Δεν ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση.

I am not being heard well on the video call.

Breakdown of Δεν ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση.

• καλά: well
• δεν: not
• σε: on
• η βιντεοκλήση: the video call
• ακούγομαι: to sound

Questions & Answers about Δεν ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση.

Why is it ακούγομαι and not ακούω in this sentence?

ακούω is the active form and means I hear / I listen (I am the one doing the hearing).

ακούγομαι is the middle‑passive form and means I am heard / I sound (other people hear me, or this is how I come across).

So:

• Δεν ακούω καλά = I don’t hear well (maybe my ears/connection are bad).
• Δεν ακούγομαι καλά = I’m not heard well / I don’t sound good (others have trouble hearing me, or my audio sounds bad).

In the context of a call or microphone problem, Greek normally uses the passive/middle ακούγομαι, not the active ακούω.

Where is the subject I? Why don’t we say Εγώ δεν ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση?

Greek is a pro‑drop language: the subject pronoun (like εγώ = I) is usually omitted when the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• The ending ‑ομαι in ακούγομαι clearly marks 1st person singular (I).
• So Δεν ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση already means I’m not heard well on the video call.

You add εγώ only for emphasis or contrast:

• Εγώ δεν ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση = I don’t sound good on the video call (as opposed to someone else).

Could I say Δεν με ακούνε καλά στη βιντεοκλήση instead? What’s the difference?

Yes, that’s a very natural alternative:

• Δεν με ακούνε καλά στη βιντεοκλήση = They don’t hear me well on the video call.

Differences in nuance:

• Δεν ακούγομαι καλά…
  Focuses on me / my sound in a more impersonal way: I’m not coming through well, I don’t sound good.
• Δεν με ακούνε καλά…
  Focuses on the listeners: they don’t hear me well (because of their speakers, noise on their side, etc.).

In many real situations, the two are practically interchangeable, and speakers often choose either one.

Does Δεν ακούγομαι καλά mean only a technical sound problem, or can it also mean I don’t come across well?

It can mean both, depending on context.

1. Technical / audio quality (most common here):
   On a video call: Δεν ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση = My sound isn’t good / people can’t hear me well.

2. How I come across / how I sound to others:

   • Δεν ακούγομαι πολύ ευγενικός, ε; = I don’t sound very polite, do I?
   • Στα ελληνικά δεν ακούγομαι φυσικός. = In Greek I don’t sound natural.

So the verb ακούγομαι also covers how I “sound” as a person, not only audio clarity.

Why is it καλά and not καλός or καλή?

Καλά here is an adverb meaning well.

• Καλά modifies the verb ακούγομαι (how am I heard? → well / badly).
• Καλός / καλή / καλό are adjectives and must describe a noun, e.g.:
  • καλός ήχος = good sound
  • καλή σύνδεση = good connection

So:

• Δεν ακούγομαι καλά = I’m not heard well / I don’t sound good (in terms of quality).
• Using καλός / καλή / καλό directly after the verb here would be ungrammatical.

What exactly does ακούγομαι mean, and how is it conjugated?

Ακούγομαι is the present tense, 1st person singular of the middle‑passive verb ακούγομαι.

Core meanings:

• to be heard: Δεν ακούγεσαι. = You can’t be heard.
• to sound (like): Ακούγεται ενδιαφέρον. = It sounds interesting.

Main present‑tense forms (everyday forms):

• εγώ ακούγομαι
• εσύ ακούγεσαι
• αυτός/αυτή/αυτό ακούγεται
• εμείς ακουγόμαστε
• εσείς ακούγεστε
• αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά ακούγονται

In more formal language, you may also see ακούομαι, but in everyday speech ακούγομαι is standard.

How would I say this in other tenses, like past or future?

Some useful forms:

• Past (imperfect, continuous in the past):
  Δεν ακουγόμουν καλά στη βιντεοκλήση.
  = I wasn’t being heard well on the video call.

• Simple future (general future situation):
  Δεν θα ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση.
  = I won’t be heard well on the video call.

• Present perfect / result (with έχω):
  Less common with this verb, but you might hear:
  Δεν έχω ακουστεί καλά στις βιντεοκλήσεις.
  = I haven’t been heard well on video calls.

In everyday speech, for this kind of problem people usually stick to the present (δεν ακούγομαι καλά) or imperfect (δεν ακουγόμουν καλά).

Why is it στη βιντεοκλήση and not something like σε τη βιντεοκλήση?

Στη is the contracted form of σε + τη(ν):

• σε = in / at / on / to (very general preposition)
• τη(ν) = the (feminine, accusative singular)

So:

• σε + τη βιντεοκλήση → στη βιντεοκλήση

This contraction (σε + article) is completely standard:

• στο σπίτι = σε + το σπίτι (to/at home)
• στη δουλειά = σε + τη δουλειά (at work)
• στους φίλους μου = σε + τους φίλους μου (to my friends)

Why is there no ν in στη βιντεοκλήση? When do I use στη vs στην?

Historically, σε + την → στην.
In modern Greek, the final ‑ν of την (and την / έναν) is often dropped before many consonants in everyday writing and speech.

Rough guideline (not a strict rule in real life):

• Keep ‑ν mainly:

  • before vowel: στην άλλη κλήση
  • before κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ: στην πόλη, στην κλήση

• It is often dropped before other consonants:
  στη βιντεοκλήση, στη δουλειά

Many speakers, however, keep στην all the time in writing (στην βιντεοκλήση) and it’s also acceptable. So στη βιντεοκλήση and στην βιντεοκλήση are both used.

What kind of word is βιντεοκλήση? How is it formed and what gender is it?

Βιντεοκλήση is a feminine noun meaning video call.

Formation:

• βίντεο (video) + κλήση (call; literally “calling”)
  → βιντεοκλήση (a call via video).

Gender and basic forms:

• η βιντεοκλήση – the video call (nominative singular)
• της βιντεοκλήσης – of the video call (genitive singular)
• τη(ν) βιντεοκλήση – the video call (accusative singular)
• οι βιντεοκλήσεις – the video calls (nominative plural)
• τις βιντεοκλήσεις – the video calls (accusative plural)

It behaves like many feminine nouns in ‑ση:
η κλήση, η σύνδεση, η ρύθμιση, η τηλεδιάσκεψη etc.

Could I say στην κλήση βίντεο or στο βίντεο κολ instead of στη βιντεοκλήση?

You might hear variations, but στη βιντεοκλήση sounds the most natural and standard.

Possible alternatives and how they feel:

• στην κλήση βίντεο – understandable, but less idiomatic; sounds a bit like literal translation from English (call video).
• στην τηλεδιάσκεψη – in the teleconference / video conference; a bit more formal or business‑like.
• στο βίντεο κολ – clearly influenced by English video call; very informal / slangy, and the English word may be pronounced with Greek sounds.

For general, correct Greek, στη βιντεοκλήση is the best choice.

Why do we use δεν and not μην here?

Greek has two main negative particles: δεν and μη(ν).

• Δεν is used with ordinary (indicative) verbs:

  • Δεν ακούγομαι καλά. = I’m not heard well.
  • Δεν μιλάει. = He/she doesn’t speak.

• Μην is used mainly with:

  • Subjunctive (with να): να μην ακούγομαι
  • Negative commands / prohibitions:
    Μην μιλάς! = Don’t talk!

So in a simple statement of fact like I’m not heard well, you must use δεν:

• Δεν ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση. ✔
• Μην ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση. ✘ (incorrect in this context)

How is the whole sentence pronounced, and are there any sounds that might surprise an English speaker?

Approximate pronunciation (stress marked in capitals):

• Δεν ακούγομαι καλά στη βιντεοκλήση ≈
  dhen a-KU-go-me ka-LA sti vi-the-o-KLI-si

Key points for English speakers:

• δ is like th in this (voiced): δεν → dhen.
• β is like v, not b: βιντεοκλήση → vi‑…, not bi‑….
• ου is oo as in food: ακούγομαι → a-KU-go-me.
• η is ee as in see: κλήση → KLI-si.
• Word stress is important and marked with the accent:
  ακούγομαι, καλά, βιντεοκλήση – each has exactly one stressed syllable.