Όσο μιλάω ελληνικά, τόσο θυμάμαι πιο πολλές λέξεις.

to speak

Breakdown of Όσο μιλάω ελληνικά, τόσο θυμάμαι πιο πολλές λέξεις.

• ελληνικά: in Greek
• πιο: more
• πολύς: many

Questions & Answers about Όσο μιλάω ελληνικά, τόσο θυμάμαι πιο πολλές λέξεις.

What does the pattern Όσο ... τόσο ... mean?

It expresses a proportional relationship: “the more/longer X happens, the more Y happens.” Here: “The more I speak Greek, the more words I remember.” Each half usually contains, or implies, a comparative idea.

Do I have to include τόσο?

No. You can say: Όσο μιλάω ελληνικά, θυμάμαι περισσότερες λέξεις. Omitting τόσο is common and natural. Just keep a comparative in the second part (e.g., περισσότερες/πιο πολλές). If you drop both the comparative and τόσο, it shifts to a temporal meaning: “As long as I speak Greek, I remember words.”

Why is there a comma after the first clause?

When the όσο-clause comes first, Greek normally uses a comma: Όσο μιλάω ελληνικά, ... If you reverse the order, a comma is usually unnecessary: Θυμάμαι περισσότερες λέξεις όσο μιλάω ελληνικά.

What’s the difference between μιλάω and μιλώ?

They are interchangeable present-tense forms of the same verb (“I speak”). Μιλάω is more common/colloquial; μιλώ is slightly more formal or written. Both are fully correct.

Why is there no preposition “in,” as in “speak in Greek”?