Breakdown of Θέλω λίγη άδεια από τη δουλειά για να κάνω διακοπές.
Questions & Answers about Θέλω λίγη άδεια από τη δουλειά για να κάνω διακοπές.
Λίγη means “a little / some” and it is the feminine singular form of the adjective/pronoun λίγος, -η, -ο.
- Άδεια (leave, time off) is a feminine noun in Greek.
- Adjectives have to agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.
So:
- Masculine: λίγος (e.g. λίγος χρόνος – a little time)
- Feminine: λίγη (e.g. λίγη άδεια – some leave)
- Neuter: λίγο (e.g. λίγο νερό – a little water)
Here we have:
- λίγη άδεια = feminine adjective (λίγη) + feminine noun (άδεια).
In Greek, άδεια and διακοπές are related but not the same:
άδεια = leave / time off from work (the official permission not to work)
- e.g. παίρνω άδεια – I take leave
- αιτούμαι άδεια – I request leave
διακοπές = vacation / holidays (what you do with your time off)
- e.g. πάω διακοπές – I go on vacation
- κάνω διακοπές – I’m on vacation (literally: I do holidays)
So the sentence:
- Θέλω λίγη άδεια από τη δουλειά για να κάνω διακοπές.
literally means:
- “I want some leave from work in order to go on vacation.”
You ask your boss for άδεια, and then you go on διακοπές.
Άδεια here is a noun, not an adjective.
- As an adjective, άδειος / άδεια / άδειο means “empty”.
- e.g. άδειο ποτήρι – empty glass
- As a noun, η άδεια means “leave / permission / license”.
- e.g. η άδεια οδήγησης – driving license
- έχω άδεια – I have permission / a permit
- η άδεια από τη δουλειά – leave from work
In this sentence, we are using the noun:
- λίγη άδεια (noun) από τη δουλειά = some leave from work.
Δουλειά (work, job) is often used with the definite article in Greek when we mean “my/the job I go to every day”.
- από τη δουλειά = from work (my job, the workplace)
- στη δουλειά = at work / to work
- πάω στη δουλειά = I go to work
Without the article, δουλειά can sound more like “a job / work in general” rather than your specific, usual job:
- ψάχνω δουλειά – I’m looking for work / a job (no article)
- είμαι στη δουλειά – I’m at work (with article, referring to your workplace)
So:
- από τη δουλειά is the natural way to say “from work” (your job) in this context.
The full form of the feminine article in the accusative is την, but in modern Greek the ν often drops before certain consonants.
The general rule in everyday writing and speech:
- την → τη
- τον → το
before words starting with:
- δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ or a consonant cluster, etc.
So we commonly write and say:
- τη δουλειά (not την δουλειά)
- τη ζωή (not την ζωή)
Both την δουλειά and τη δουλειά are technically possible, but τη δουλειά is the standard modern written form and by far the most common in speech.
Για να introduces a purpose clause, roughly “in order to / so that I can”.
- να alone very often just introduces a verb (subjunctive):
- θέλω να φύγω – I want to leave
- για να makes the purpose explicit:
- Θέλω λίγη άδεια για να κάνω διακοπές.
- “I want some leave in order to go on vacation.”
In many cases, native speakers do use να alone even for purpose, but:
- για να sounds clearer and more explicitly goal-oriented in this sentence.
So:
- να κάνω διακοπές — “to go on vacation” (more neutral)
- για να κάνω διακοπές — “so that I can go on vacation / in order to go on vacation” (purpose).
Greek has several ways to express being on vacation. The most common are:
- κάνω διακοπές – literally “I do holidays”
- πάω διακοπές – I go on vacation
- είμαι σε διακοπές – I am on vacation
All are natural, but they have slightly different focuses:
- κάνω διακοπές: more general “be on vacation” as an activity or state.
- πάω διακοπές: focus on going/starting your vacation.
- είμαι σε διακοπές: focus on currently being on vacation.
In:
- Θέλω λίγη άδεια από τη δουλειά για να κάνω διακοπές.
the speaker is expressing the desire to have a vacation period, so κάνω διακοπές fits very well.
Διακοπές (holidays/vacation) is almost always used in the plural in this meaning:
- κάνω διακοπές
- πάω διακοπές
- οι καλοκαιρινές διακοπές – summer holidays
The singular διακοπή means something different in practice:
- διακοπή = interruption / cut / break in continuity
- διακοπή ρεύματος – power cut
- διακοπή νερού – water shut-off
- κάνουμε μια διακοπή – we take a break (in a lesson or meeting)
So:
- For “vacation/holidays”, use διακοπές (plural).
- Διακοπή is usually an “interruption”, not a holiday period.
Yes, Greek word order is quite flexible, and your alternative sentence is natural:
- Θέλω να κάνω διακοπές, γι’ αυτό θέλω λίγη άδεια από τη δουλειά.
- “I want to go on vacation, that’s why I want some leave from work.”
The original:
- Θέλω λίγη άδεια από τη δουλειά για να κάνω διακοπές.
puts the “leave from work” right after θέλω, so the focus is on what you want: the leave.
Your version:
- First states the desire for vacation, then explains the consequence/reason (therefore I want leave).
Both are grammatically correct and idiomatic; they just structure the information slightly differently.
Θέλω λίγη άδεια… is grammatically correct, but it can sound a bit direct in a formal or polite context (like speaking to your boss).
More polite and common options:
Θα ήθελα λίγη άδεια από τη δουλειά για να κάνω διακοπές.
- “I would like some leave from work to go on vacation.”
Μπορώ να πάρω λίγη άδεια από τη δουλειά;
- “Can I take some leave from work?”
Ήθελα να ρωτήσω αν μπορώ να πάρω λίγη άδεια.
- “I wanted to ask if I can take some leave.”
Using θα ήθελα or a question form is usually more polite than a bare θέλω in this kind of request.
The word is δουλειά and is pronounced approximately like “thoo-lya” in English.
Breakdown:
- δου-: pronounced like “thoo” (with voiced “th” as in “this”)
- -λει-: /li/ (the ει is pronounced like ι)
- -ά: stressed final a
In modern Greek spelling:
- ει is pronounced the same as ι, η, υ, οι, υι – they are all /i/.
- The combination λιά gives lya (with a palatalized “l” sound).
So:
- δουλειά = /ðuˈʎa/ roughly “thoo-LYA”.
- The stress mark (΄) over ά shows you stress the last syllable.