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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”?