Breakdown of Σήμερα φοράω άνετο παντελόνι και μπλούζα, αλλά κάθομαι σε άβολη καρέκλα.
Questions & Answers about Σήμερα φοράω άνετο παντελόνι και μπλούζα, αλλά κάθομαι σε άβολη καρέκλα.
Modern Greek doesn’t normally distinguish between simple present and present continuous the way English does.
- φοράω can mean both “I wear” (habitually) and “I’m wearing” (right now).
- The context word Σήμερα (today) makes it clear that this is about what is happening now, so we naturally translate it as “I’m wearing” in English.
So:
- Σήμερα φοράω άνετο παντελόνι. → Today I’m wearing comfortable trousers.
- Συνήθως φοράω τζιν. → I usually wear jeans.
Greek can omit the indefinite article (ένας / μία / ένα) especially when you:
- introduce or describe things in a general way
- focus on the quality rather than on “one specific item”
Here, the focus is on the fact that the clothes are comfortable, not on “one specific pair of trousers and one specific blouse”.
You could say:
- Σήμερα φοράω ένα άνετο παντελόνι και μία μπλούζα.
That’s also correct; it sounds a bit more specific. But:
- Σήμερα φοράω άνετο παντελόνι και μπλούζα is perfectly natural and very common.
Adjectives in Greek agree with the noun in:
- gender (masculine / feminine / neuter),
- number (singular / plural),
- case (here: accusative).
παντελόνι is neuter singular. So the adjective must also be neuter singular accusative:
- Masculine: άνετος (e.g. άνετος καναπές – comfortable sofa)
- Feminine: άνετη (e.g. άνετη καρέκλα – comfortable chair)
- Neuter: άνετο (e.g. άνετο παντελόνι – comfortable trousers)
So άνετο παντελόνι is the correct combination.
Different languages group things differently:
- In Greek, παντελόνι is grammatically singular, even though it refers to what English sees as a “pair”.
- The plural is παντελόνια (trousers, several pairs).
Examples:
- Αυτό το παντελόνι είναι άνετο.
These trousers are comfortable. (lit. This trouser is comfortable.) - Μου αρέσουν αυτά τα παντελόνια.
I like these trousers/pairs of trousers.
μπλούζα is a very general word for a top worn on the upper body. Depending on context, it can be:
- a blouse
- a casual top
- a t‑shirt (often specifically μπλουζάκι for “t‑shirt”)
- sometimes even a light sweater
Other more specific words:
- πουκάμισο = shirt (with a collar, buttons)
- φανέλα = undershirt or sports jersey (context‑dependent)
In everyday speech, μπλούζα is often “top” or “shirt/blouse” in general.
κάθομαι is one of many Greek verbs that appear in the middle/passive form (ending in -μαι) but have an active meaning. Traditionally, these are called “deponent verbs”.
- κάθομαι = I sit / I am sitting
- There is no commonly used active form κάθω.
You’ll see many verbs like this:
- θυμάμαι = I remember
- κοιμάμαι = I sleep
- φοβάμαι = I am afraid
So you simply learn κάθομαι as the dictionary form meaning “to sit”.
Yes. κάθομαι in the present tense covers both:
- “I sit” (habitual or general)
- “I’m sitting” (right now)
Examples:
- Κάθε μέρα κάθομαι εδώ.
Every day I sit here. - Τώρα κάθομαι σε άβολη καρέκλα.
Right now I’m sitting in an uncomfortable chair.
Greek present tense is used for both simple and continuous meanings; context decides the best English translation.
σε is a very flexible preposition. It can mean:
- in
- on
- at
- sometimes to
In σε άβολη καρέκλα, it’s best translated as “in / on an uncomfortable chair”, and we usually say “in an uncomfortable chair” or "on an uncomfortable chair" in English depending on style.
Which English preposition you choose depends on context and what sounds natural in English; Greek simply uses σε plus the accusative case:
- σε καρέκλα
- σε άβολη καρέκλα
Both are possible, but they mean slightly different things:
σε άβολη καρέκλα
→ on an uncomfortable chair (indefinite, not a specific known chair)στην άβολη καρέκλα
→ on the uncomfortable chair (a specific chair, known from context)
στην is a contraction of σε + την:
- σε + την καρέκλα → στην καρέκλα
In your sentence we’re talking generally: “I’m sitting in an uncomfortable chair (some chair, not the specific one).”
So σε άβολη καρέκλα (without the article την) is appropriate and natural.
Again, this is adjective–noun agreement.
- καρέκλα is feminine singular.
- So the adjective must also be feminine singular accusative: άβολη.
Forms of the adjective:
- Masculine: άβολος (e.g. άβολος καναπές – uncomfortable sofa)
- Feminine: άβολη (e.g. άβολη καρέκλα – uncomfortable chair)
- Neuter: άβολο (e.g. άβολο κάθισμα – uncomfortable seat)
So άβολη καρέκλα is the correct combination.
Yes, άβολη is generally understood as the opposite of άνετη in everyday language.
- άνετος / άνετη / άνετο = comfortable, at ease
- άβολος / άβολη / άβολο = uncomfortable, inconvenient
Linguistically, άβολος comes from βολή (throw/fit/position) with the negative prefix α-, similar to how English uses un- or in-:
- βολικός = convenient
- άβολος = inconvenient / uncomfortable
In practice:
- άνετη καρέκλα = a comfortable chair
- άβολη καρέκλα = an uncomfortable chair
Σήμερα is flexible in position. You can put it:
- At the beginning (very common):
Σήμερα φοράω άνετο παντελόνι και μπλούζα… - After the verb:
Φοράω σήμερα άνετο παντελόνι και μπλούζα… - Later in the sentence:
Φοράω άνετο παντελόνι και μπλούζα σήμερα…
All are grammatically correct. Putting Σήμερα first is the most neutral and natural here; it emphasizes “today” as the main time frame for both actions.