Πώς λέγεται αυτό;

What is this called?

Breakdown of Πώς λέγεται αυτό;

• αυτός: this
• πώς: how
• λέγομαι: to be called

Questions & Answers about Πώς λέγεται αυτό;

How do I pronounce Πώς λέγεται αυτό;

• Πώς: pos (like “posh” without the h).
• λέγεται: LE-ye-te [ˈleʝete]. The γ before ε sounds like the English y in “yes” (a soft y/gh sound).
• αυτό: af-TÓ [afˈto]. The digraph αυ is pronounced af before a voiceless consonant like τ.
  Quick guide: pos LE-ye-te af-TÓ.

Is this more like “How do you say this?” or “What is this called?”

Both ideas are covered. Literally it’s “How is this called?” (passive), but in real use it means what English speakers express by either “How do you say this?” or “What is this called?”

What’s the difference between Πώς λέγεται αυτό; and Πώς το λένε αυτό;

• Πώς λέγεται αυτό; = passive/impersonal: “How is this called?” Neutral, slightly more formal or careful.
• Πώς το λένε αυτό; = active with 3rd plural “they”: “How do they call this?” Very common, everyday speech.
  Both are fine in conversation.

Can I say Πώς το λέμε αυτό; What does that nuance imply?

Yes. Πώς το λέμε αυτό; = “How do we call this?” It often implies “What’s the word for this again?”—you include yourself in the speech community that should know the term. It can sound like you’re trying to remember a word.

How do I specify the language, like “in Greek”?

Add a phrase with “στα + language (plural)”:

• Πώς λέγεται αυτό στα ελληνικά;
• Πώς το λένε αυτό στα ελληνικά;
  Other examples: στα αγγλικά, στα γαλλικά, στα ισπανικά.
  Note: Languages are typically plural in this construction (e.g., τα ελληνικά).

Why does the sentence end with a semicolon?

In Greek, the question mark is the semicolon-like symbol ;. So ; marks a question. The Greek semicolon (pause) is a raised dot · (ano teleia).

What does the accent mark do in Πώς and λέγεται?

It marks stress.

• Πώς (with an accent) means “how.”
• πως (without an accent) is a conjunction meaning “that,” roughly like ότι.
  In λέγεται, the stress is on the first syllable: ΛΈ-γε-ται (pronounced LE-ye-te).

What form is λέγεται? What’s the verb behind it?

• λέγεται is the 3rd person singular present of the middle/passive verb λέγομαι (“to be called / to be said”), related to active λέω (“to say”).
  Present of λέγομαι:
• εγώ λέγομαι
• εσύ λέγεσαι
• αυτός/αυτή/αυτό λέγεται
• εμείς λεγόμαστε
• εσείς λέγεστε
• αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά λέγονται

Is Αυτό πώς λέγεται; also correct?

Yes. Αυτό πώς λέγεται; simply front-focuses “this.” Both orders are fine:

• Πώς λέγεται αυτό;
• Αυτό πώς λέγεται;

Should I ever use αυτός/αυτή instead of αυτό here?

• αυτό is neuter and the default for an unknown thing you’re pointing at.
• If you’re clearly referring to a masculine or feminine noun (“this [fem] device”), you might say the full noun: Πώς λέγεται αυτή η συσκευή;
• For people, avoid neuter; use name-patterns below.

How do I ask about a person’s name instead?

Use these instead of the object pattern:

• Informal: Πώς σε λένε;
• Polite/plural: Πώς σας λένε;
• More formal/reflexive: Πώς λέγεστε;
  “Πώς λέγεται;” can appear for titles/roles or in formal contexts, but everyday Greek prefers the versions above for names.

Do I need both το and αυτό in Πώς το λένε αυτό;

In the active pattern, Greek commonly uses the clitic object pronoun along with the full noun/pronoun (clitic doubling): Πώς το λένε αυτό;
Dropping the clitic (Πώς λένε αυτό;) sounds odd/unidiomatic. In the passive Πώς λέγεται αυτό;, no clitic is needed.

How do I ask “How is this pronounced?” rather than “What is this called?”

Use the verb “to pronounce”:

• Πώς προφέρεται αυτό; (passive)
• Πώς το προφέρετε; (active, polite/plural)
• Πώς το προφέρεις; (active, informal singular)

Is λέγεται only for things, or also for places and titles?

It’s perfect for names of objects, places, works, etc.:

• Πώς λέγεται αυτό το μέρος; “What is this place called?”
• Πώς λέγεται αυτή η ταινία; “What is this film called?”
  For people, prefer Πώς τον/την λένε;

Can λέγεται also mean “it is said / people say”?

Yes, λέγεται can mean “it is said/rumored”:

• Λέγεται ότι θα βρέξει. “It is said that it will rain.”
  Context shows whether it means “is called” or “it is said.”

Any quick stress or spelling pitfalls to avoid?

• Stress: Πώς (accent needed) vs πως (different word).
• Pronunciation: αυτό = af-TÓ, not av-TÓ (because of the following voiceless τ).
• Don’t confuse λέγετε (“you [plural] say”) with λέγεστε (“you [plural] are called”).

How might someone answer this question?

Common reply frames:

• Λέγεται + [name/term]. “It is called …”
• Το λένε + [name/term]. “They call it …”
• Είναι + [name/term]. “It is …” (also acceptable)