Στο χωριό περνάω πολύ καλά.

I have a very good time in the village.

Breakdown of Στο χωριό περνάω πολύ καλά.

• καλά: well
• πολύ: very
• σε: in
• το χωριό: the village
• περνάω: to spend

Questions & Answers about Στο χωριό περνάω πολύ καλά.

What exactly does στο mean, and why is it written as one word?

Στο is a contraction of σε + το.

• σε = in / at / to (a general preposition of place or direction)
• το = the (neuter singular definite article, accusative case)

So σε το χωριό → στο χωριό.
Modern Greek almost always contracts σε + article:

• σε
  • το → στο
• σε
  • τον → στον
• σε
  • τη(ν) → στη / στην
• σε
  • τα → στα

You normally use the contracted form in both speech and writing, so στο χωριό is the normal, correct form.

What is the grammar of χωριό here? Gender, case, and article?

Χωριό means village and is:

• Gender: neuter
• Base (dictionary) form: το χωριό (nominative/accusative singular)

After the preposition σε, Greek uses the accusative case. So we get:

• σε
  • το χωριό (accusative) → στο χωριό

You don’t see the case change because for many neuter nouns the nominative and accusative singular look the same (το χωριό in both cases), but grammatically this is accusative.

Plural forms for reference:

• τα χωριά = the villages (nom./acc. plural)

What does the verb περνάω mean here? Is it the same as “to pass”?

Literally, περνάω does come from the idea of passing (e.g. passing by somewhere, time passing).
In this sentence, though, it’s used idiomatically:

• περνάω καλά = I have a good time / I enjoy myself
• περνάω πολύ καλά = I have a very good time / I’m having a great time

So in Στο χωριό περνάω πολύ καλά, περνάω does not mean “I pass the village” but “I spend time there and enjoy it.”

There is also a shorter form περνώ with the same meaning. In everyday speech, περνάω and περνώ are both common and interchangeable in the present tense.

What’s the difference between περνάω καλά and είμαι καλά?

They express different ideas:

• είμαι καλά = I am well / I’m OK / I feel fine (physical or emotional state)
• περνάω καλά = I’m having a good time / I’m enjoying myself (enjoyment of a situation or event)

So:

• Στο χωριό είμαι καλά → I feel well in the village (maybe physically or psychologically).
• Στο χωριό περνάω καλά → I enjoy myself when I’m in the village.

In your sentence, the focus is on having a good time, not just being OK.

What does πολύ do here, and why is it before καλά?

Πολύ means very (or a lot, depending on context).

Here it acts as an intensifier for the adverb καλά:

• καλά = well / nicely
• πολύ καλά = very well / really well / very much

In Greek, πολύ generally comes before the word it modifies:

• πολύ καλά = very well
• πολύ ωραία = very nicely
• πολύ κρύο = very cold

So περνάω πολύ καλά literally is “I pass very well” → naturally translated as I’m having a very good time.

Why is it καλά and not καλός? What kind of word is καλά?

Καλά here is an adverb meaning well.

• καλός = good (adjective, masculine)
• καλή = good (adjective, feminine)
• καλό = good (adjective, neuter)
• καλά = well (adverb; also neuter plural adjective in other contexts, but here it’s adverb)

You use the adverb to describe how you do something:

• περνάω καλά = I pass well → I have a good time
• μιλάω καλά ελληνικά = I speak Greek well

If you said περνάω καλός, it would be ungrammatical, because καλός is an adjective and doesn’t fit after the verb this way.

Where is the subject “I” in this sentence? Why isn’t εγώ written?

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

• περνάω = I pass / I spend time → the ending ‑ω marks 1st person singular

So:

• Περνάω πολύ καλά. = I am having a very good time.

You add εγώ only for emphasis or contrast:

• Εγώ στο χωριό περνάω πολύ καλά.
  = I (as opposed to someone else) have a very good time in the village.

Can I change the word order, for example say Περνάω πολύ καλά στο χωριό?

Yes. Modern Greek allows flexible word order, and these are all natural:

• Στο χωριό περνάω πολύ καλά.
• Περνάω πολύ καλά στο χωριό.
• Πολύ καλά περνάω στο χωριό. (a bit more emphatic on πολύ καλά)

The differences are more about emphasis than basic meaning:

• Starting with Στο χωριό highlights the location.
• Starting with Περνάω πολύ καλά highlights the experience (the good time).

All of them can be translated as I have a very good time in the village.

What tense is περνάω? Does it mean “I pass” or “I am passing” or “I usually pass”?

Περνάω is in the present tense, imperfective aspect.

In English, it can correspond to:

• I have / I enjoy (simple present, habitual)
• I am having / I’m enjoying (present continuous, right now)

Greek present tense covers both habitual and ongoing actions. Context decides:

• Στο χωριό περνάω πολύ καλά.
  → Could mean “Whenever I’m in the village, I have a very good time” (habit)
  or “Right now, while I’m in the village, I’m having a very good time.”

In isolation, English learners usually understand it as a general statement: I (always) have a very good time in the village.

How would I say this sentence in the past or future?

Using the same verb περνάω / περνώ, you change tense:

• Past (simple past):
  Στο χωριό πέρασα πολύ καλά.
  = I had a very good time in the village.

• Past (imperfect / repeated in the past):
  Στο χωριό περνούσα πολύ καλά.
  = I used to have a very good time in the village / I would always have a good time there.

• Future (simple future / general):
  Στο χωριό θα περάσω πολύ καλά.
  = I will have a very good time in the village.

The pattern περνάω / πέρασα / θα περάσω is very common for talking about how you spent or will spend your time.

How do you pronounce Στο χωριό περνάω πολύ καλά?

Approximate pronunciation (in simple English terms):

• Στο → sto (like “stoh”)
• χωριό → horió
  
  • χ = a voiceless “h”-like sound, like the ch in German Bach
  • ρ = rolled or tapped r
  • γιό (γι + ό) sounds close to yó (“yo” in “yoga”), stressed syllable
• περνάω → per-NÁ-o or per-NÁ-o (in fast speech almost per-NÁ). Stress on νά.
• πολύ → po-LÍ (stress on λί)
• καλά → ka-LÁ (stress on λά)

So, said smoothly:
Sto horiÓ perNÁ-o poLÍ kaLÁ.

Are there other natural ways to say “I have a very good time in the village” in Greek?

Yes, you can vary especially the πολύ καλά part. Some common, natural alternatives:

• Στο χωριό περνάω μια χαρά.
  = I have a great time / I’m just fine in the village.

• Στο χωριό περνάω τέλεια.
  = I have an awesome time in the village.

• Στο χωριό περνάω υπέροχα.
  = I have a wonderful time in the village.

All of these keep περνάω and change the adverb to give a slightly different flavor of “very good / great / excellent time.”