Learn Hardcore Greek: Μπορείς να μου στείλεις μήνυμα τώρα;

Yes. In Greek, the question mark looks like a semicolon: ;. The Greek semicolon (the punctuation used for a pause like the English semicolon) is a raised dot · called άνω τελεία, which you’ll rarely see in everyday writing.

What is να doing here? Where’s the infinitive “to send”?

Modern Greek has no infinitive. Instead, it uses να + a finite verb (subjunctive). After verbs like μπορώ (I can), θέλω (I want), πρέπει (I must), you use να:

Μπορείς να μου στείλεις… = “Can you send me…” Think of να as the marker that introduces the action you want to happen.

Why is it στείλεις and not στέλνεις?

Aspect.

να στείλεις (perfective) = one complete action: “send (one message).”
να στέλνεις (imperfective) = ongoing/habitual: “be sending/keep sending.”
Here we want one message now, so να στείλεις fits.
Compare: Μπορείς να μου στέλνεις μήνυμα κάθε μέρα; (habitually).

Why μου and not με for “me”?

Because with “send” you send something “to someone.” Greek uses the genitive clitic μου for the indirect object (to me/for me).

Correct: να μου στείλεις = “to send to me.”
με is accusative (direct object): it would mean “send me (as a parcel),” which is wrong here.

Why does μου come before the verb here, but after it in commands like Στείλε μου?

Clitic placement rule:

With particles like να, θα, μην/μη, δεν, ας, clitics go before the verb: να μου στείλεις, μη μου στείλεις.
In the positive imperative, they go after the verb: Στείλε μου μήνυμα.
So here, because of να, it’s να μου στείλεις.

Is Μπορείς να… polite, or does it literally ask about ability?

Both are possible, but in everyday Greek Μπορείς να…; is a friendly, polite request, much like “Can you…?” in English. To sound more polite/formal, you can use:

Μπορείτε να…; (formal/plural)
Θα μπορούσες/Θα μπορούσατε να…; (more polite)
Add σε παρακαλώ/σας παρακαλώ.

How do I say this formally (to one person or to a group)?

Use the 2nd person plural: Μπορείτε να μου στείλετε μήνυμα τώρα;
That works for formal address to one person or to several people.

Do I need to say ένα μήνυμα with an article?

Both are fine:

…να μου στείλεις μήνυμα… (natural, general “a message”)
…να μου στείλεις ένα μήνυμα… (explicitly “one message” or slightly more concrete)
Greek often omits the article with direct objects when the meaning is indefinite and clear.

Can I say Μου στέλνεις μήνυμα τώρα; instead?

Yes. The present indicative in questions often functions as a polite request in Greek (like “Will you send me…?”). Depending on intonation/context, it can also mean “Are you sending me a message now?” so the request reading relies on tone.

Where can τώρα go, and does word order change the meaning?

It’s flexible:

…μήνυμα τώρα; (common; slight emphasis on “now”)
…τώρα μήνυμα;
Τώρα, μπορείς να μου στείλεις μήνυμα; (fronted time frame)
Meaning stays the same; position affects emphasis and rhythm more than content.

Is there a more direct, imperative version?

Yes: Στείλε μου μήνυμα τώρα. That’s a direct command.
Negative commands use μη(ν) + subjunctive:

Single action: Μη(ν) μου στείλεις μήνυμα τώρα. (“Don’t send me a message now.”)
Ongoing: Μη(ν) μου στέλνεις μήνυμα τώρα. (“Don’t be sending me messages now.”)

How do I say “Can you not send me a message now?” (i.e., please don’t)?

Use: Μπορείς να μη(ν) μου στείλεις μήνυμα τώρα;
Be careful: Δεν μπορείς να μου στείλεις μήνυμα τώρα; means “Are you unable to send me a message now?” (asking about inability), not a request to refrain.

What are the related forms: στείλεις / στείλει / στείλετε, etc.?

They’re the perfective subjunctive of στέλνω:

εγώ: να στείλω
εσύ: να στείλεις
αυτός/η/ο: να στείλει
εμείς: να στείλουμε
εσείς: να στείλετε
αυτοί: να στείλουν(ε)

Any quick pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?

Μπ at the start of Μπορείς sounds like ≈ [bo-RÍs].
ει/η/υ here sound like ≈ [STÍ-lis], μήνυμα ≈ [MÍ-ni-ma].
Stresses: ΜποΡΕΙς, ΣΤΕΙλεις, ΜΗνυμα, ΤΩρα.
All together: roughly [boˈris na mu ˈstilis ˈminima ˈtora].

Does μήνυμα specifically mean a text (SMS)?

Μήνυμα is generic: any message (SMS, WhatsApp/Viber, Messenger, email subject to context). Specify the medium if needed:

…μήνυμα στο κινητό; (a text/SMS)
…μήνυμα στο Viber/WhatsApp/Messenger;

Should I ever use για να here instead of να?

No. για να means “in order to” (purpose): Πήγα έξω για να έχω σήμα. Here you need the complement να after μπορείς: Μπορείς να μου στείλεις…

How would I ask about future ability, like “Will you be able to send…”?

Use θα μπορέσεις (future ability): Θα μπορέσεις να μου στείλεις μήνυμα αργότερα;
Formal/plural: Θα μπορέσετε να μου στείλετε μήνυμα αργότερα;