Περίμενε, έρχομαι σε λίγο.

A word-for-word breakdown is:

• Περίμενε = wait
• έρχομαι = I’m coming / I come
• σε λίγο = in a little while / in a bit / soon

So the whole sentence means something like:

• Wait, I’m coming in a bit
• Hang on, I’ll be there soon

Περίμενε is the informal singular imperative of περιμένω (to wait).

It is used when speaking to:

• one person
• in an informal way

So it means wait!

Related forms:

• περιμένω = I wait / I am waiting
• περίμενε = wait! (to one person, informal)
• περιμένετε = wait! (to more than one person, or to one person formally)

Because in Greek, just like in English, the present tense can be used for something happening right now or very soon.

So έρχομαι can mean:

• I’m coming
• I’m on my way
• sometimes even I’ll come in a very immediate sense

In this sentence, it sounds very natural because the speaker means something like I’m coming shortly.

σε λίγο means in a little while, in a bit, or soon.

Literally, it is something like in a little [time].

It is a very common Greek expression for a short delay. Depending on context, it could mean:

• in a few moments
• shortly
• soon

It does not usually mean a precise amount of time. It is intentionally vague.

Because σε λίγο is a fixed time expression meaning in a little while.

• σε = in
• λίγο = a little

So together they express time: in a bit.

By itself, λίγο usually means a little or a bit, but not necessarily in a little while.

For example:

• Θέλω λίγο νερό. = I want a little water.
• Περίμενε, έρχομαι σε λίγο. = Wait, I’m coming in a bit.

It has the middle/passive-type ending, yes, but έρχομαι is an important verb that has active meaning.

So even though it looks like a passive-form verb, it means:

• I come
• I am coming

This is normal in Greek. Some verbs use these endings but still have an active meaning. Learners are often told to think of them as deponent verbs or simply as verbs whose form does not match the English active/passive distinction exactly.

So here:

• έρχομαι does not mean I am being come
• it simply means I come / I’m coming

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• Περίμενε = peh-REE-meh-neh
• έρχομαι = ER-ho-meh
• σε λίγο = seh LEE-gho

A few notes:

• The stress is on ρί, έρ, and λί
• In λίγο, the γ sounds like a soft sound, somewhat like a voiced version of the sound in Spanish lago before back vowels, or roughly like a soft gh

So the whole sentence is approximately:

peh-REE-meh-neh, ER-ho-meh seh LEE-gho

Yes. On its own, περίμενε can also be the imperfect form meaning he/she was waiting.

For example:

• Περίμενε έξω από το σπίτι. = He/She was waiting outside the house.

But in Περίμενε, έρχομαι σε λίγο, it is clearly understood as a command because:

• it comes at the beginning
• it is followed by a comma
• the context is direct speech to someone

So here it definitely means Wait!

Yes. Περίμενε is informal singular, so the sentence is being said to one person informally.

If you want to say the same thing:

• to one person formally, or
• to more than one person

you would say:

Περιμένετε, έρχομαι σε λίγο.

So the difference is:

• Περίμενε = informal singular
• Περιμένετε = formal singular or plural

Yes, it is very natural.

It sounds like something you would say when:

• someone is calling you
• someone is waiting for you
• you need a moment before reaching them

It has the feel of:

• Wait, I’m coming
• Hang on, I’ll be there in a sec
• Just a moment, I’m on my way

Depending on tone, it can sound neutral, friendly, or slightly urgent.

Yes. Some common alternatives are:

• σε λίγο = in a bit / soon
• αμέσως = right away / immediately
• τώρα = now
• σε ένα λεπτό = in a minute
• σε δυο λεπτά = in two minutes

For example:

• Περίμενε, έρχομαι αμέσως. = Wait, I’m coming right away.
• Περίμενε, έρχομαι σε ένα λεπτό. = Wait, I’m coming in a minute.

So σε λίγο is the more general, less exact version.