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Questions & Answers about Έχεις άλλη ιδέα;
What does each word mean and how does the sentence work?
- Έχεις = you have (2nd person singular of έχω = to have)
- άλλη = other/another (feminine, agreeing with the noun)
- ιδέα = idea (feminine noun) So the sentence literally means: You have another idea? In English: Do you have another idea? or more idiomatically: Any other ideas?
Why is there a semicolon at the end instead of a question mark?
In Greek, the question mark is written as a semicolon: ;. So Έχεις άλλη ιδέα; uses the Greek question mark.
Why is άλλη feminine here?
Adjectives in Greek agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. Ιδέα is a feminine noun, so the adjective άλλος takes its feminine form άλλη. Basic forms:
- Masculine: άλλος
- Feminine: άλλη
- Neuter: άλλο
What case are άλλη and ιδέα in?
They’re in the accusative singular, because they are the direct object of έχεις. For many feminine nouns in -α (like ιδέα), nominative and accusative singular look the same. The article shows the difference:
- Nominative: η ιδέα
- Accusative: την ιδέα Here, there’s no article, so you only see the accusative through word role, not form.
Do I need an article here? What’s the difference between Έχεις άλλη ιδέα;, Έχεις μια/μία άλλη ιδέα;, and Έχεις καμιά/καμία άλλη ιδέα;?
- Έχεις άλλη ιδέα; Neutral, very common: “Do you have another idea?”
- Έχεις μια άλλη ιδέα; Slight “one more” nuance (counting one additional idea). μία (with stress) can emphasize “one (single)”.
- Έχεις καμιά/καμία άλλη ιδέα; “Do you have any other idea (by any chance)?” Sounds exploratory/softer, like “any other ideas?” in English.
How do I make it plural or more formal/polite?
- Plural ideas (informal you): Έχεις άλλες ιδέες; = “Do you have other ideas?”
- Formal/plural you (one idea): Έχετε άλλη ιδέα;
- Formal/plural you (multiple ideas): Έχετε άλλες ιδέες;
How do I pronounce it?
- Έχεις: [ˈe.çis] (the χ before e/i is like the German “ich” sound [ç]); stress on the first syllable.
- άλλη: [ˈa.li] (double λ is not doubled in length in Modern Greek).
- ιδέα: [iˈðe.a] (δ = voiced “th” as in “this” [ð]); three syllables i‑ðe‑a with stress on -δέ-. Whole sentence: [ˈe.çis ˈa.li iˈðe.a]
Does Greek need a helper like “do” to form a yes/no question?
No. Greek forms yes/no questions by intonation and the question mark. Έχεις άλλη ιδέα; is just the statement order with question intonation. Typical answers:
- Ναι, έχω. (Yes, I do/have.)
- Όχι, δεν έχω. (No, I don’t/have not.)
Can I make it even shorter in casual speech?
Yes. Elliptical options are common:
- Άλλη ιδέα; = “Another idea?”
- Καμιά άλλη ιδέα; = “Any other idea(s)?” These are perfectly natural in informal contexts.
How can I soften it or make it more polite?
Add μήπως (“by any chance”):
- Μήπως έχεις άλλη ιδέα; (informal)
- Μήπως έχετε άλλη ιδέα; (formal/plural) This sounds gentler and less direct.
How do I say “Don’t you have another idea?” and how do I answer negative questions in Greek?
- Negative question: Δεν έχεις άλλη ιδέα; Answers in Greek agree with the polarity of the sentence:
- Ναι, δεν έχω. = “Yes, I don’t have.” (affirming the negative)
- Όχι, έχω. = “No, I do have.” This can feel opposite to English habits—keep the polarity rule in mind.
Does άλλη mean “another” or “different”? When would I use διαφορετική?
άλλη covers both “another” and “other/different” depending on context:
- Θέλω άλλη ιδέα. = I want another/different idea. Use διαφορετική when you want to stress “different (not the same)”:
- Θέλω διαφορετική ιδέα. (clearer emphasis on difference)
Can I change the word order?
Yes, for emphasis or style:
- Άλλη ιδέα έχεις; (fronts “another idea” for focus)
- Έχεις άλλη ιδέα εσύ; (emphasizes “you”) Default Έχεις άλλη ιδέα; is the most neutral.
What’s the full present-tense conjugation of έχω (to have)?
- εγώ έχω = I have
- εσύ έχεις = you have (singular, informal)
- αυτός/αυτή/αυτό έχει = he/she/it has
- εμείς έχουμε = we have
- εσείς έχετε = you have (plural or formal)
- αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά έχουν(ε) = they have
Anything to know about the accent on the initial capital in Έχεις?
Greek keeps the stress mark (τόνος) even on an initial capital letter (e.g., Έ). In all-caps text it’s often omitted, but in normal writing it should be there.
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