Questions & Answers about Μένω σε μία μικρή πόλη.
What exactly does Μένω mean here? Does it mean “I live” or “I stay”?
Μένω literally means “I stay / I remain”, but in everyday Greek it is very commonly used to mean “I live (somewhere)”, i.e. where you reside.
So in this sentence:
- Μένω σε μία μικρή πόλη.
→ I live in a small town.
In another context, it could also mean “I am staying” (temporarily), for example:
- Μένω σε ξενοδοχείο. → I’m staying in a hotel.
Context tells you whether it’s about permanent residence or a temporary stay.
Do I need to say Εγώ μένω or is Μένω alone enough?
You usually do not need εγώ.
Greek verbs already show the subject in their ending, so:
- Μένω = I live / I stay
- Εγώ μένω = I live (with emphasis on I)
Use Εγώ μένω only if you want to contrast or emphasize:
- Εγώ μένω σε μία μικρή πόλη, αλλά ο αδελφός μου μένει στην Αθήνα.
I live in a small town, but my brother lives in Athens.
Why do we use σε μία here? What does σε mean?