Πεινάω πολύ, θέλω να φάω τώρα.

I am very hungry, I want to eat now.

Breakdown of Πεινάω πολύ, θέλω να φάω τώρα.

• θέλω: to want
• τώρα: now
• τρώω: to eat
• πολύ: very
• να: to
• πεινάω: to be hungry

Questions & Answers about Πεινάω πολύ, θέλω να φάω τώρα.

What does the ending -ω tell me in πεινάω and θέλω?

• The ending -ω marks 1st person singular in the present tense: “I …”.
• So πεινάω = “I am hungry,” θέλω = “I want.”
• It’s always omega (ω), not omicron (ο), at the end of 1st person singular present verbs in Modern Greek.

Is there a difference between πεινάω and πεινώ?

• Both mean the same (“I’m hungry”). They’re two accepted present forms of the same verb.
• …-άω forms (e.g., πεινάω) are very common in everyday speech.
• …-ώ forms (e.g., πεινώ) are a bit shorter and can sound a touch more formal or written.
• Both are correct and interchangeable here.

Why is it θέλω να φάω and not θέλω να τρώω?

• Greek distinguishes aspect:
  • να φάω (perfective/aorist subjunctive) = one complete eating event (suits “now”).
  • να τρώω (imperfective subjunctive) = ongoing or habitual action (“I want to be eating / I want to eat (regularly)”).
• With τώρα (“now”), you want the single, complete event: θέλω να φάω.

What is the role of να here?

• να introduces a subjunctive clause in Modern Greek. Greek has no infinitive, so “want to eat” becomes “want that I eat” structurally: θέλω να φάω.
• After verbs of desire, request, purpose, etc., use να
  • subjunctive.

What’s the difference between φάω and τρώω?

• They are forms of the same verb “to eat,” but different stems/aspects:
  • τρώω = present, imperfective (ongoing/habitual).
  • φάω = subjunctive perfective (linked to the aorist stem; cf. past aorist έφαγα “I ate”).
• Use φάω for a single, bounded event you intend to do; τρώω for ongoing or repeated eating.

How do I pronounce the tricky bits (ει, θ, and φάω)?

• ει in πεινάω is pronounced like “ee” in “see.”
• θ in θέλω is like “th” in “think,” not like “this.”
• φάω has two vowels and two syllables: fa-o (they don’t merge into one). Keep the stress on φά-.

Why is it πολύ and not πολλή?

• πολύ here is an adverb modifying a verb (“hungry a lot/very”), so it stays invariable: πεινάω πολύ.
• πολλή/πολλός/πολλά are adjective forms used before nouns (e.g., πολλή ζάχαρη “a lot of sugar,” πολλοί άνθρωποι “many people”).

Can πολύ go elsewhere in the sentence?

• Neutral: Πεινάω πολύ.
• For emphasis, you might hear Πολύ πεινάω, but it’s more marked/stylistic.
• Don’t put πολύ between να and the verb.

Can I omit “I” (εγώ) in Greek?

• Yes. Greek is a pro-drop language. The verb ending already shows the subject.
• Εγώ is used only for emphasis: Εγώ πεινάω πολύ = “I (as opposed to others) am very hungry.”

Is the comma correct between the two clauses?

• Yes. Greek often links short independent clauses with a comma in casual writing: Πεινάω πολύ, θέλω να φάω τώρα.
• Alternatives:
  • Use και: Πεινάω πολύ και θέλω να φάω τώρα.
  • Make two sentences: Πεινάω πολύ. Θέλω να φάω τώρα.
  • A dash is also fine for emphasis.

Where can I place τώρα?

• All are possible, with slight differences in emphasis:
  • Θέλω να φάω τώρα. (neutral)
  • Τώρα θέλω να φάω. (emphasizes “now”)
  • Θέλω τώρα να φάω. (also possible; emphasizes the timing of the desire)

How would I say this more politely?

• More polite/softer:
  • Θα ήθελα να φάω τώρα. (I’d like to eat now.)
  • Μπορούμε να φάμε τώρα; (Could we eat now?)
  • Πεινάω λίγο, θα μπορούσαμε να φάμε; (I’m a bit hungry; could we eat?)

How does negation work with these verbs?

• Negate indicative verbs with δεν:
  • Δεν πεινάω (πολύ). (I’m not (very) hungry.)
  • Δεν θέλω να φάω τώρα. (I don’t want to eat now. — negates “want”)
• To negate the subjunctive action itself, use να μην:
  • Θέλω να μην φάω τώρα. (I want not to eat now.)
• Subtlety: Δεν θέλω να φάω ≠ Θέλω να μην φάω. The first denies the desire; the second affirms a desire to avoid eating.

If I add an object like “it,” where does it go?

• Object clitics go before the subjunctive verb:
  • Θέλω να το φάω τώρα. (I want to eat it now.)
  • With negation of the subjunctive: Θέλω να μην το φάω.
  • Negating “want”: Δεν θέλω να το φάω.

Are there other common ways to say I’m hungry?

• Είμαι πεινασμένος/πεινασμένη. (I am hungry — adjective; masculine/feminine.)
• Colloquial intensifiers: Πεινάω πάρα πολύ (I’m very/so hungry), Πεινάω σαν λύκος (I’m starving, lit. “like a wolf”).

Could I say future instead, like Θα φάω τώρα?

• Θα φάω τώρα = a (near) future decision or plan (“I’m going to eat now”).
• Θέλω να φάω τώρα = expresses desire/intention.
• Both are fine; choose based on whether you’re stating a plan or a want.

Is φάω the only correct spelling? I’ve seen φάγω somewhere.

• Standard Modern Greek uses φάω in the subjunctive and έφαγα for the aorist past.
• φάγω (e.g., να φάγω) is older/katharevousa or dialectal; you may hear it regionally, but να φάω is the standard today.

Does Greek have an infinitive like English “to eat”?

• No. Modern Greek lacks an infinitive. Instead, να
  • subjunctive acts where English uses “to” + verb:
    • “want to eat” → θέλω να φάω
    • “try to eat” → προσπαθώ να φάω