Learn Hardcore Greek: Δεν προλαβαίνω να κάνω βόλτα σήμερα, γιατί δουλεύω μέχρι το βράδυ. - I don’t have time to go for a walk today, because I work until the evening.

So it’s not a general “I don’t have free time in life”, but “there isn’t enough time today / in this specific situation to also do X.” It often implies regret or inconvenience.

Why is there να after προλαβαίνω? What structure is προλαβαίνω να κάνω?

Modern Greek doesn’t use infinitives like English (to do, to go). Instead, it uses να + a finite verb (subjunctive form) to express that idea.

προλαβαίνω να κάνω κάτι ≈ I have time to do something
Δεν προλαβαίνω να κάνω κάτι ≈ I don’t have time to do something.

So the pattern is:

(δεν) προλαβαίνω + να + [verb]

You need the να here; you cannot just say Δεν προλαβαίνω κάνω βόλτα.

Could I say Δεν έχω χρόνο να κάνω βόλτα σήμερα instead? Is it the same?

Yes, Δεν έχω χρόνο να κάνω βόλτα σήμερα is correct and natural. It means:

I don’t have time to go for a walk today.

Nuance:

Δεν προλαβαίνω να κάνω βόλτα: Focuses on time within your schedule; “I can’t fit it in”, “I won’t make it in time”.
Δεν έχω χρόνο να κάνω βόλτα: More literal “I don’t have (enough) time”.

In many everyday contexts they’re interchangeable, but προλαβαίνω sounds a bit more situational, like you’re squeezed by other commitments.

Why do we say να κάνω βόλτα and not just βόλτα? Can I say να πάω βόλτα?

Greek normally uses a verb with βόλτα:

κάνω βόλτα = take a walk / go for a stroll / go out for a bit
πάω βόλτα = go for a walk / go out for a stroll

So common options here are:

Δεν προλαβαίνω να κάνω βόλτα σήμερα.
Δεν προλαβαίνω να πάω βόλτα σήμερα.

Both are correct and natural; κάνω βόλτα is probably the most common collocation.

You cannot say Δεν προλαβαίνω βόλτα σήμερα without a verb – you need να κάνω / να πάω with βόλτα.

Does βόλτα strictly mean “walk”, or can it mean other kinds of outings?

Βόλτα is broader than just a walk on foot.

It can mean:

A walk: go for a walk in the park
- Πάμε μια βόλτα στο πάρκο;
A casual outing by car, bike, etc.: go for a drive / ride
- Πάμε μια βόλτα με το αυτοκίνητο;
A general “going out for a bit to relax”, with no strict purpose.

In this sentence, να κάνω βόλτα most naturally suggests to go for a walk or to go out for a little outing.

In this sentence, is γιατί “why” or “because”? How do I tell?

Here γιατί means because:

..., γιατί δουλεύω μέχρι το βράδυ.
→ …because I work until the evening.

How to tell:

At the beginning of a question, γιατί usually means why:
- Γιατί δεν προλαβαίνεις; = Why don’t you have time?
In the middle of a statement, introducing a reason, it usually means because:
- Δεν προλαβαίνω, γιατί δουλεύω. = I don’t have time, because I’m working.

Why is δουλεύω in the present tense if we’re talking about “today” (the future of the day)?

Greek often uses the present tense for:

Scheduled or planned events in the near future, especially within the same day.

So:

Σήμερα δουλεύω μέχρι το βράδυ.
can mean Today I’m working until the evening (a planned schedule).

You could also say:

Σήμερα θα δουλεύω μέχρι το βράδυ.

But in everyday speech, simple present δουλεύω is perfectly normal for talking about a shift or schedule happening today.

What exactly does μέχρι το βράδυ mean? Why the article το?

μέχρι το βράδυ literally is until the evening.

μέχρι = until / up to
(το) βράδυ = evening, night

The definite article το is very common here; the fixed phrase μέχρι το βράδυ generally means:

until this evening / all the way up to the evening (today).

So δουλεύω μέχρι το βράδυ ≈ I work until the evening / I’m at work all day until tonight.

Without the article (μέχρι βράδυ) is possible in some dialects or casual speech, but μέχρι το βράδυ is the standard, neutral form.

Can I use ως instead of μέχρι? For example, δουλεύω ως το βράδυ?

Yes:

δουλεύω ως το βράδυ
is also correct and means the same: I work until the evening.

μέχρι is more common in everyday speech; ως can sound a bit more formal or written, but in this phrase many speakers treat them as interchangeable.

Could I move σήμερα to the front or another place in the sentence? Does the meaning change?

You can move σήμερα quite freely:

Σήμερα δεν προλαβαίνω να κάνω βόλτα, γιατί δουλεύω μέχρι το βράδυ.
Δεν προλαβαίνω σήμερα να κάνω βόλτα, γιατί δουλεύω μέχρι το βράδυ.
Δεν προλαβαίνω να κάνω βόλτα σήμερα, γιατί δουλεύω μέχρι το βράδυ. (original)

All are grammatical and mean essentially the same thing: Today I don’t have time to go for a walk…

Nuance:

Putting Σήμερα first slightly emphasizes today as the exception:
- As for today, I can’t…
The original order is the most neutral and common.

Is Δεν προλαβαίνω by itself a complete answer in conversation?

Yes. In a dialogue like:

– Θες να πάμε μια βόλτα; (Do you want to go for a walk?)
– Δεν προλαβαίνω. (I don’t have time / I can’t fit it in.)

Δεν προλαβαίνω on its own is natural and commonly used. The rest (να κάνω βόλτα σήμερα) is understood from context and can be omitted in casual speech.