Θέλω να αυξάνω λίγο λίγο τον χρόνο που μιλάω ελληνικά κάθε μέρα.

I want to increase little by little the time I speak Greek every day.

Breakdown of Θέλω να αυξάνω λίγο λίγο τον χρόνο που μιλάω ελληνικά κάθε μέρα.

• θέλω: to want
• μιλάω: to speak
• ελληνικά: in Greek
• να: to

Questions & Answers about Θέλω να αυξάνω λίγο λίγο τον χρόνο που μιλάω ελληνικά κάθε μέρα.

Why is it να αυξάνω and not να αυξήσω in this sentence?

Greek has two aspects for verbs:

• αυξάνω = imperfective aspect (ongoing/repeated: I increase / I am increasing).
• αυξήσω = perfective aspect (one whole, completed action: I (will) increase once / I complete the increase).

With Θέλω να αυξάνω λίγο λίγο…, the speaker is focusing on a gradual, ongoing process: they want to be in the situation where, over time, they keep increasing the amount of time.

If you said Θέλω να αυξήσω τον χρόνο…, it would sound more like you want to reach a higher amount once, to achieve a specific increase (for example, from 10 minutes to 30 minutes), not so much the continuous step‑by‑step process.

So:

• Θέλω να αυξάνω λίγο λίγο… → I want to be gradually increasing it (process).
• Θέλω να αυξήσω λίγο λίγο… → possible, but feels more like a series of discrete increases leading to a result; many speakers still prefer the imperfective here with λίγο λίγο to emphasize continuity.

What does λίγο λίγο mean, and why is it repeated?

Λίγο means a little. The repetition λίγο λίγο is an idiomatic adverbial phrase meaning little by little, gradually.

Literally, it is like saying a little, a little, but in Greek this pattern of repeating an adverb is common to express:

• gradual change: λίγο λίγο, σιγά σιγά
• repeated / drawn‑out action: αργά αργά (very slowly), κάπου κάπου (from time to time)

You might also see it written as λίγο-λίγο. A near‑synonym you will hear very often is σιγά σιγά, which has essentially the same meaning in this context: Θέλω να αυξάνω σιγά σιγά τον χρόνο….