Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.

Speak a bit more slowly, please.

Breakdown of Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.

• μιλάω: to speak
• παρακαλώ: please
• πιο: more
• αργά: slowly
• λίγο: a bit

Questions & Answers about Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.

Why is it Μίλα and not μιλάς?

Μίλα is the imperative form (a command or request) of the verb μιλάω / μιλώ (to speak).

• μιλάς = you speak / you are speaking (normal present tense, 2nd person singular).
• Μίλα = speak! (imperative, 2nd person singular).

So in a request like this, Greek uses the imperative Μίλα rather than the present μιλάς.

Is Μίλα informal? How would I say this politely or formally?

Yes, Μίλα is informal, used with people you address as εσύ (friends, family, people your age, children).

For a polite or formal version (or when speaking to more than one person), you use the plural/formal imperative:

• Μιλήστε λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.
  → Polite/formal: Please speak a bit more slowly.

So:

• Informal: Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.
• Polite/formal or plural: Μιλήστε λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.

What exactly does λίγο add to the sentence?

λίγο means a little / a bit.

Here it:

• Softens the request: Μίλα πιο αργά (Speak more slowly) can sound more direct.
• Makes it more natural and polite: Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά feels closer to Could you speak a bit more slowly? rather than a bare Speak more slowly.

You can drop λίγο, but it becomes a bit stronger and less “softened”:

• Μίλα πιο αργά, παρακαλώ. → perfectly correct, just a bit more direct.

Why do we need both λίγο and πιο? Don’t they both mean “a little/more”?

They do different jobs:

• λίγο = a little / a bit (softens the request, expresses small degree).
• πιο = more (marks the comparative: slower than you are speaking now).

So:

• πιο αργά = more slowly (compared to now).
• λίγο πιο αργά = a bit more slowly (only somewhat slower, and more polite).

Possible variants:

• Μίλα πιο αργά → Speak more slowly (no “a bit”).

• Μίλα λίγο αργά → odd here; normally you want the comparative (πιο) for “slower (than now)”.

  For “a bit slower than now”, Greek naturally uses λίγο πιο αργά.

What does πιο αργά literally mean, and could I just say αργά?

• αργά = slowly (or late, depending on context).
• πιο αργά = more slowly (literally slower).

If you said:

• Μίλα αργά, παρακαλώ.
  That means Speak slowly, please (in general, at a slow speed).

With πιο αργά, you are asking for a change from the current speed:

• Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.
  → Speak a bit more slowly (than you’re speaking now), please.

What’s the difference between αργά and σιγά? Could I say Μίλα λίγο πιο σιγά?

Both are adverbs, but they focus on different things:

• αργά = slowly (tempo/speed).
• σιγά = quietly / softly (volume), and sometimes “slowly” in a more general sense.

So:

• Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ. → Speak a bit more slowly (slower pace).
• Μίλα λίγο πιο σιγά, παρακαλώ. → Speak a bit more quietly (lower volume).

Learners sometimes confuse them because English often uses slow down for both pace and sometimes volume, but Greek separates them more clearly.

What does παρακαλώ literally mean, and is it always “please”?

παρακαλώ literally comes from I beg / I request, but in modern Greek it works like:

1. please in requests:
   
   • Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ. → Please speak a bit more slowly.
2. you’re welcome after thank you:
   
   • Ευχαριστώ. – Παρακαλώ.

So here, it functions exactly like please.

Does παρακαλώ have to go at the end? Can I say it at the beginning instead?

It does not have to be at the end. All of these are natural:

• Παρακαλώ, μίλα λίγο πιο αργά.
• Μίλα, παρακαλώ, λίγο πιο αργά.
• Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.

The sentence you have (with παρακαλώ at the end) is very common and sounds perfectly natural. Moving παρακαλώ mainly affects rhythm, not meaning.

Why is there a comma before παρακαλώ? Is it necessary?

The comma is used because παρακαλώ here is an inserted polite phrase, not an essential part of the verb phrase.

• Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά = the main request.
• παρακαλώ = added politeness, similar to an aside.

In practice:

• Native speakers often write: Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.
• In informal writing, some people may drop the comma, but standard punctuation keeps it.

How do you pronounce the γ in λίγο and αργά?

The Greek γ has different sounds depending on the following vowel.

• In λίγο (li‑go), before o:

  • γ is like a soft g in Spanish “amigo”, or a voiced χ.
  • IPA: [ˈliɣo]

• In αργά (ar‑gá), before a:

  • Same sound: a voiced version of the χ in “Bach”.
  • IPA: [arˈɣa]

It is not like the hard English g in “go” and also not like j in “judge”.

What’s the difference between Μίλα and Μίλησε? Are they both imperatives?

Yes, both are 2nd person singular imperatives, but with different aspect:

• Μίλα = present imperative → ongoing or repeated action.
  
  • Used for how someone should speak in general or continuously: Speak (in this way).
• Μίλησε = aorist imperative → one complete action, “speak once / say it”.
  
  • More like Say it / Speak (now).

In this sentence, you want the ongoing manner of speaking (slower), so Μίλα is natural:

• Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.
  → Adjust the way you are speaking.

Can I use this sentence when talking to more than one person?

No, Μίλα is singular (to one person).

For more than one person (or for polite/formal you), use the plural imperative:

• Μιλήστε λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.
  → Please speak a bit more slowly (you all / Sir / Madam).

Could I change the word order, for example Μίλα παρακαλώ λίγο πιο αργά?

Yes, Greek word order is relatively flexible. These are all grammatically correct:

• Μίλα λίγο πιο αργά, παρακαλώ.
• Μίλα, παρακαλώ, λίγο πιο αργά.
• Παρακαλώ, μίλα λίγο πιο αργά.

Μίλα παρακαλώ λίγο πιο αργά (without commas) is understandable in speech, but in writing you’d normally mark παρακαλώ off with commas as an aside: Μίλα, παρακαλώ, λίγο πιο αργά. The version you have is standard and very natural.