Σήμερα δεν έχω καθόλου διάθεση για δουλειά.

Today I don’t have any mood for work.

Breakdown of Σήμερα δεν έχω καθόλου διάθεση για δουλειά.

• η δουλειά: the work
• έχω: to have
• δεν: not
• σήμερα: today
• για: for
• καθόλου: at all
• η διάθεση: the mood

Questions & Answers about Σήμερα δεν έχω καθόλου διάθεση για δουλειά.

Why is δεν used here, and where does it usually go in the sentence?

Δεν is the basic negation for verbs in Greek (like “not” in English).

• In this sentence: δεν έχω = I do not have.
• Position: δεν normally comes right before the verb it negates.
  • Σήμερα δεν έχω καθόλου διάθεση…
  • Literally: Today not I-have at-all mood…

If δεν comes before a vowel-initial verb (like έχω), it keeps the -ν:

• δεν έχω, δεν είναι Before many consonants, it’s often just δε in speech:
• δε θέλω, δε μπορώ (colloquial).

What does διάθεση mean here? Is it “mood” or “desire”?

Διάθεση literally means mood, disposition, frame of mind.

In this sentence, it’s used in a very common Greek pattern:

• δεν έχω διάθεση για … = I’m not in the mood for … / I don’t feel like …

So here:

• δεν έχω διάθεση για δουλειά ≈ I’m not in the mood for work / I don’t feel like working.

Depending on context, διάθεση can also mean:

• διάθεση για έξοδο – mood to go out
• διάθεση για φαγητό – appetite / mood for food
  But in all these, it’s about your mental/emotional state or willingness.

What exactly does καθόλου add to the meaning?

Καθόλου is an intensifier meaning “at all / not at all / absolutely no”.

• δεν έχω διάθεση – I’m not in the mood.
• δεν έχω καθόλου διάθεση – I’m not at all in the mood / I have no mood whatsoever.

So καθόλου makes the negation stronger, just like:

• I really don’t feel like it at all.

Why is it για δουλειά and not something like a verb “to work”?

Greek often uses για + noun where English uses “to + verb” for activities.

• δεν έχω διάθεση για δουλειά
  Literally: I don’t have mood for work
  Natural English: I don’t feel like working.

Other similar patterns:

• διάθεση για βόλτα – mood for a walk (feel like going for a walk)
• όρεξη για φαγητό – appetite for food (feel like eating)

You could express it with a verb:

• Σήμερα δεν έχω καθόλου όρεξη να δουλέψω. – Today I don’t feel like working at all.
  But “διάθεση για + noun” is a very natural and common structure.

Why is there no article with δουλειά? Why not για τη δουλειά?

Here, δουλειά is used in a general/abstract sense: “work” as an activity, not some specific job/task.

• για δουλειά – for work (in general, working)
• για τη δουλειά – for the work / that particular job/task

In this sentence, the speaker means:

• I don’t feel like working (at all today).
  not
• I don’t feel like doing that specific piece of work.

Is the word order fixed? Could I say Δεν έχω καθόλου διάθεση για δουλειά σήμερα?

The word order in Greek is fairly flexible, and both are correct:

• Σήμερα δεν έχω καθόλου διάθεση για δουλειά.
• Δεν έχω καθόλου διάθεση για δουλειά σήμερα.

Putting σήμερα at the start sounds slightly more natural because it sets the time frame first:

• As for today, I don’t feel like working at all.

But moving σήμερα to the end is also very common and completely acceptable.

Does Greek “double negation” (with δεν and καθόλου) make the sentence positive, like in logic?

No. In Greek, multiple negatives reinforce the negation, they do not cancel it.

• δεν έχω διάθεση – I don’t have mood / I’m not in the mood.
• δεν έχω καθόλου διάθεση – I really don’t have mood at all.

Other examples:

• Δεν βλέπω κανέναν. – I don’t see anyone. (literally “no one”)
• Δεν θέλω τίποτα. – I don’t want anything. (literally “nothing”)

So δεν + καθόλου makes it stronger negative, not positive.

What is the literal structure of the sentence in English word-for-word?

Word-for-word:

• Σήμερα – Today
• δεν – not
• έχω – I have
• καθόλου – at all
• διάθεση – mood / disposition
• για δουλειά – for work

So:
“Today not I-have at-all mood for work.”

Natural English:
“Today I don’t feel like working at all.”
or
“Today I have absolutely no mood for work.”

What’s the difference between δουλειά and other words for work, like εργασία?

Both relate to “work,” but they differ in tone and usage.

• δουλειά

  • Everyday, informal word.
  • Means job, work, tasks.
  • Used in daily speech.
  • Examples:
    • Πάω στη δουλειά. – I’m going to work.
    • Έχω πολλή δουλειά. – I have a lot of work.

• εργασία

  • More formal or technical.
  • Used in written language, academic or official contexts:
    • σχολική εργασία – school assignment
    • πλήρης απασχόληση και εργασία – full-time employment and work

In this casual, personal sentence about “mood to work,” δουλειά is the natural choice.

How do I pronounce Σήμερα δεν έχω καθόλου διάθεση για δουλειά?

Approximate pronunciation (stress in bold):

• ΣΗ-με-ρα – SEE-meh-rah
• δεν – then (like English then without the “th” sound, more like den)
• Ε-χω – E-ho (the χ is a harsh “h”, like German Bach)
• κα-ΘΟ-λου – kah-THO-loo (Greek θ = English th in think)
• ΔΙΑ-θε-ση – THEE-ah-thee-see (the first δ is like th in this)
• για – yah
• δου-ΛΙΑ – thoo-LYA (again δ like th in this, and λια like lya)

Together (smoothly):
SEE-meh-rah den E-ho kah-THO-loo THEE-ah-thee-see yah thoo-LYA.