Σε παρακαλώ, μίλα πιο αργά.

to speak

Breakdown of Σε παρακαλώ, μίλα πιο αργά.

• πιο: more
• αργά: slowly
• σε παρακαλώ: please

Questions & Answers about Σε παρακαλώ, μίλα πιο αργά.

What does each word literally mean and how is the sentence built?

• Σε: you (object/clitic pronoun, accusative singular)
• παρακαλώ: I beg/please (1st person singular, used idiomatically as “please”)
• μίλα: speak (2nd person singular, present imperative of μιλάω/μιλώ “to speak”)
• πιο: more (comparative particle)
• αργά: slowly; also “late” in time, depending on context

So it’s literally “I beg you, speak more slowly.”

Is using the imperative here polite in Greek?

Yes. Adding Σε παρακαλώ softens it and makes it polite. For extra politeness or formality, many speakers prefer a question:

• Informal singular: Μπορείς να μιλάς λίγο πιο αργά;
• Formal/plural: Μπορείτε να μιλάτε λίγο πιο αργά; or Θα μπορούσατε να μιλάτε λίγο πιο αργά; You can also keep the imperative in formal speech: Σας παρακαλώ, μιλήστε/μιλάτε πιο αργά.

What’s the difference between μίλα, μιλήσε/μιλήστε, and μιλάτε?

• μίλα: present imperative, singular → “keep speaking (more slowly).” Ongoing process.
• μιλήσε (correctly spelled μίλησε) / μιλήστε: aorist imperative, sing./pl. → “speak (this time) more slowly,” often used for a single or bounded action. In practice, μιλήστε is very common in polite requests.
• μιλάτε: present imperative, plural (also the present indicative “you [plural/formal] speak”). As an imperative, it means “keep speaking (more slowly).” Both μιλάτε and μιλήστε are heard; the former stresses ongoing action, the latter a single action.