Έχω ραντεβού με τη γιατρό στις τρεις.

to have

Breakdown of Έχω ραντεβού με τη γιατρό στις τρεις.

• με: with
• σε: at
• η γιατρός: the doctor
• το ραντεβού: the appointment
• τρεις: three

Questions & Answers about Έχω ραντεβού με τη γιατρό στις τρεις.

Why is it "τη γιατρό" and not "τον γιατρό"?

Because the doctor referred to is female. Greek often uses the same noun γιατρός for both genders; the article shows gender.

• Female: η γιατρός (nom.), τη(ν) γιατρό (acc.).
• Male: ο γιατρός (nom.), τον γιατρό (acc.). You will also hear the specifically feminine form η γιατρίνα (acc. τη(ν) γιατρίνα), which is more colloquial/old-fashioned and not always preferred.

Why "τη" and not "την"?

The feminine accusative article is την, but its final -ν is often dropped before most consonants in speech and informal writing. It is typically kept before vowels and the consonants/clusters κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ. Since γιατρό begins with γ, many people say/write τη γιατρό. You may also see την γιατρό; both occur.

Why does "γιατρό" end in -ό here instead of -ός?

It’s in the accusative case (object of με “with”). Many nouns in -ος (including the epicene γιατρός) have -ο in the singular accusative: (η/ο) γιατρός → τη/τον γιατρό.

How do I say “with my doctor”?

Add the unstressed possessive after the noun: με τη γιατρό μου (female) / με τον γιατρό μου (male).

Why is there no article before "ραντεβού"? Could I say "ένα ραντεβού"?

Yes, both are possible:

• Έχω ραντεβού = “I have an appointment” (generic/indefinite, very idiomatic).
• Έχω ένα ραντεβού = “I have one/an appointment” (slightly more specific/emphatic). Note: ραντεβού is an indeclinable neuter noun; singular and plural look the same.

What exactly does "ραντεβού" mean? Is it only for medical appointments?

Ραντεβού means “appointment” in general, and also “date” in the romantic sense. Context disambiguates. With με τη γιατρό, it clearly means a professional appointment. For business you can also say ραντεβού; συνάντηση is another word for “meeting.”

Why "στις τρεις"? Is that literally “at the three”? What’s the grammar?

Yes—kind of. Στις is the contraction σε + τις (“at the”), agreeing with the implied feminine noun (ώρες) “hours.” Greek tells time with the (omitted) word ώρα (feminine):

• 1: στη μία (“at the one [o’clock]”, singular).
• 2+: στις δύο/τρεις/τέσσερις… (feminine plural to match the implied “hours”). Also, τρεις is the feminine/masculine form of “three”; τρία is neuter, so you can’t say στις τρία.

How do I say “at 3:15 / 3:30 / 3:45” or specify a.m./p.m.?

• 3:15: στις τρεις και τέταρτο
• 3:30: στις τρεις και μισή
• 3:45: στις τέσσερις παρά τέταρτο (“a quarter to four”) To clarify time of day:
• 3 p.m.: στις τρεις το απόγευμα
• 3 a.m.: στις τρεις τα ξημερώματα (or το πρωί, depending on context)

Could I say “I have an appointment at the doctor’s (office)” instead of “with the doctor”?

Yes. Use σε (“at”) for the place:

• Generic/office: Έχω ραντεβού στον γιατρό.
• Keeping feminine reference: Έχω ραντεβού στη(ν) γιατρό. Meaning nuance:
• με τη γιατρό = with the person (the doctor).
• στον/στη(ν) γιατρό = at the doctor’s (location/service).

If the doctor is male, how does the sentence change?

It becomes: Έχω ραντεβού με τον γιατρό στις τρεις.

Can I change the word order, for example put the time first?

Yes. Greek word order is flexible. All are natural, with slight differences in emphasis:

• Στις τρεις έχω ραντεβού με τη γιατρό.
• Με τη γιατρό έχω ραντεβού στις τρεις.
• Έχω ραντεβού στις τρεις με τη γιατρό.

How do I pronounce the sentence?

Approximate English-style transcription (stressed syllables in caps):

• Έχω: E-ho (χ like German “Bach”)
• ραντεβού: ran-de-VOO (ου = “oo”)
• με: meh
• τη: tee
• γιατρό: ya-TRO (γ before ι/ε sounds like English “y”)
• στις τρεις: stees trees (ει = ι = “ee”)

What’s the difference between "τρεις" and "τρία"?

They both mean “three,” but:

• τρεις is for masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., τρεις ώρες “three hours”).
• τρία is for neuter nouns (e.g., τρία λεπτά “three minutes”). Time uses the (implied) feminine ώρα, so you say στις τρεις.

How do I say it in the past or the future?

• Past: Είχα ραντεβού με τη γιατρό στις τρεις. (“I had an appointment…”)
• Future: Θα έχω ραντεβού με τη γιατρό στις τρεις. (“I will have an appointment…”) Note: Present Έχω ραντεβού… can also refer to a scheduled future event, like English “I have an appointment at three.”

How do I say “two appointments” if "ραντεβού" doesn’t change?

Use a number; the noun stays the same: Έχω δύο ραντεβού. (You can add context to clarify times: Έχω δύο ραντεβού σήμερα.)