Learn Hardcore Greek: Προσπαθώ να είμαι συνεπής και να μην αργώ στη συνάντηση. - I try to be punctual and not be late to the meeting.

Modern Greek doesn’t use an infinitive the way English does. Instead, it uses να + verb (the so‑called subjunctive structure) to express things like to be, to go, to do, to not be late, etc.
So να είμαι = to be / that I be, and να μην αργώ = to not be late / that I not be late.

What exactly does Προσπαθώ mean—I try or I’m trying?

Προσπαθώ is present tense and can cover both:

I try (in general / as a habit)
I’m trying (right now / currently making an effort)
Greek often relies on context to choose between these English translations.

Why is να repeated: να είμαι … και να μην αργώ? Can you say it only once?

Repeating να is the most natural and common way when you have two different verbs:

να είμαι (verb: είμαι, I am)
να μην αργώ (verb: αργώ, I’m late / I delay)
You can sometimes omit the second να in casual speech, but keeping it makes the structure clear and sounds standard.

What does συνεπής mean here? Is it consistent or punctual?

συνεπής can mean consistent, reliable, responsible, or punctual, depending on context.
In this sentence, because it’s paired with να μην αργώ στη συνάντηση (not be late to the meeting), συνεπής is best understood as punctual / on time / reliable about time.

How does συνεπής agree with gender? Should it change for male/female?

συνεπής is one of many adjectives that have the same form for masculine and feminine in the singular:

(m/f) συνεπής
(neuter) συνεπές
(plural) συνεπείς
So a man or a woman can both say να είμαι συνεπής.

Why is the negative μην used instead of δεν?

Greek has two main negatives:

δεν is used with indicative forms (ordinary statements): Δεν αργώ. = I’m not late.
μην is used with να (subjunctive) and other non‑indicative contexts: να μην αργώ = to not be late / that I not be late
So μην is required here because of να.

Does αργώ literally mean I am late, or does it mean I delay?

It can mean both:

I’m late (common in everyday Greek)
I delay / I take long (broader meaning)
In να μην αργώ στη συνάντηση, it clearly means not to be late to the meeting.

Why is it στη συνάντηση and not στη συνάντηση μου or για τη συνάντηση?

στη συνάντηση = at/to the meeting (destination or situation where lateness matters)
για τη συνάντηση = for the meeting (purpose: e.g., I’m preparing for the meeting)
You add μου only if you specifically mean my meeting: στη συνάντησή μου.

What is στη exactly?

στη is a contraction of σε + τη(ν):

σε = to/at/in
τη(ν) = the (feminine singular accusative)
So στη συνάντηση = to/at the meeting.

Why is there no subject pronoun like εγώ (I)?

Greek verbs usually show the subject in the verb ending, so pronouns are often omitted:

Προσπαθώ already means I try / I’m trying
είμαι already means I am
αργώ already means I’m late / I delay
You’d add εγώ mainly for emphasis or contrast.

Could I replace αργώ with καθυστερώ? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can say να μην καθυστερώ στη συνάντηση.
A common nuance:

αργώ often feels simpler/more everyday: be late
καθυστερώ can sound a bit more “formal” or like to be delayed / to delay
In this sentence, both work well.