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Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου.

Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου.
I have a good time with my group of friends.

Breakdown of Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου.

μου
my
με
with
περνάω καλά
to have a good time
η παρέα
the group of friends
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Questions & Answers about Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου.

What does Περνάω καλά literally mean, and why is it translated as “I have a good time”?

Literally, περνάω means “I pass” or “I go through”, and καλά means “well”.
So Περνάω καλά is literally “I pass well / I’m going through [this time] well”.

In everyday Greek, this idiom means:

  • “I’m having a good time”,
  • “I’m enjoying myself”,
  • sometimes “I’m doing well” (depending on context).

So in Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου, the idea is:
“I pass my time well when I’m with my group of friends → I have a good time with my friends.”

Why is it καλά and not καλή in this sentence?

Καλά here is an adverb, not an adjective.

  • καλός / καλή / καλό = “good” as an adjective (describing a noun: good boy, good girl, good thing).
  • καλά = “well / nicely / fine” as an adverb (describing how something is done).

In Περνάω καλά, you are describing how you “pass/spend” your time (you pass it well), so Greek uses the adverb:

  • Περνάω καλά. = I’m doing well / I’m having a good time.
  • Τρώω καλά. = I eat well.
  • Κοιμάμαι καλά. = I sleep well.

Using καλή here (Περνάω καλή) would be ungrammatical.

What exactly does η παρέα mean? Is it just “friends”?

Η παρέα is usually translated as “company” or “group of friends / people you hang out with”.

Nuances:

  • φίλοι = “friends” in the sense of the relationship: they are your friends.
  • παρέα = the group you spend time with, the social circle or company at a given time.
    It can be:
    • close friends,
    • casual friends,
    • sometimes even people who aren’t really “friends” but are together socially.

So:

  • Με την παρέα μου = with my group (my crowd, my gang, my mates).
  • Με τους φίλους μου = with my friends.

In this sentence, την παρέα μου is naturally understood as “my group of friends / my crowd”.

Why is it την παρέα and not η παρέα or something else?

Την παρέα is the accusative singular form of η παρέα.

  • Nominative (subject): η παρέα – “the group/company”
  • Accusative (object): την παρέα – “the group/company” (object of a verb or preposition)

After the preposition με (“with”), Greek uses the accusative case:

  • με + την παρέα → “with the group/company”

So in με την παρέα μου:

  • με = with
  • την = the (feminine, accusative, singular)
  • παρέα = group/company
  • μου = my

Together: με την παρέα μου = “with my group (of friends)”.

Why does μου come after παρέα instead of before, like in English “my group”?

In Greek, the possessive pronoun usually comes after the noun, and the definite article stays in front:

  • η παρέα μου = the company my → “my group/company”
  • το σπίτι μου = my house
  • ο φίλος μου = my friend

So the pattern is:

article + noun + possessive pronoun

In the sentence:

  • την παρέα μου follows that pattern in the accusative:
    • την (the) + παρέα (group) + μου (my)

Putting μου before the noun (μου παρέα, μου φίλος) is generally wrong or very marked/poetic. The normal everyday order is noun + μου.

Is there a difference between περνάω and περνώ? Which one should I use?

Both περνάω and περνώ are correct; they are two forms of the same verb.

  • περνάω is a bit more colloquial and very common in spoken Greek.
  • περνώ is often seen as slightly more formal or standard, but it’s also used in speech.

You can treat them as interchangeable in most everyday contexts:

  • Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου.
  • Περνώ καλά με την παρέα μου.

Both mean: “I have a good time with my friends.”

The rest of the conjugation can also show this double form:

  • εγώ περνάω / περνώ
  • εσύ περνάς
  • αυτός/αυτή/αυτό περνάει / περνά
  • εμείς περνάμε
  • εσείς περνάτε
  • αυτοί περνάνε / περνούν(ε)

As a learner, you can safely use περνάω; you’ll be understood everywhere.

Can I change the word order, for example: Με την παρέα μου περνάω καλά?

Yes. Greek word order is quite flexible, and all of the following are possible and natural:

  1. Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου.
  2. Με την παρέα μου περνάω καλά.
  3. Καλά περνάω με την παρέα μου. (sounds a bit more expressive/emphatic)

The main differences are about emphasis:

  • Starting with Με την παρέα μου highlights with whom you have a good time:
    • “With my friends, I have a good time (maybe not so much alone).”
  • Starting with Καλά περνάω can sound like you’re stressing how well you’re doing:
    • “I really have a good time with my friends.”

Grammatically, they are all fine.

How would I say this in the past or future? What are the common tense changes for Περνάω καλά?

Using the same expression with different tenses:

  • Present (now / habit):

    • Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου.
      I have a good time / I’m having a good time with my friends.

  • Simple past (aorist) – one completed event:

    • Πέρασα καλά με την παρέα μου.
      I had a good time with my friends (e.g., last night).

  • Imperfect past – repeated/ongoing in the past:

    • Περνούσα καλά με την παρέα μου.
      I used to have a good time with my friends / I was having a good time with my friends (over some period).

  • Simple future:

    • Θα περάσω καλά με την παρέα μου.
      I will have a good time with my friends.

  • Future continuous (less common here, but possible):

    • Θα περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου.
      I will be having a good time with my friends (emphasis on duration/habit in the future).

The stem changes:

  • Present: περνάω
  • Past/future simple: πέρασα, θα περάσω
Are there other common ways to say “I have a good time” in Greek, similar to Περνάω καλά?

Yes, several other natural expressions:

  1. Περνάω όμορφα.
    Literally “I pass beautifully” → I have a lovely/nice time.

  2. Περνάω ωραία.
    Same idea: I have a great/nice time.

  3. Διασκεδάζω (πολύ).
    “I am having fun / I’m enjoying myself (a lot).”

  4. Το διασκεδάζω.
    “I’m really enjoying it.”

  5. Past tense versions:

    • Πέρασα υπέροχα. = I had a wonderful time.
    • Πέρασα φανταστικά. = I had a fantastic time.

But Περνάω καλά / Πέρασα καλά is the most basic, everyday phrase for “have a good time”.

Does με always mean “with” here? Does it affect the case of παρέα?

In this sentence, με means “with”:

  • με την παρέα μου = with my group (of friends).

In Modern Greek, με regularly takes the accusative case:

  • με τον φίλο μου (masc. acc.) = with my (male) friend
  • με την παρέα μου (fem. acc.) = with my group
  • με το παιδί μου (neut. acc.) = with my child

So:

  • με = with
    • την παρέα (accusative) = “with the group”

The meaning “with” is by far the most common basic meaning of με, and that is what you have here.

Is Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου formal, neutral, or casual? Who would use it?

This sentence is neutral and everyday, slightly casual, and used by all ages.

You can say it:

  • to friends: Περνάω πολύ καλά με την παρέα μου.
  • to family: explaining your social life.
  • even in a semi-formal context, e.g. an interview:
    Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου, κάνουμε πολλά πράγματα μαζί.

It’s not slang; it’s standard, natural Modern Greek.

How do you pronounce Περνάω καλά με την παρέα μου?

Approximate phonetic guide (stress marked with ˈ):

  • Περνάω → /perˈna.o/

    • pe like “pe” in “pet”
    • rn as in “barn”
    • áo is two syllables: -ná-o

  • καλά → /kaˈla/

    • ka as in “car”
    • stress on -lá

  • με → /me/

    • like “meh”

  • την → /tin/

    • like “teen”, but short

  • παρέα → /paˈre.a/

    • pa as in “pa”
    • ré with stress
    • a again as in “car”
    • three syllables: πα-ρέ-α

  • μου → /mu/

    • like “moo” (short)

Said smoothly:
per-NA-o ka-LA me tin pa-RE-a mu.