Περίμενε λίγο εδώ, έρχομαι αμέσως.

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

So it is used when speaking to:

• one person
• in an informal way

In this sentence, it means wait.

A helpful contrast:

• Περίμενε = wait (to one person, informal)
• Περιμένετε = wait (to more than one person, or to one person formally/politely)

Greek imperatives often work very much like English commands:

• Έλα! = Come!
• Πες μου. = Tell me.
• Περίμενε λίγο. = Wait a bit.

Because Περίμενε is a command, while Περιμένεις is a statement/question form.

Compare:

• Περίμενε! = Wait!
• Περιμένεις. = You are waiting.
• Περιμένεις; = Are you waiting?

So if you want to tell someone to wait, you need the imperative, not the normal you form.

Λίγο means a little, a bit, or for a moment, depending on context.

In Περίμενε λίγο εδώ, it softens the command and makes it sound more natural:

• Περίμενε εδώ. = Wait here.
• Περίμενε λίγο εδώ. = Wait here a little / Wait here a moment / Wait here for a sec.

In everyday English, the most natural translation is often something like:

• Wait here a second.
• Just wait here a bit.

So λίγο does not always need to be translated word-for-word as a little.

Εδώ means here.

It tells the person where to wait:

• Περίμενε λίγο εδώ. = Wait here a moment.

Greek word order is flexible, so you may also hear:

• Περίμενε εδώ λίγο
• Εδώ περίμενε λίγο

But Περίμενε λίγο εδώ sounds very natural.

In Greek, word order often changes for:

• emphasis
• rhythm
• style

The meaning usually stays the same if the case and verb forms are clear.

In Greek, the present tense is very often used for something happening immediately or very soon, just like in English:

• I’m coming!
• I’m leaving now.

So:

• έρχομαι αμέσως literally = I am coming immediately
• natural English = I’m coming right away

This is completely normal Greek.

A more explicit future would be:

• Θα έρθω αμέσως. = I will come right away.

But in a situation like this, έρχομαι αμέσως sounds more immediate and conversational.

Yes, έρχομαι is somewhat irregular and very common, so it is worth learning early.

Its basic meaning is to come.

Some useful forms:

• έρχομαι = I come / I’m coming
• έρχεσαι = you come / you’re coming
• έρχεται = he/she/it comes
• ήρθα = I came
• θα έρθω = I will come

So in this sentence, έρχομαι αμέσως is a very common everyday expression meaning I’m coming right away.

Αμέσως means immediately, at once, or right away.

In everyday speech, it is often used the same way English speakers say:

• right away
• just now
• in a second
• at once

So:

• έρχομαι αμέσως = I’m coming right away

You will hear αμέσως in many contexts:

• Το κάνω αμέσως. = I’ll do it right away.
• Έλα αμέσως! = Come at once!

A simple pronunciation guide is:

pe-RI-me-ne LI-go e-THO, ER-ho-me a-ME-sos

A few notes:

• Περίμενε → stress on ρί
• λίγο → stress on λί
• εδώ → stress on the second syllable
• έρχομαι → stress on έρ
• αμέσως → stress on μέ

A rougher natural flow:

• peh-REE-meh-neh LEE-gho eh-THOH, ER-kho-meh ah-MEH-sos

A pronunciation detail:

• Greek χ in έρχομαι is not like English h. It is a throaty sound, somewhat like the ch in German Bach or Scottish loch.

The comma separates two closely connected parts:

• Περίμενε λίγο εδώ
• έρχομαι αμέσως

So the structure is basically:

• Wait here a moment, I’m coming right away.

The comma helps show a short pause and makes the sentence easier to read.

In very informal texting, people might omit punctuation, but in normal writing the comma is appropriate.

It is usually normal, not rude, especially with λίγο, which softens the command.

Compare:

• Περίμενε. = Wait.
  This can sound a bit more direct.
• Περίμενε λίγο. = Wait a moment.
  Softer and more natural.

Tone matters a lot, just like in English. Depending on the voice and situation, it can sound:

• friendly
• urgent
• impatient

If you want to sound even more polite, you could say:

• Περίμενε λίγο, σε παρακαλώ. = Wait a moment, please.
• Περιμένετε λίγο, παρακαλώ. = Please wait a moment. (formal or plural)

You would use Περιμένετε instead of Περίμενε.

So:

• Περίμενε λίγο εδώ, έρχομαι αμέσως.
  = to one person, informal
• Περιμένετε λίγο εδώ, έρχομαι αμέσως.
  = to more than one person, or to one person formally

This is an important Greek pattern:

• singular informal command: often one form
• plural/formal command: another form

So if you are unsure and want to be polite, Περιμένετε is often the safer choice.