Γιατί δεν μιλάς πιο αργά;

Why don't you speak more slowly?

Breakdown of Γιατί δεν μιλάς πιο αργά;

• μιλάω: to speak
• δεν: not
• πιο: more
• αργά: slowly
• γιατί: why

Questions & Answers about Γιατί δεν μιλάς πιο αργά;

Is this polite to say to someone?

It can sound confrontational or like a complaint in Greek. For a polite request, prefer:

• Informal (one person): Μπορείς να μιλήσεις λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ;
• Formal or plural: Μπορείτε να μιλήσετε λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ; Adding λίγο, παρακαλώ, or μήπως (e.g., Μήπως μπορείτε…) softens the tone.

How do I change it for formal “you” or when talking to more than one person?

Use the 2nd person plural: Γιατί δεν μιλάτε πιο αργά;
Note: This is still a “why-don’t-you” question and can feel accusatory. For a polite request, use Μπορείτε να μιλήσετε λίγο πιο αργά;

Why does the question end with a semicolon?

In Greek, the question mark is written as a semicolon: ;
So Γιατί δεν μιλάς πιο αργά; is correctly punctuated. The Greek semicolon (·), called the ano teleia, is a different mark and is rarely used.

Why is the negation δεν and not μην?

• δεν negates the indicative (statements and most questions): Δεν μιλάς…
• μην is used with the subjunctive/imperative and certain particles: Μην μιλάς τόσο γρήγορα!, Να μην μιλάς τόσο γρήγορα. Here we have a direct question in the indicative, so δεν is correct.

Why is it μιλάς and not something like μιλείς?

The verb is μιλάω/μιλώ (to speak). In the present tense, 2nd person singular is μιλάς.
There is no form μιλείς for this verb. Both stems (μιλάω and μιλώ) are standard; the 2nd singular is always μιλάς.

How do you pronounce the sentence?

Roughly: giatí den milás pyo argá.

• Γιατί = ya-TEE (stress on -TEE)
• δεν = then (δ is the voiced “th” as in “this”)
• μιλάς = mee-LAS (stress on -LAS)
• πιο = pyo (one syllable; the i turns into a “y” glide)
• αργά = ar-GÁ (γ is a soft “gh,” like Spanish “amigo”; stress on -GÁ)
  Tap the ρ lightly.

What’s the difference between αργά and σιγά?

• αργά = slowly (speed/tempo).
• σιγά = quietly, softly (volume/force), and sometimes “gently.”
  So say Μίλα πιο αργά for “Speak more slowly,” and Μίλα πιο σιγά for “Speak more quietly.”

Can πιο αργά also mean “later”?

Yes, with time expressions it means “later”: Θα έρθω πιο αργά = “I’ll come later.”
With a verb like μιλάς, it means “more slowly,” not “later,” so the sentence is not ambiguous in context.

Can I drop the -ν in δεν? I’ve seen δε μιλάς.

In casual speech, people often say δε before many consonants: δε μιλάς.
Safe rule for writing: keep the -ν in δεν always, and especially before vowels and before κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ. In this sentence, both δεν μιλάς and colloquial δε μιλάς are heard; δεν is the safer choice.

How else can I phrase this as a request or a command? Any nuance with aspect?

• Polite requests:
  • Informal (now, one-time): Μπορείς να μιλήσεις λίγο πιο αργά;
  • Habitual/ongoing: Μπορείς να μιλάς λίγο πιο αργά;
  • Formal/plural: Μπορείτε να μιλήσετε λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ;
• Commands:
  • Informal: Μίλα πιο αργά!
  • Formal/plural: Μιλήστε πιο αργά, παρακαλώ. Word order tip: place πιο αργά after the verb; adding λίγο before πιο softens it: λίγο πιο αργά.

Does γιατί also mean “because”?

Yes. Γιατί means “why” in questions and “because” in answers:
— Γιατί; = “Why?”
— Γιατί δεν ακούω. = “Because I can’t hear.”
In your sentence, initial Γιατί clearly means “why.”