιμένετε is the “subjunctive-like” construction.

Where can I put παρακαλώ?

It’s flexible:

End: …ένα λεπτό, παρακαλώ; (very common)
Beginning: Παρακαλώ, μπορείτε να περιμένετε ένα λεπτό;
Mid-sentence (set off by commas): Μπορείτε, παρακαλώ, να περιμένετε ένα λεπτό;

Does ένα λεπτό mean exactly one minute?

Literally yes, but idiomatically it often means “a moment.” Alternatives:

λίγο (“a bit”): Μπορείτε να περιμένετε λίγο;
μια στιγμή (“a moment”): …μια στιγμή;
μισό λεπτό (“half a minute/just a sec”): …μισό λεπτό;

Can I say για ένα λεπτό for “for a minute”?

It’s understandable, but with duration after περιμένω, Greek typically uses the bare accusative (no για): περιμένετε ένα λεπτό. You’ll often hear για λίγο (“for a bit”), though.

How do I pronounce the sentence?

IPA: [boˈrite na periˈmenete ˈena lepˈto parakaˈlo]
Simple romanization (stressed syllables in caps): bo-RI-te na pe-ri-ME-ne-te E-na lep-TO pa-ra-ka-LO Notes:
μπ at the start of Μπορείτε is pronounced like English “b.”
ρ is a tapped/flapped r.
πτ in λεπτό is pronounced [pt] together.

Is Μπορείτε always plural?

It can be:

Polite singular (to one person you address formally), or
True plural (to more than one person). Context tells you which.

What’s the difference between παρακαλώ and σας παρακαλώ?

παρακαλώ = “please.”
σας παρακαλώ = “please, I beg you” (more emphatic/polite; σας is the polite/plural “you”).

Could I say “Will you wait a minute?” with θα?

Yes: Θα περιμένετε ένα λεπτό; This can sound a bit more like “Will you…?” (sometimes slightly firmer). For extra politeness, add παρακαλώ or use Θα μπορούσατε….

Why is there a comma before παρακαλώ?

Like English “please,” παρακαλώ can be parenthetical. Greek sets it off with a comma when it’s at the end or in the middle. At the beginning, put a comma after it: Παρακαλώ, …

Is the time expression ένα λεπτό the object of the verb?

It’s an accusative of duration—very common in Greek. Verbs can take a bare accusative to express “for (how long).” So (να) περιμένετε ένα λεπτό = “(to) wait for one minute.”

Are there near-synonymous ways to ask this?

Yes:

Μπορείτε να περιμένετε λίγο;
Μπορείτε να κάνετε λίγο υπομονή; (“Could you be a bit patient?”)
Μπορείτε να με/μας περιμένετε για λίγο; (“…wait for me/us a bit?”)

How could someone answer politely?

Positive: Βεβαίως./Φυσικά./Μάλιστα./Ναι, βεβαίως.
Negative/soft refusal: Δυστυχώς, βιάζομαι. / Φοβάμαι πως όχι. / Δεν μπορώ αυτή τη στιγμή.