Learn Hardcore Greek: Θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο για ελληνικά σήμερα. - I want at least a little time for Greek today.

So it doesn’t change the basic meaning of wanting a little time, but it adds a sense of minimal expectation or concession: I know I can’t have much, but even a small amount would be enough / would make me happy.

Why do we need both words έστω and και? Could we just say έστω λίγο χρόνο or και λίγο χρόνο?

In modern Greek, έστω και functions as a fixed expression. Both words together create the “even if it’s only / at least” meaning.

έστω alone can mean something like even / let it be / suppose that, and it’s also used in math as let / suppose. On its own in everyday speech it can sound incomplete here.
και alone is just and / also / even, so και λίγο χρόνο would mean and a little time or even a little time but without the clear concessive nuance.

People do say things like έστω λίγο χρόνο, but έστω και λίγο χρόνο is much more idiomatic and stronger in everyday speech. So you’ll mostly hear and use the full έστω και.

What case is χρόνο in, and why is it in that case?

Χρόνο is in the accusative singular.

The nominative is ο χρόνος (time).
The accusative is τον χρόνο (or without the article here: χρόνο).

It’s accusative because:

Θέλω takes a direct object in the accusative:
- Θέλω χρόνο = I want time.
λίγο is an invariable form here modifying χρόνο in the accusative: λίγο χρόνο.

So έστω και λίγο χρόνο is a direct object of Θέλω, all in the accusative.

What about ελληνικά – what case and what “type” of word is this? Why is it not ελληνική?

Ελληνικά here is:

Neuter plural, accusative, used as a noun meaning Greek (the Greek language).
It comes from the adjective ελληνικός, -ή, -ό (Greek).

In Greek, many languages are expressed as neuter plural forms of adjectives, used as nouns:

τα ελληνικά = Greek (language)
τα αγγλικά = English
τα γαλλικά = French

So για ελληνικά literally is for (doing/studying) Greek.

Ελληνική (feminine singular) by itself is just Greek as an adjective:

η ελληνική γλώσσα = the Greek language

You could say για την ελληνική γλώσσα (for the Greek language), but that’s more formal; in everyday speech, people say για ελληνικά.

Why is there no article in για ελληνικά? Why not για τα ελληνικά?

Both are grammatically possible, but they don’t feel the same:

για ελληνικά (without article)
- Very common, informal, and general:
- for Greek (in general) – studying, practicing, doing Greek stuff.
- It’s like saying for Greek as an activity, similar to English for math or for homework.
για τα ελληνικά (with article)
- More specific: for the Greek (language), often referring to a particular course/subject/lesson.
- It could sound like for my Greek (class / assignments / exam), depending on context.

In daily speech about study time, για ελληνικά is the most natural choice.

Why is εγώ (I) not used? Is it wrong to say Εγώ θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο…?

In Greek, subject pronouns are usually dropped, because the verb ending shows the person:

Θέλω already tells us it’s I want (1st person singular).
So εγώ is not needed: Θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο… is completely normal.

You can say Εγώ θέλω…, but then you’re emphasizing the subject:

Εγώ θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο…
→ I want at least a little time (maybe in contrast to others, or to what you want).

So it’s not wrong, but it changes the emphasis.

Can the word σήμερα go in a different position? Would it still be correct?

Yes, σήμερα (today) is flexible in word order, and different positions are all grammatically correct, with slight changes in emphasis:

Θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο για ελληνικά σήμερα.
→ Neutral; “for Greek today.” The focus is a bit on Greek today.
Σήμερα θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο για ελληνικά.
→ Emphasis on today: Today I want at least a little time for Greek (maybe not other days).
Θέλω σήμερα έστω και λίγο χρόνο για ελληνικά.
→ Also OK; puts σήμερα close to θέλω, still natural.

All three are acceptable; native speakers move σήμερα around quite freely.

What is the difference between Θέλω and Θα ήθελα or Ήθελα in this kind of sentence?

They all translate to English with want / would like, but with different levels of directness / politeness:

Θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο…
- Very direct: I want at least a little time…
- Neutral in tone (not rude by itself), but clearly stating a desire.
Θα ήθελα έστω και λίγο χρόνο…
- More polite and softer: I would like at least a little time…
- Common in polite requests or more careful speech.
Ήθελα έστω και λίγο χρόνο… (imperfect)
- Also used as a softened request in modern Greek:
- Like saying I wanted / I was wanting at least a little time…
- Sounds less direct than Θέλω.

In everyday talk, Θέλω is fine; Θα ήθελα sounds more polite or formal.

What does λίγο contribute here? Is there a difference between λίγο χρόνο and λίγος χρόνος?

Yes, there’s a grammatical and usage difference:

λίγο χρόνο
- λίγο is an indeclinable adverb/adjectival form meaning a little / some.
- Used with mass nouns: λίγο χρόνο, λίγο νερό, λίγο φαγητό.
- This is how you usually say a little time.
λίγος χρόνος
- λίγος is a fully inflected adjective meaning little / few.
- λίγος χρόνος = a small amount of time too, but as a whole phrase it’s more “subject-like” and less mass-like.
- You’d say e.g.: Μου μένει λίγος χρόνος. = I have a little time left.

In Θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο, λίγο χρόνο is the natural way to say a bit of time, focusing on quantity in a neutral, mass-like way.

Could we move έστω και somewhere else in the sentence, like Θέλω λίγο χρόνο έστω και για ελληνικά σήμερα?

You can move έστω και, but not all positions sound equally natural.

Θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο για ελληνικά σήμερα.
- Very natural: I want at least a little time for Greek today.
Θέλω λίγο χρόνο, έστω και για ελληνικά, σήμερα.
- Grammatically OK, but now it sounds like:
  - I want some time – even if it’s only for Greek – today.
- The emphasis shifts to the purpose (for Greek) being the minimum.
Θέλω λίγο χρόνο έστω και για ελληνικά σήμερα.
- Possible, but less smooth; again, emphasis on for Greek as a minimum acceptable option.

In your original sentence, έστω και clearly modifies λίγο χρόνο, which is the most straightforward and typical use.

Could I say Θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο για να κάνω ελληνικά σήμερα instead? How does that change the meaning?

Yes, that’s correct Greek and quite natural:

Θέλω έστω και λίγο χρόνο για να κάνω ελληνικά σήμερα.
- Literally: I want at least a little time in order to do Greek today.

Here:

για να κάνω ελληνικά makes the purpose explicit with a verb phrase: in order to do/study Greek.
για ελληνικά in the original is more compact, using just a noun phrase.

Meaning-wise, they are very close. The version with για να κάνω feels slightly more explicit and “spelled out” about what you’re doing with that time.

Is there any difference between έστω και λίγο χρόνο and just λίγο χρόνο?

Yes, mainly in emotional nuance:

λίγο χρόνο
- Simply a little time.
- Neutral: just stating the amount you want.
έστω και λίγο χρόνο
- At least a little time / even just a little time.
- Implies you know you might not get much, and you’re willing to accept a minimum.
- It can sound a bit more modest, pleading, or resigned, depending on context.

Grammatically both are fine; έστω και adds that extra “I’d settle for the minimum” feel.