Μην μιλάς έτσι, σε παρακαλώ.

to speak

Breakdown of Μην μιλάς έτσι, σε παρακαλώ.

• μην: not
• σε παρακαλώ: please
• έτσι: that way

Questions & Answers about Μην μιλάς έτσι, σε παρακαλώ.

Why is it Μην and not Δεν for “don’t”?

Greek uses two main negative words:

• δεν – for negating statements (indicative mood)
  
  • e.g. Δεν μιλάς. = You don’t speak / you are not speaking.
• μη(ν) – for commands, prohibitions, wishes (non‑indicative forms: imperative/subjunctive)
  
  • e.g. Μην μιλάς. = Don’t speak.

Since “Don’t talk like that, please” is a negative command, Greek must use μην, not δεν.

So:

• Δεν μιλάς έτσι. = You don’t talk like that. (statement)
• Μην μιλάς έτσι. = Don’t talk like that. (command)

Why does it say μιλάς (you speak) and not the imperative μίλα?

In Greek, you normally do NOT use the imperative in negative commands.
Instead, you use μη(ν) + present “subjunctive” form, which looks the same as the present tense:

• Positive command: Μίλα έτσι. = Speak like that.
• Negative command: Μην μιλάς έτσι. = Don’t speak like that.

So:

• μιλάς here is not a present indicative; it is the same verb form used after μην to make a negative command.
• This pattern is very common:
  • Κάθισε. = Sit down.
  • Μη(ν) κάθεσαι. = Don’t sit (there) / Don’t be sitting.

Formally: Greek uses μη(ν) + “να”‑form (subjunctive) instead of a true negative imperative.

What is the difference between μη and μην? Is Μη μιλάς έτσι also correct?

Yes, Μη μιλάς έτσι, σε παρακαλώ is also perfectly acceptable in modern Greek.

In theory, traditional grammar says:

• μη before many consonants
• μην before vowels and some voiced consonants

In real modern usage:

• Many speakers and writers just use μην before most verb forms, regardless of the next sound.
• In fast speech, μην often sounds like μη anyway.

So for your sentence:

• Μη μιλάς έτσι – common and correct
• Μην μιλάς έτσι – also very common and correct

You will see both in real life. For learners, it’s fine to mostly use μην before verbs.

What exactly does έτσι mean here? Could I leave it out?

έτσι literally means “like this / like that / in this way”.

In Μην μιλάς έτσι, σε παρακαλώ, it narrows the prohibition specifically to the manner of speaking:

• Μην μιλάς. = Don’t talk / Don’t speak. (at all)
• Μην μιλάς έτσι. = Don’t talk like that (don’t use that tone / those words / that attitude).

So:

• You can leave it out grammatically (Μην μιλάς, σε παρακαλώ), but then it sounds like:
  • “Please don’t talk (at all)” instead of
  • “Please don’t talk in that way.”

What does σε παρακαλώ literally mean, and why is it used for “please”?

Literally:

• σε = you (object pronoun, singular / informal)
• παρακαλώ = I beg / I request / I ask

So σε παρακαλώ literally means “I beg you” / “I ask you”.

Over time, this fixed expression has become the standard way to say “please” in Greek, especially when placed:

• at the end: …, σε παρακαλώ.
• or at the beginning: Σε παρακαλώ, μην μιλάς έτσι.

It is slightly more emotional / pleading than a neutral English “please”, closer to:

• “please, I’m asking you” or
• “I beg you, don’t talk like that.”

Can I move σε παρακαλώ to another position? Does the meaning change?

You have several natural options, all with basically the same meaning but slightly different emphasis:

1. Μην μιλάς έτσι, σε παρακαλώ.
   – Neutral, very common. Command first, “please” softens it at the end.

2. Σε παρακαλώ, μην μιλάς έτσι.
   – Starts with the polite request; sounds a bit more tactful or pleading.

3. Μην, σε παρακαλώ, μιλάς έτσι.
   – Possible, but more marked; σε παρακαλώ is inserted and highlighted.

All three mean “Please don’t talk like that.”
The difference is mostly in intonation and emotional tone, not in basic meaning.

Is this sentence informal or formal? How would I say it politely to someone I don’t know well?

The given sentence is informal, because:

• μιλάς is 2nd person singular (talking to one person you “know” – friend, child, etc.)
• σε is the singular object pronoun.

For a polite / formal or plural version, you use the 2nd person plural:

• Μην μιλάτε έτσι, σας παρακαλώ.
  
  • μιλάτε = you speak (plural / formal)
  • σας = you (object, plural / formal)

That is what you would say to:

• an adult stranger,
• your boss or a teacher (if you keep formal εσείς),
• or a group of people.

Why is there a comma before σε παρακαλώ?

σε παρακαλώ here is a kind of parenthetical, polite tag (“please”), not a core part of the clause’s grammar, so Greek punctuation separates it with a comma:

• Μην μιλάς έτσι, σε παρακαλώ.

The comma:

• mirrors the natural pause in speech,
• and shows that σε παρακαλώ is an added polite remark, not the object of the verb.

You will commonly see:

• Σε παρακαλώ, μην μιλάς έτσι.
• Μην μιλάς έτσι, σε παρακαλώ.

both with commas around σε παρακαλώ when it comes at the beginning or in the middle.

How is μιλάς formed from the verb μιλάω / μιλώ? What is its pattern?

The verb is μιλάω / μιλώ = to speak / to talk.
It’s a regular ‑άω / ‑ώ verb. Present tense (informal forms):

• (εγώ) μιλάω / μιλώ – I speak
• (εσύ) μιλάς – you speak
• (αυτός/αυτή/αυτό) μιλάει / μιλά – he/she/it speaks
• (εμείς) μιλάμε – we speak
• (εσείς) μιλάτε – you speak (plural/formal)
• (αυτοί) μιλάνε / μιλούν(ε) – they speak

So μιλάς is 2nd person singular, used here after μην to form the negative command.

How should I pronounce Μην μιλάς έτσι, σε παρακαλώ and where is the stress?

Stress in Greek is shown with the accent:

• Μην μιλάς έτσι, σε παρακαλώ.

Stressed syllables (in capitals here):

• ΜΗΝ mi‑LÁS É‑tsi, se pa‑ra‑ka‑LÓ.

Approximate pronunciation (in simple English‑style notation):

• Μην – “min”
• μιλάς – “mee‑LAS”
• έτσι – “EHT‑see” (the τσ = “ts” as in “cats”)
• σε – “se” (like se in seven)
• παρακαλώ – “pa‑ra‑ka‑LOH”

Overall rhythm:
Μην μιΛΑΣ Ετσι, σε παρακαΛΟ.