Learn Hardcore Greek: Σήμερα δεν έχω χρόνο, οπότε κάνω παραγγελία από το εστιατόριο. - Today I don't have time, so I place an order from the restaurant.

Σήμερα δεν έχω χρόνο puts a little more focus on σήμερα (today). It contrasts today with other days (e.g. Today I don’t have time, but usually I do).
Δεν έχω χρόνο σήμερα sounds a bit more neutral and is often closer to how English speakers think (I don’t have time today).

Both are perfectly natural.

Why is it «δεν έχω» and not «μην έχω»? What’s the difference between δεν and μην?

Greek has two main negative particles:

δεν – used with the indicative (normal statements and questions about reality).
- Δεν έχω χρόνο. – I don’t have time.
- Δεν πάω. – I’m not going.
μη(ν) – used mainly with:
- the subjunctive (να
  - verb): να μην πάω (not to go),
- negative commands / prohibitions: Μην πας! (Don’t go!),
- some set expressions.

In «Σήμερα δεν έχω χρόνο», you’re making a simple factual statement, so δεν is the correct choice.

Why is there no article before χρόνο? Why not «δεν έχω τον χρόνο»?

Both are possible, but they’re not used in the same way:

Δεν έχω χρόνο. – I don’t have (any) time.
- General, indefinite: you lack time in general.
- Very common, everyday phrasing.
Δεν έχω τον χρόνο. – I don’t have the time.
- Refers to specific or known time (the time needed for some particular thing).
- Sounds a bit more formal or more specific.

In normal conversation, when you just mean I’m busy / I have no time, you say Δεν έχω χρόνο (without the article), like in the sentence.

What is the difference between χρόνος and καιρός? Both can mean “time”, right?

They overlap a little, but usually mean different things:

χρόνος
- Main meaning: time in general, as a measurable quantity.
- Examples:
  - Δεν έχω χρόνο. – I don’t have time.
  - Πόσος χρόνος μένει; – How much time is left?
  - Ο χρόνος περνάει. – Time passes.
καιρός
- Most common meaning: weather.
  - Τι καιρό κάνει; – What’s the weather like?
- Also: the right time / the right moment, a period of time
  - Έχω καιρό να σε δω. – I haven’t seen you for a long time.
  - Ήρθε η ώρα / ήρθε ο καιρός. – The time has come.

In «Δεν έχω χρόνο», only χρόνο is correct.

What exactly does «οπότε» mean? How is it different from «γι’ αυτό», «έτσι», or «λοιπόν»?

All of these can be translated as “so”, but they’re used slightly differently.

οπότε – “so”, “so that”, “therefore”
- Connects cause and result in a fairly neutral, conversational way.
- Σήμερα δεν έχω χρόνο, οπότε κάνω παραγγελία.
γι’ αυτό (το λόγο) – “for this reason”, “that’s why”
- Often a bit more explicit/stronger about reason.
- Δεν έχω χρόνο, γι’ αυτό κάνω παραγγελία.
έτσι – literally “like this/that”; as a connector it can mean “so / thus”, but also “just because”.
- As a pure connector it’s less common in standard speech than οπότε or γι’ αυτό in this exact sentence.
λοιπόν – closer to “well, so, then” when organizing speech or moving the conversation along.
- Not ideal here as a simple “because of that”.

In this sentence, οπότε and γι’ αυτό are the most natural and almost interchangeable. Οπότε sounds very natural in casual speech.

Why say «κάνω παραγγελία» instead of using a single verb? Is there a verb “to order” in Greek?

Yes, there is a verb:

παραγγέλνω – to order (food, products, etc.)

So you could also say:

Σήμερα δεν έχω χρόνο, οπότε παραγγέλνω από το εστιατόριο.

Difference:

κάνω παραγγελία (literally “I make an order”)
- Uses the noun παραγγελία (order).
- Very common and perfectly natural, especially in speech.
- Slightly more “descriptive”: you’re performing the act of placing an order.
παραγγέλνω
- Simple verb: I order.
- Also very common.

Both are correct here. In everyday talk you’ll hear both forms.

Does «κάνω παραγγελία» refer only to food, or can it be used for other kinds of orders too?

Παραγγελία is a general word for “order”:

food delivery / takeaway
online shopping orders
orders for products or services

Examples:

Έκανα παραγγελία από το e‑shop. – I placed an order from the e‑shop.
Πότε θα έρθει η παραγγελία μου; – When will my order arrive?

So in this sentence it most likely refers to ordering food from a restaurant, but the expression itself is more general.

Why is κάνω in the simple present? Shouldn’t it be something like “I am ordering” or “I will order”?

Modern Greek has one present tense (the ενεστώτας) which covers both:

English simple present: I order
English present continuous: I am ordering

Context tells you which is meant.

So:

κάνω παραγγελία can mean:
- I (generally) order (habitual), or
- I am ordering / I’ll order (now or today)

In this sentence:

Σήμερα δεν έχω χρόνο, οπότε κάνω παραγγελία από το εστιατόριο.
= I don’t have time today, so I’m ordering (in) from the restaurant.

The idea is a decision about what you’re doing today, so English naturally uses “I’m ordering”, but Greek keeps the plain present κάνω.

Why is it «από το εστιατόριο»? Would «στο εστιατόριο» also work?

The prepositions change the meaning:

από το εστιατόριο – from the restaurant
- You’re getting something from there (an order, delivery, takeaway).
- Παίρνω φαγητό από το εστιατόριο. – I get food from the restaurant.
στο εστιατόριο – to/at the restaurant
- Refers to location or destination.
- Πηγαίνω στο εστιατόριο. – I go to the restaurant.
- Τρώω στο εστιατόριο. – I eat at the restaurant.

In this sentence you’re ordering from a restaurant, so από το εστιατόριο is the correct preposition.

Why do we say «το εστιατόριο» with the article? Could we drop το and just say «…από εστιατόριο»?

In Greek, the definite article is used much more often than in English.

από το εστιατόριο – from the restaurant
- Usually means a specific restaurant (maybe the one you normally use or one already known in the context).
- This is the normal, natural wording.
από εστιατόριο – from a restaurant
- Grammatically possible, but feels vague or unusual here, unless you emphasize “some restaurant or other” in a special context.

In everyday speech, when you talk about shops, restaurants, etc., you almost always include the article:

Πάω στο σούπερ μάρκετ. – I’m going to the supermarket.
Παρήγγειλα από το φούρνο. – I ordered from the bakery.

So «από το εστιατόριο» is the normal form.

How is «εστιατόριο» pronounced and stressed? The word looks long.

εστιατόριο is pronounced:

es-tee-a-TÓ-ree-o (IPA: [es.ti.aˈto.rio])

Stress is on the τό syllable: εστιαΤΟριο.

In Greek, each word has one stressed syllable, and it is always marked with an accent on the vowel (´), as you see in εστιατόριο and σήμερα, οπότε, χρόνος.