Τι θα έλεγες να φυτέψουμε λουλούδια στο μπαλκόνι αυτό το Σάββατο;

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Breakdown of Τι θα έλεγες να φυτέψουμε λουλούδια στο μπαλκόνι αυτό το Σάββατο;

• το μπαλκόνι: the balcony
• το λουλούδι: the flower
• τι θα έλεγες να: how about

Questions & Answers about Τι θα έλεγες να φυτέψουμε λουλούδια στο μπαλκόνι αυτό το Σάββατο;

What does Τι θα έλεγες να... mean naturally? Is it literally What would you say...?

Literally, yes, it is close to What would you say if... or What would you say to....

But as a full expression, Τι θα έλεγες να + verb is a very common Greek way to make a suggestion. In natural English, it often corresponds to:

• How about we ...?
• What do you say we ...?
• Would you be up for ...?

So it is better learned as a set phrase, not translated word-for-word every time.

Why is θα έλεγες used here?

Because it gives the sentence a softer, more polite, more tentative feeling.

• έλεγες = you were saying / you said as a past-form base
• θα + past form often gives a would meaning in Modern Greek

So Τι θα έλεγες... is essentially What would you say..., which sounds less direct and more friendly than a blunt suggestion.

Compare the tone:

• Να φυτέψουμε λουλούδια; = Shall we plant flowers? / Let’s plant flowers?
• Τι θα έλεγες να φυτέψουμε λουλούδια; = How about we plant flowers?

The second one sounds more conversational and less abrupt.

Is this sentence informal? How would I say it formally?